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OH MY GOODNESS... it is crazy hot with very little breeze. This little kiwi is battling. So we got up 4am and drove 30/35kms to the mustering camp. Ate a piece of bacon and met my horse - Cody. Chestnut gelding that likes to nip when girthing up. Mr reliable is his name. Perfect, although he did a reasonable job of throwing his head between his knees when we hit canter. Apparently he's a trekking horse and doesn't canter often. Well after surviving that - I say surviving as I'm sure I pulled a groin muscle cause it's pretty darn sore.
Some of the cattle had already been yarded, however the chopper had found 3-4 mobs which were basically 'clean skins' having been raised out wild by a previous tenant but alluded capture so never branded/handled/or anything. Alluded capture - I was under the impression 20000 hectares - I was horribly mistake. It's just under one million!
Well we let the cattle out by horse back and bull buggys. We drove the cattle to some open plains, where we held the cattle and the chopper brought some feral animals into the herd. One Brahma had a go at the chopper which was truely spectacular but all ended well - gutted that I didn't video it, as was truely a sight to behold. Got them eventually back into the yards and took the horses back to camp. I've never ridden a horse with a chopper overhead whilst doing anything let alone mustering. Amazing time.
Had smoko and then headed to the yards. Because of the vast country a lot of yards are panel built held together by wire.
We were drafting out the ones to be weaned plus any dry cows or clean skinned bulls. The yards were less than ideal however they managed to get the cattle through them, certainly not OSH standards of working wild cattle. I was purely a spectator as a) I was over heating b) lacked the experience to handle the wild animals that were in there.
Amazing group of cattle people. So many different talents and skills. Everyone serving a purpose - apart from me mostly - as often a green horn can often be a hinderence. These are apparently the worst cattle on the place.
Truely amazing watching seasoned stockman at work - leaping out over the rails when required. Some close calls but always sufficient to stay out of harms way.
The afternoon was all about sorting out the animals, castrating the calves without anesthetic and puncturing their ears. Ones that could be weaned were loaded up into a truck and taken back to the station house - approx 3hrs round trip. I sat most of the afternoon out as I was completely light headed and would of been more of a hinderence than a help.
Crazy hot and feeling weak must have consumed 7litres + of water...
Went to have a wash in the dam, which has potential for a saltwater croc to be in there. Needless to say I didn't swim! A quick wash of the exposed areas of my body - basically face/neck and arms.
Night was in the inside of a tent without a covering - basically a mosquito net with a swag. Waking up to the night sky was unreal.
The cows/bulls and calves made a racket all night - well until we got up at 4am again. This pace of life is going to kill me!
We then had to bring 9 horses back to home base, with 4 riders. The other 5 horses running lose. I actually am pleased at myself for lasting the long distance! We left camp at 5:30 had a rouge standardbred that wouldn't follow directions. Once a makeshift halter was fashioned she was towed all the way home, while we sheparded the others home with us. 7:30am it was crazy hot... the last hour of the ride I didn't think that I would make it. I was aching all over, and my energy levels were nil. All's I wanted to do was to climb off and sit underneath a shady tree. I asked Alida how much further - after a quick look around, she assured me that it was just one more gate! One more gate, dear Lord it took us three hours to find the first gate. Needless to say I didn't find this very reassuring at all. Again when I was about to give up I worded the question differently to Alida - 'what time will we be back at the station'? Alida's reply 'halfnhour' - I thought liar as we were in the middle of noweher. Well I'm pleased to report that Alida was right. We got back to the house at 11am and honestly the last hour I didn't think that I was going to make it... very relieved to see the house in sight. Untacked and feed them before retiring to the shade for a breather. Don't know if I'm coming or going. Managed to get a cold shower in before lunch which certainly helped.
Apparently the last three days have been the hottest so hopefully it cools back down a little
- comments
Tasha Baptism by 'fire' on many levels! :)
Debbie Oh crickey! You rode a chestnut! Lol good practice for when you get on Jerry! Recon they were testing your horse skills? Hang in there you will acclimatise to the heat, humidity, flies, or Not! Your not missing anything here.... rain rain and wind and rain... got 2 days fine tho last week yay!
Ann-Marie Wow Steve. What an amazing adventure! I'm hanging on every word. Love you
Robyn I’m trying to visualise all you’ve described and all I can do is open my mouth in total amazement