Out Around the Barn

I have often heard a comment stated by Farmers and Ranchers that you should never let your guard down around an animal, no matter if they are a pet or otherwise.  I took this statement for granted, although I had witnessed a dog attack on my son by a dog that always seemed friendly.  (He is fine by the way, the dog was taken away).  Anyway, I was around my animals daily and messed with them and petted them, talked to them and we all got along.  Until a few weeks ago and I am still carrying the scars.

Our Billy Goat, Big Bad John Wayne, named by our Goddaughter, decided to just become stupid.  He has been kept away from the Nannies since June and they are all about to deliver now.  He had been showing signs of rebellion and I know he wants to be back with them but it is not time to put him back in.  On a Thursday morning, I went out to feed and turn the Nannies out to pasture and he had busted a couple of boards off the hay manger and had gotten stuck inside it.  I called Al at work and asked him how I was supposed to get him out.  I was instructed to just knock out the end of the manger and lead him out.  So I did just that.  Got him back into his pen and fed him.  I had situated him on the opposite side of the pen and secured him while I began to repair the manger so he could not get out again.  I was working away and all of the sudden I was slammed into the manger, losing my balance and thrown into a corner.  Before I could get a solid foothold, the billy came at me head bowed and braced and slammed me into the corner further and caused me to hit the wall of the barn full force.  I could not get balanced fast enough and he came again and again and again.  I tried grabbing for his horns to keep him at bay but my strength was no match to his brute force.  I know it was 15 to 20 hits and the more I struggled the harder he hit.  I could not get to my phone, there was no one on the place, the neighbors were a quarter of a mile away and all I could do was pray I could stay on my feet long enough to somehow find a way out of this terrifying ordeal.  It was then that my HERO arrived in a fat little 25 pound, four legged package with yelps at an extremely high pitch and with all her might came at him.  My Jack Russell, Bella, heard my cries and screams and came to my rescue.  I am not sure what she did but she got his attention and it gave me enough of an opening to fall over the closest fence.  I could not stand when I tried to get up and I needed to get away because he was then trying to come over the gate at me.  I scooted around the wall of the barn opposite the other side of the manger and what I had repaired plus more, he bagan destroying the manger as if he was determined to get at me.  I finally got up and with the help of the barn and supports made my way into the pen with the Nannies and pulled  the gate shut.  I found my phone and tried to call for help, barely breathing, I thought I was calling Al and got the wrong number.  No one home.  I tried again and whatever I said, all I heard on the other end was, “I am on my way”.  I collapsed there on the floor of the barn and tried to regulate my breathing.  It was there that Al found me.  His first concern was, “are you okay, do we need to go to the hospital, do you have broken bones?”  My concern was don’t let him get me.  Securing the gate he helped me to the house and helped me get calmed down and checked me for damages.  I was okay, except for the fact that I was in pain, mad, hurt, and really embarrassed that I could not control “MY” billy goat. 

That was the day that I learned to listen to those more experienced than me and to understand exactly what they mean when they make comments that make no sense at that time.  It is those comments of experience that could save a life or at least a serious injury. 

The next day I could barely walk;, it has been three weeks and I am still carrying the bruises and scars from his horns on my legs.  He is no longer my responsibility.  Al has moved him into another barn and feeds and waters him.  He will remain until we find another qualified billy for my herd so until then, I am to stay clear of the monster.  He has it in for me and some thought I was exaggerating when I told them that all I have to do is walk out the door and he sees me or hears my voice and he begins butting his head like he wants at me again until they seen and witnessed it for themselves.  So I do as I am instructed and keep my distance. 

Now I concentrate on my small herd and leave him be.  The kids will arrive before we know it and that I am excited about.  I will no longer take for granted the experience of others.  Most of the time they really may know what they are talking about.