Uploaded January 2019 | Updated September 2026, 21 hours ago
Raven and Alfred came from the same kill pen a week apart in late September. We made the unprecedented decision to quarantine them together, since they were exposed to the same germs on the same lot (the other option was to let Raven ship to slaughter, which was not an option).
Because they quarantined together, Raven and Alfred are remarkably bonded. Separating them has been a major emotional ordeal that we feared Raven may not survive. Raven is the alpha of the two, and when she's unable to protect Alfred, she becomes so agitated, she froths at the mouth and runs about at full speed, knocking her limbs against fence posts and plowing through anything in her path. She was inconsolable. With the stupid Oklahoma weather going from flash flooding turning our paddocks to quicksand to the threat of Snowmageddon, we feared conditions were so hazardous, Raven
would break a leg or impale herself.
We decided to put them both in the round pen in the center of the pasture for a week, where the herd could go nose to nose with them - especially during feeding time - and where they could get accustomed to the pecking order of the herd. The plan was to first release Raven so that she could still see Alfred while protecting herself.
Because Snowmageddon is expected this weekend, we needed to expedite the process of releasing them to the herd so that they could find warmth and protection in the snow. Because the herd was already accustomed to having them around, we decided to release them together.
Winston, the baby and boss-in-waiting, was (as usual) first to check out the pair. Raven gave him a couple of nasty warning kicks, sending him to the safety of his herd's mama mare. The rest of the herd gathered around Aubrey inside the round pen while Bo (who's being treated for EPM) worked the newbies.
Bo's an excellent manager, and he's not going to let a little EPM keep him from running his herd. Watch how the rest of the gang retreats to the round pen where Aubrey is only concerned with the delicious hay the new kids have been eating. Raven and Alfred stick to each other as they find their place in the herd's pecking order.
Raven and Alfred came from the same kill pen a week apart in late September. We made the unprecedented decision to quarantine them together, since they were exposed to the same germs on the same lot (the other option was to let Raven ship to slaughter, which was not an option).
Because they quarantined together, Raven and Alfred are remarkably bonded. Separating them has been a major emotional ordeal that we feared Raven may not survive. Raven is the alpha of the two, and when she's unable to protect Alfred, she becomes so agitated, she froths at the mouth and runs about at full speed, knocking her limbs against fence posts and plowing through anything in her path. She was inconsolable. With the stupid Oklahoma weather going from flash flooding turning our paddocks to quicksand to the threat of Snowmageddon, we feared conditions were so hazardous, Raven
would break a leg or impale herself.
We decided to put them both in the round pen in the center of the pasture for a week, where the herd could go nose to nose with them - especially during feeding time - and where they could get accustomed to the pecking order of the herd. The plan was to first release Raven so that she could still see Alfred while protecting herself.
Because Snowmageddon is expected this weekend, we needed to expedite the process of releasing them to the herd so that they could find warmth and protection in the snow. Because the herd was already accustomed to having them around, we decided to release them together.
Winston, the baby and boss-in-waiting, was (as usual) first to check out the pair. Raven gave him a couple of nasty warning kicks, sending him to the safety of his herd's mama mare. The rest of the herd gathered around Aubrey inside the round pen while Bo (who's being treated for EPM) worked the newbies.
Bo's an excellent manager, and he's not going to let a little EPM keep him from running his herd. Watch how the rest of the gang retreats to the round pen where Aubrey is only concerned with the delicious hay the new kids have been eating. Raven and Alfred stick to each other as they find their place in the herd's pecking order.
