Oh The Mud!

[Rhianon]

Oh The Mud!

Nothing like the smell of wet fresh cow shit in the morning," Eleri said outloud as she rode Roman towards the cattle arena. The horse plodded along in a slow methodical gait as he negotiated the muddy ground that sucked at his every footstep.

Phil who was up on Roman's son, called Doc, and he was unhappy with the sticky footing. His temperament was a little hotter than his sire, a trait he got from the Bish, or Bish Bang Boon. Technically her barn name was Boomer. You got a lot of "okay boomer" comments but mostly, the staff just called her "The Bish."

"I'll be glad when it finally freezes," Phil commented as he tried to keep Doc quiet.

"Don't say that, it will be cold soon enough and then we'll be downing in snow." Eleri laughed. Today was cattle day for Roman and Phil was coming to do outrider duty on the herd for her. Her horse didn't need a lot of training these days, but he still needed to work.

Delilah, one of the muckers, opened the arena for them and they entered. The arena was graded regularly and the footing was better, except down by where the cattle milled. To a one, they all looked miserable. They had shelter but often weathered storms all huddled together in the wide open spaces of their pasture. Today there were only 20 or so head in the large arena, mostly young steers.

Phil held the herd while Eleri and Roman walked calmly into the milling cattle. The team took their time and singled out a black and white steer, carefully they shuffled him to the edge of the herd. As soon as the steer realized he'd been separated, it became his desperate attempt to rejoin vs Roman. Eleri let the reins drop and settled her seat deeply. Roman knew his job.

All told they worked three cows, each one giving Roman a run for his money. The herd was frisky this morning. After she finished she rode over by Phil and Doc.

"Go ahead and try one." She told the rangy man. "He needs more practice than Roman does."

"Should be fun with this footing. He already doesn't want to walk in the mud." Phil grumbled but rode out at a slow walk towards the herd. Doc's ears went up as soon as he entered the herd. The mud was all but forgotten when he realized he got to play.  He was still young enough that it was just play for him. Phil had more to do with the younger horse. More cues were needed during the cut, but Phil knew his business and they had a successful couple of runs but lost the cow on the last one.

"Two outta three ain't bad," Eleri said when Phil trotted Doc back over to where she was holding the herd. "He's still a baby, he'll get better. He has the talent."

"Roman likes to throw cow-y horses, that's for sure," Phil commented as he looked over at the small grulla stallion. He was Eleri's heart horse, and no one rode him but her most of the time. Phil had gotten a chance to take him out on a hack now and then, however.

"Let's hack around a while since it's a nice day. I have some time before I need to get onto Baron.

"Sounds like a plan. I think Margot is in the indoor on the cutting machine with Zip, we should grab her too and all of us take a spin around the ranch." Phil added.

"Good idea." Eleri agreed and pushed open the arena gate. She could feel her boots sinking into the muck that just couldn't be avoided this time of year. She let Phil ride through and go fetch Margot, while she closed the gate and got back up in the saddle. She spared a glance at the sky. The sun was bright and the horizon was nearly cloudless. It was going to be a lovely, crisp autumn day.

674 words