Animals

y race horses, dogs, cows, sheep,  goats (hair , milk and meat), deer, and during a stint at Orana Park, both brilliant young ladies and (mainly African) beasts.

The young ladies were the hardest work.

The animals tended to be relatively easy if you respected them.

At Orana park, when dealing with the (unhappy, if not) wild animals the staff tended to ensure their vehicle was between them and any dangerous animal.

In a farm situation you can't always do that but you can avoid a situation by knowing your animals and working to avoid problems ( a bit like taxi driving).

Things like knowing every bobby-calf in existence wants to stand on your feet.

The news recently has a ram killing an old couple on what I gather, based on reports, is a lifestyle-type block.

I suspect the dead people treated their animals as pets.

No animal big enough to hurt you is a pet.

The ram, no doubt ramming, killed two. A first as far as I know. He was slaughtered as punishment (a bit like James I) but will go down in history.

No doubt, up in that great paddock in the sky, he is even now regaling all who will listen with the story of how he got both the bastards.

I hope this story gives those going amongst animals, even if that's your local mall or supermarket, a chance to reflect.

We are all animals and if you don't respect us we will happily bite you in the ass when you are least expecting it.