Post by Lannie on May 10, 2010 11:42:15 GMT -5
Yesterday while I was making yet another cheese , Rich got the hotwire up between the cow and horse pastures. Seven's nose ring fell out again yesterday morning, so this was excellent timing. Now I don't have to worry about putting it back in.
Anyway, I came outside once my cheese was in the press and Rich was just coming back in, but I noticed he'd sprung Bandit out of the pen, so I figured the fence must be completed and the old charger still worked (YAY!). I asked Rich if Seven had zapped himself yet and he said no, but he'd been following him all over while he was stringing the wire, and at one point he was chewing on the loose end, before it was hooked up and hot. So we went out to the cow barn and were standing there watching Seven, and sure enough, it was only a few minutes before he approached the fence. The first thing he did was sniff the new wire.
I almost wish I'd not seen it. He put the end of his wet little nose on that wire and we heard SNAP! He made a loud grunting noise and jumped back several feet, then ran off about 50 feet and stood there looking at the fence like, "What just happened? WHO BIT ME??" It was kind of sad. Then Horus decided he wanted to play, so he made some loops around Seven, who hightailed it off down the pasture (literally, he had his tail up in the air, so I think he was also playing). Anyway, he got down the fence line a bit and stuck his wet little nose on the wire down there. SNAP! GRUNT! He ran off about 50 feet again and stood there for the longest time staring at the fence. The look of bewilderment on his face was enough to make me cry. "That fence never did THAT to me before!"
I brought Bandit in to milk about then, and left Seven to think. Every time I've seen him since then, however, he has been no closer than about 50 feet to the fence. This morning when I went out, he was planted squarely in the center of the pasture, like now he doesn't want to get near ANY fence (and I wouldn't blame him). The sad part is that he can't even talk to his mom over the fence now because he's afraid to get too close. I know that's a good thing, but it's sad to watch. I asked Rich last night, "Did our parents have this much heartache watching us learn the hard facts of life?" And he said, "Yes." I've never had any kids, so I didn't have to go through that, but I have to go through it with the critters. I know those of you with kids will think I'm being silly (it's just a STEER, fer cryin' out loud!), but I guess I have to use my mother instincts on somebody, right?
Anyway, it's going to be a hard few days for Seven, and probably even harder on me, but we'll get through it. At least now I know I don't EVER have to worry about him snitching milk again.
~Lannie
Anyway, I came outside once my cheese was in the press and Rich was just coming back in, but I noticed he'd sprung Bandit out of the pen, so I figured the fence must be completed and the old charger still worked (YAY!). I asked Rich if Seven had zapped himself yet and he said no, but he'd been following him all over while he was stringing the wire, and at one point he was chewing on the loose end, before it was hooked up and hot. So we went out to the cow barn and were standing there watching Seven, and sure enough, it was only a few minutes before he approached the fence. The first thing he did was sniff the new wire.
I almost wish I'd not seen it. He put the end of his wet little nose on that wire and we heard SNAP! He made a loud grunting noise and jumped back several feet, then ran off about 50 feet and stood there looking at the fence like, "What just happened? WHO BIT ME??" It was kind of sad. Then Horus decided he wanted to play, so he made some loops around Seven, who hightailed it off down the pasture (literally, he had his tail up in the air, so I think he was also playing). Anyway, he got down the fence line a bit and stuck his wet little nose on the wire down there. SNAP! GRUNT! He ran off about 50 feet again and stood there for the longest time staring at the fence. The look of bewilderment on his face was enough to make me cry. "That fence never did THAT to me before!"
I brought Bandit in to milk about then, and left Seven to think. Every time I've seen him since then, however, he has been no closer than about 50 feet to the fence. This morning when I went out, he was planted squarely in the center of the pasture, like now he doesn't want to get near ANY fence (and I wouldn't blame him). The sad part is that he can't even talk to his mom over the fence now because he's afraid to get too close. I know that's a good thing, but it's sad to watch. I asked Rich last night, "Did our parents have this much heartache watching us learn the hard facts of life?" And he said, "Yes." I've never had any kids, so I didn't have to go through that, but I have to go through it with the critters. I know those of you with kids will think I'm being silly (it's just a STEER, fer cryin' out loud!), but I guess I have to use my mother instincts on somebody, right?
Anyway, it's going to be a hard few days for Seven, and probably even harder on me, but we'll get through it. At least now I know I don't EVER have to worry about him snitching milk again.
~Lannie