A New Spring Look... Not So Baaad

It's not just people that get a summer cut or a new spring look. Blanco didn't need a new hair do but has been needing his nails (hooves) done so we had our work "cut" out for us here in the End of the Rainbow Valley.

Why?  Well, first we had to catch him. Blanco had slipped out of his collar a while back so there was nothing to grab onto. You see where one goat goes, the others follow. 

Food seems to always be a good lure so with palmfuls of grain I tried to entice them into a stall where the plan was for Natureman  to close the gate behind them so Blanco could get his collar. First Blanco had to be lassoed and Blanco was not happy as the noose tightened about his neck, the more he tugged. You have heard those screaming goat tapes, haven't you?

 Oh, I don't know if you knew but goats are pretty smart creatures. These guys knew something was up to be offered grain in the middle of the afternoon. No sooner was one spooked, they were all suspect so they hightailed it towards the exit. The 3 basically took down the hay manger along with the dilapidated stall gate.( The barn was built in the late 1800's so those boards know a lot of wear 'n tear.) Stampede and this city girl is worried about her feet as I am the one blocking their exit. 

Goats are really strong and besides managing  a contortion number squeezing through the small opening, Blanco didn't want any part of whatever was happening. Wrestling with a goat was not in my contract.

similar to head holder in barn

This should have definitely been a video. It was like a cartoon scene. Once collared Blanco was  directed  (ok by pulling) him up on the stanchion where grain awaited him through the middle two slats. Once his head was through the slats, one moveable  slat locks into place to secure the head. 

Then Natureman had to wrestle each leg to trim down each cloven hoof and clean out the mud/yuck wedged in the hoof's underside. I thought Natureman was just using some implement that looks like one of those kitchen meat clippers but they actually were for hoof clipping as I discovered when I googled this procedure afterwards. Eventually all 4 hooves were finished. It was quite a workout for both humans and animal.

What, no polish?  Blanco prefers going 'au natural.'

                                         Nice nails, eh?

 Just another adventure in the End of the Rainbow Valley...

Here's a video with someone who obviously does this a lot more often than we do. This city mouse wish she had watched it beforehand.  Who knew? You might get a "kick" out of it:
Hoof Clipping Mentor