Cow Country

[RanchRoper]

What a gorgeous day yesterday....did some work with Badger in the round pen, he needs to lose some weight after winter and we were just heading back to the corrals when my wife took this.
Took him for a ride this morning, over along the railway tracks there is a trail runs along a hill near it. Good place to put him into a long trot, the trail is quite flat and goes for a mile or more.

[Dennis H]

Where the cowboy rides away.

[daytime dave]

I don't know much about horses, but that one looks good.

I like her coloring and just noticed the cool lightning bolt after RSb mentioned it.

Her name could be "Lightning". Just saying.

[RanchRoper]

Ya, she's nice but poor old Dakota is having a tough time accepting her. Keeps beating her up. Might not work out.

[daytime dave]

Too bad. I hope it does work out.

[RanchRoper]

Horse are all individuals. We have 3 geldings plus the new one, a mare. Badger is the boss, top of the pecking order. He eats first, decides what pile of hay he wants and the others move away. Depending on the day, he'll let somebody eat hay with him. Until he decides it's over, then they move away to another hay pile. Rarely has to assert himself, he is just the boss. We took our horses to another ranch one time to keep them there for awhile, and within 2 days he was in charge of the herd of 40+ horses. Dakota is 2nd in command. He gets to push anybody else around. Houston is our gelding with an arthritic back leg. Can't ride him anymore, and he is the low man on the line. He walks around ok, just can't handle the hard work anymore. Him and I share arthritis stories once in awhile. The new mare got along with Badger because he said it was ok to be there. Made friends with Houston because he gets pushed around by Dakota. The problem is Dakota; he's the big paint horse in the photos here. Because he is so insecure about losing his 2nd in command position, he attacked the new mare. Dakota is normally an easy going, friendly guy who will do anything to please. He's the guy who got a rope burn at a branding last year, and then I still roped all afternoon on him. He's a rock solid trooper. But he HATES that mare. He bit a chunk out of her backside as she was running for her life. So, we have a decision to make this week but I doubt she'll stay. Not fair to her, or our regular guys.

[daytime dave]

It sounds like it's not going to work out. Too bad. Our cats are the same way here. I introduced my male to the girlfriend's females (three of them) last year. It wasn't easy for him to assimilate. He's twice the size of the dominant female, but she rules this roost. He plays with the other two. He and the boss tolerate each other for a little while, but it doesn't last.

[Dennis H]

How bout a couple pastures? The new mare and the old arthritic gelding in a pasture together.

[RanchRoper]

Agree, the problem is winter when they're all in one pen. We only have a limited amount of pasture too. Nope, she goes back Friday night unfortunately. That's how she goes sometimes.

[RanchRoper]

Caught in the act!
Oh well, even Roy Rogers planted one on Trigger now and then when Dale wasn't around.

Come on Badger, you know you like it....