Life is Fragile - Handle with Prayer

Eager to help, Kate was attentive to my every move. Just reaching toward a stall assured me of a vibrant blue dog ready to push back the livestock.

I dragged the heavy 10’ steel gate, off one hinge, open just enough to slip in with hay for the cow and calf. The Simmental cow started crowding me. Suddenly, there was Kate. The 1000 pound cow backed off.

As the cow lowered her head Kate met her charge. But in giving ground for the second round she had to back out the narrow gate opening - no where else to go. Just inside, I, too, had no where to go. Stepping quickly toward the gate I was caught by the cow's second charge. It was a fairly symmetrical body slam against the wall except for the iron protrusion just missing the kidney area.

Crucial to the situation, the dog stayed back when commanded. The cow backed off. I was lucky. Not because I made the right moves, but because I had only taken two off-center hits from a cow that was only warning the dog. There are several worse scenarios that come to mind.

It was a solid-sided stall except for the gate which was broken. Once inside there was no where to go. How easily myself or the dog could have been seriously or fatally injured because of carelessness or lack of foresight on my part.