The Autumn Herd

Our cool, autumn temperatures have reduced the fly population to almost zero, enabling me to close the barn door each day to keep the horses outside. It doesn't, however, stop them from chewing on the door frame, evidence of which you can see behind Blue. My concoction of Ivory Dish Detergent, Angostura Bitters and red pepper flakes have helped a lot, but they still chew sometimes:

 Remy was feeling playful this day and wanted me to join him as he frolicked. Sadly, I'm too old and lame to do that:

 I keep a mineral salt block and granulated minerals, both with selenium, outside the barn at all times:

 This was late in the evening, as evidenced by the shadows:

Violet and Jasmine in the south field:

 A cluster of bovines at the stock tank:

 But one day I moved the cows across the gravel road to the north field as I do every October:

 The grass was lush and tasty:

 That evening I stood on my porch and snapped a photo of the cows in the north field, a peaceful scene:

 The next day I walked out to visit them. They were well fed (and fat), most of them feeling too full to even stand up:

 Rosella and Scarlett, daughter and mother. I've noticed how they are nearly always together, which suggests to me that their relationship has continued over the years. Many would say that once the calf is grown, the mother/daughter relationship has ended, but I see it continuing:

 Only one cow (Violet) feels as if she needs to stand up when I walk up to them. The rest trust me to walk among them: