Ellie's Big Day!

Eleanor is getting to be such a big girl! It seems like yesterday that I was waiting for Flossie to go into labor and wondering if I would have a little bull or a little heifer. But then she was here, and we have been so thrilled with her and how she has grown.

Baby Eleanor and a proud Flossie

Now she is half as big as her mama and full of her own unique personality! She is stubborn, independent and she can drain a huge udder in no time flat. But she is also so smart, she can walk on a lead and stand to be groomed already. One of these days she will follow in her Moms hoof steps and be a great milker! But for now, she is still learning the ropes.

Ellie taking a break, lol Her halter is NEVER on!

Pud'nin walking Eleanor

As she grew, her pen began to be smaller and smaller. Not only that, a cows gotta have grass! We would let her out on a lead twice a day to munch the sweet clover, but she yearned to go with her Mama out into the big pasture. She wanted to meet the "others". She would moo to Porter and Clarabelle over her fence, and they would come lay with her by the back of her pen. The only real thing keeping her from the great big pasture was Twister. Yea, Twister the turd horse!

Twister!

Well, we waited, and soon it was summer and Lee and Cayce had plans to go to Wranglers for the weekend. We figured that since horses cant count, that we would use that time to let the little one out in the pasture to get to know her herd mates. That way she could get over her jitters, they could run and jostle without drawing attention to themselves and getting chased by Twister.
It worked like a charm! We let Ellie out with her Mama that first morning and she was so excited! She sniffed all the new things that were there for the sniffing. She ran and bucked, kicking her hooves way up in the air, softly making little happy Moos! Never before had Ellie been able to stretch her muscles and run full out as far and fast as she wanted. It was bliss, she was in heaven!
But, lets think of Flossie for a minute, this had been her sanctuary out in the pasture, the place where she could stay, head down, munching grass without a care in the world. Then we let her little wild child out into her peaceful place! She was not as happy as she could have been, she was trying her best to keep Ellie under control, all the while Ellie just went about her business, ignoring the plaintive moos of her Mama! Ellie would run in one direction, Flossie would follow, telling her to slow down, to look where she was going! Ellie charged ahead, oblivious to her moms warnings. Flossie shot us a look that clearly said 'Thanks, Thanks SO much!"

Mom and girlie!

Soon all her shenanigans got the attention of Porter and ClaraBelle. So over they came to see what was happening, and to see what could be running and jumping! Not to mention, why was Flossie mooing and running after that streak of kicking brown!?
With a few false starts, a little mounting action (cows, geez!), and lots of playing tag they were finally out grazing side by side. Our little herd of four.