~...Ridin' the pony on a cattle drive...~

So today was full of lots of riding. We were down three people becasue of appointments and brandings so it was just me and Merle; Glen came to help us.

I started off the day on a little bit of a messed up note when I rounded up the steers we feed every morning and brough them in to feed. I found 20, and I thought there were usually 23- so only missing three is pretty good considering a couple are usually escape artists. Well, come to find out there are really 26, which means I was missing six rather than three...oops.

So after chores we saddled up and started sorting off cattle to bring north to their summer pasture. Once we got everthing sorted and headed in the right direction I was sent back to put a cow that we had sorted back but had jumped the cattle guard back in, and to bring the pickup to the next meeting point to get the gate open in time for the cattle to cross the road. So I head back toward this cow, but in order to do so I had to go down in a valley to open a gate and get through. Somehow within that one minute this cow managed to jump back over the guard and head back in with the cows...but I didn't know that. So Dan (the horse) and I wasted a good twenty minutes looking for her until we gave up and headed toward our destination. Well, I wasted so much time looking that they had beat me there so I struggled to keep up and finally caught up with them just in time to get everything across the creek. Then, I was told to bring the pickup and trailer to the pasture we were headed towards.

So this time head back and go directly to the pasture. I had found it ok, but when I got there I decided I was in the wrong place (But I wasn't) so I moved to another spot...now putting me in the completely wrong place. But, eventually we got it all figured out and headed back home. I felt like an idiot but no one else really seemed to be too concerned about the whole deal! haha

Once we got back we ate and then headed out with another group. We pushed them a good four or five miles just fine but this time we had to walk back...no road to bring the trailer up on. It was a really hot and slow walk but we made it. Dan in only three and has tiny strides so it took a while, but we made it! When we got back this time we took a short break and then I headed out for chores. As soon as we finished we went back out to string salt and mineral and that puts me about where I'm sitting now. All in all, not a bad day- just a few screw ups here and there...what's new! lol

Note of the day: I have this nasty piece of skin that I ripped off one of my fingers while pulling rope when we were wrestling calves at the last branding. Since I can't keep and bandaid on longer than a couple hours my mom suggested vet wrap, and since I have no ointment I have been using the stuff I use on Joe. Yup, so there I was with a "fura zoned" vet wrapped finger...o boy! Sounds like we are leaving here at six tomorrow to go help Delert round up some cows! Eh, better get to bed.