The cows drained the dam

We went on a two week holiday to Byron Bay. It'd been two years since we holidayed on the beach and we'd earned it, M and I, and O and A. All hard working city folk, living on a smallish farm.

We arranged for T to come over and feed horses twice a day and water the cows aat least once every two days. Thanks T, nice job, we owe you. To simplify the process we left the gate over the pipeline open so the cows could cross and be watered at once of their batchtubs brought over near our home back gate were thoe hose could reach.

The gravity fed siphon hose was just left in the grass, tap off, for filling the other bath tub across the pipeline when we got back. But when we got back I went to open the tap but it was half open and it had been slowly leaking water, slimy water, and the ground all around was very soggy, with cows prints embedded. It wouldnt fill the bath tub easily at all. No pressure. Walking back up to the dam, our fresh spring dam that was always full. Gasp! Almost empty and full of weed. Oh no, it had drained slowly over the two weeks.

Wicked cows, playing with the tap. I tied the tap and hose up to the fence post with some string so they couldnt reach it with their wicked hooves. Now we are hoping for a good long rain.

(Postscript: within about 3 weeks a couple of hours light rain filled the dam again. Over the next two weeks some heavy thunderstorms pretty well flushed it out. Looking good again).

The day the goat came

Win woke us up barking out the back. There was a goat/ram whatever in the paddock with Keisha and Mickey both looking terrified. I raced down with a rope to try and catch it but forget it - it dive +through+ barbed wire like it was butter. But oww it must have gotten cut. Didnt do the fences much good either. Two hours later it was back, same place, though this time it dived through a difficult fence into Cedar's paddock, then back again, then into the big paddock with the boys, Mickey (now), Sunny and Gooba, all running around like girls screaming because the goat was *chasing* them. I'll give him chase - though it was hot and after running through three paddocks to catch the mongrel I was relieved to see it slice through another barbed wire fence and keep heading out towards the camels.

M came back and a neighbour told us it has been causing havoc with everyone's stock and fences since its owner went away for the weekend to Wollongong. Just shoot it, they all said. I had a very similar sentiment!

Poor old Gooba's gotta go

The farrier confirmed Gooob's got ringbone. Never jump. Like chronic arthritis apparently. Owners were sad to hear it but will take him back. Will miss the handsome thing. He is magnificent looking. Can probably do ok at hack. Maybe dressage, but definately not what O was after.