Petting buffalos

Mark

Bully Bull docile and was basically a pet, we would ride him bareback for hrs. When he was thru with that fun he would rub us off on the side of the barn, low limbs, fences etc. If we would not get off he would just lay down till we left him alone. We would also go head to head in shoving matches - 60# boy vs. 1000# steer you can imagine who won.

T-bone on the hand grew up to be mischievous. We could not ride him but we could pet him. As a calf we also played head to head shoving matches. As he grew he became agressive (testostrone sp?) and the playful head butting became chasing us in the fields; knock you down and head butt you around while in the dirt. At some point the game got real dangerous as we could not even get into the same pen as him.

Would like to say he tasted great but my Dad has a soft heart and both steers were sold and not butchered. From that I learned to never allow family to name animals you plan to eat :)

and we could ride

1. Had friend raised freezer beef. Children named and played with animals. Time to eat. Children wouldn't touch pets. Next time told children he'd swapped with a guy down the road (didn't) and they were eating his steer. They ate.

2. Had a horse and at my age of 13, not real bright. Used to ride different ways, no saddle for example. Would ride to the back of the pasture, get off, piddle, get on and the horse would hightail it for the barn but the door was just wide and tall enough for him.

One day got the birdbrained idea to take the bridle off too. Got on in the back of the pasture and he hightailed it for the barn. While we were traveling there I recollected the dimensions of the door and said "he's going to knock me off going thru the door". True. So I jumped off at a full gallop..... .....stupid.stupid. Thank goodness I am here to say that I never tried that stunt again.

Mark