It’s not all hard work
Host: Mystery Park
Written by Ainsley McArthur – Owner, Mystery Park.
Sunrise is my favourite time of the day . . . I’m yet to convince Lachlan of the tranquility of sunrise! Although with cattle to yard up and trucks to load, he didn’t groan too much about pulling on his boots and hat to give us a hand.
A magical misty morning preluded a scorcher of a day on Thursday. I was kind of grateful that my stint out in the paddock was complete by 7.30 when I retired, with the kids, to the air conditioned schoolroom.
It was kind of romantic to ride together. One of those moments when you feel blessed to be able to live where you do and work in a job that you both love.
A couple of our horses are lame at the moment. It meant a change of steed for me, getting to swing my leg over my seven year old son’s horse. Patriot is a pretty cool dude to ride . . .
The steers were a little surprised to see us so early.
They are feeling fresh with the green feed and frolicked down to the watering square where they gathered.
It was then a march home to the yards where the Brahman steers were drafted off and sent to market.
Rob and I value the opportunity to bring our kids up as ‘country kids’. This past week Rob has spent some time on a dozer, clearing up some lantana. Eliza thought that was pretty good fun.
Spending lots of time with Dad, also means she is pretty used to him being on the phone a lot. Mobile coverage means business happens everywhere at anytime!
Our kids are pretty normal, and somedays they are not so keen about saddling up and helping out with the cattle work. While as a parent I understand the value of intrinsic motivation, I also know that outright bribery works a treat.
Picnics on the creek bank are certainly worthy of a couple of hours on a horse . . .
Even better if Dad has a snooze under the shade of a tree and the kids get to splash in the running water.
Another bribe working well at the minute is time in the kitchen. Adelaide cooked scones for us yesterday on the promise of riding with us later in the day.
We then used the scones and smoko on the creek bank as a lure to ride once we’d all had a play!
An imaginary fishing expedition is all you need when you’re seven.
I must say though, mustering in this heat is hot and thirsty work and we’ve all been a little hot under the collar.
It’s always a good end to the ride when you can thank your pony with a cool hose down.
While the life of a country kid is pretty cool, it is also pretty bloody tiring . . . . . .
