Holiday work

School holidays finished yesterday here in Queensland – and while I know many parents count down the days, it’s always a little sad here at Granite Glen when Dash and Violet change their routines back to a school day.

Cause we managed to combine work with family time pretty effectively in holiday time.

These holidays we spent the first week in the house (thanks to the rain) and the second furiously catching up on preg-testing our cows.  For those new to this blog and cattle property/ranch parlance,  this task involves several long plastic gloves which help my husband determine which cows are expecting babies next season, and which aren’t.  Lots of mustering, lots of yardwork, lots of scanning of electronic eartags and updating of computer info.

All the kids tried out the glove work – Dash proving most keen although he refused to let me share the photo of him in action!

The fun stuff really happens out in the paddock.

These shots were taken on our last walk-home for our stud cows – I have not taken my camera that much as we were SO busy and all my attention/energy was needed for DOING the work, rather than DOCUMENTING the work.  Heh.

Violet features heavily in this series – she adores riding and her steed, Sandy, likes to be out front leading the cows.

Sometimes they don’t want to be led, of course.

That’s when these helpers come into their own.

From left: Cruel, Jet and Patch .

Occasionally I end up in front of the mob, and then try to take shots around behind me from waist-level – without looking.  It’s a hit-and-miss affair.  I’m really not a HUGE help when I have a camera in hand!

My niece Salina has been here all holidays too – she is a great ringer and gained lots of confidence riding on Yvette.  (When you don’t ride all the time, it’s easy to lose confidence and Yvette has had 12 months off after getting lame so is VERY fresh!).

The end of this short ride, and Violet shows how competent she is with all aspects of the muster.

Shutting the gate from atop the horse is a real skill.

Then comes the ride home….

… involving some recreational cantering – part of the reward for a week of great work.  And this is never more fun that when Dad joins you for the frolic!

I may be missing the kids, but I do believe the horses breathed a sigh of relief at the end of the holidays!

If you have had school holidays lately, what did your lot get up to? 

Do you get the chance to combine work and family time?

🙂

BB