Beech Tree News Network

Our friends, Ron and Hank, graze cattle on our property.  This week, they moved the herd from one pasture across our driveway to another pasture.  The transfer was successful except for one Black Angus calf.  You know the sort—the kid who runs off to hide when it’s time to go to school.  With the herd safely in the other pasture—where the grass really was greener—junior was left alone with two horses.  He was not happy and he bawled his little head off to prove his displeasure.  Ron and Hank, seasoned cattlemen that they are, knew a little separation time wouldn’t hurt the calf and would likely make the job of getting him into the new pasture with the rest of the herd easier. 
    The two horses, Molly and Dart, ignored the little calf at first then decided to go over to him in order to see what all the crying was about.  This act of kindness comforted the calf for a while, and when the horses decided it was time to move to another part of the pasture, junior followed.  I was working outside, so I watched the calf follow the horses around then go to the fence and bawl for the rest of the herd then go back to the horses.  He knew he belonged with the cows, but he couldn’t get to them.  Molly and Dart were accessible and willing to allow him to be part of their group, so junior decided the smart money was on the horses.
    I think Molly and Dart were willing to accept the calf because horses instinctively fear separation from the herd and they felt sorry for the little guy.  In the wild, the boss mare will set a young rebellious one apart from the herd until the horse has an attitude change, at which time, he is allowed to rejoin the group. 
    I’ve often heard that even though you can’t pick your family, you can pick your friends.  I think there are times when you can’t pick your friends either, times when circumstance separates you from your familiar group and you are forced to or have the opportunity to make new friends.  I experienced that first hand when I lived in Texas for two years with my daughter while she attended A&M.  I was embraced by people who had established parameters—their side of the pasture—but they allowed me inside their circle.  I keep up with them on Facebook.  Denise and Cheryl and Rita and Mary from the A&M bookstore.  Amber who graduated this year and is headed to Sweden for a research project.  Allen and Shanna and Randal and Jeanne from Hasting’s.  Allen has a new baby girl, Shanna a new baby boy.  I knew these people for just two years, but it was an important two years. 
    Late on the same afternoon when the herd was moved, Ron and Hank came back to rescue the Angus calf.  He presented little problem during the transfer.  I wonder if junior will look through the fence from his side of the driveway to Molly and Dart on their side of the driveway and remember when he was a horse for a day.  I bet he doesn’t run & hide the next time he’s called to get ready for school.