Had To Happen

Back in Feb of this year, is when we brought Sam The Ram to our farm. He was born in December 2017, and was 3 months old when we transported his little self to Gunter. He joined Belle and Eve wonderfully. He's very similar to them, as all three are tame sheep, and either bottle baby lambs (Belle and Sam), or a triplet who required additional handling, due to the necessity to be supplemented with a bottle, as the fight for milk from her mama wasn't an easy task, with two other siblings (Eve). The three sheep blended well together.
Time moved on, and Sam grew into a true ram. He has horns to prove it. He's given us a potential new lamb with Eve (dependent on how the lambing event goes). And in the usual nature of a ram, he became very protective of his girls. His head butting began at around 5-6 months, and both David and I could handle him well. He mostly used this technique with people, to let them know he's in charge. He would sometimes began butting one of the dogs, playfully, but they put a quick end to it, as he is submissive to Levi and Whisper., Guard Dogs Extraordinairies. As each day passed, and months went by, the butting and battering (as I've heard it call) became scary. He's now a huge ram, with horns that sting, and the weight of a Sumo wrestler that knocks you over with one blow. Now, Sam and David have the same type of bond Belle and I do. Sam and David are imprinted, and he actually comes running when David calls his name. Sam wags his tail when he's petted, and his favorite rub spots are on his chest and under his neck. Petting him through fence, you would think he would never hurt a soul.
Sam does not bite, nor does he show aggression to any animal on the farm. Just to people. He's certainly not safe around kids, and David has had to start distracting him by petting him or feeding him, so that I can go in the pasture. Otherwise, when he sees me go into the pasture, he runs straight for me - to show me whose Boss. He is, so he says with his head butting and battering. For being such a huge ram, he's a surprisingly fast runner! I love that about him, he really is cute when he's running.
A wonderful solution David came up with is something I've always wanted - but with a twist. He got a bell for Sam, and placed it on a dog collar around his neck, so that we will always know where he is in the pasture, and how close he is to us. My original dream was of a Bellwether. A wether with a bell around his neck. Okay, so I have a ram with a bell around his neck, to warn me of impending danger. Not my original dream. But close. I'll take it. This has been a blessing. I can always have a warning bell now, when going out to the pasture, or while in the pasture. I can hear Sam coming, I can be ready for him.
This was magical for quite a while. The problem was, Sam was getting bigger and bigger, stronger and stronger, and his aggressive nature became a impediment to doing just about anything in the pasture. And as you can imagine, there's plenty to do in the pasture from mowing, picking up dog bowls, feeding/watering, and just going out to enjoy everyone in the pasture. That was now against the Law of Sam. It's just so odd. Sam is sweet, kind and loving. He loves to be loved. He wants to be petted. He baa's constantly to have someone come over and pet him. But the second you stop petting, he butts. He allows us to brush him readily, but it's almost like he can't control the natural instincts to butt and protect the ewes around him, even though he knows us. It's like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. I don't really even though who they are, but the concept applies here. Sam is kissing and loving on you one minute, then BAM, he's crushed your knee with his horns. Now, a ram can seriously hurt you. I began reading about this in other blogs and sheep sites. Rams are dangerous, they can be aggressive, they want to be the dominant one - even over people. Granted, not all of them, but many of them. I did have this understanding when we decided to get a ram, but with the range-of-danger they present, I felt like Sam wasn't going to be "one of those". Ah, but I was wrong.
Silly me. Living in a world of denial. I swim in that river often, De Nile. I had to face the facts, Sam was "that" ram. Now what? Okay, let's put him in a different pasture. Let's cage him. Let's. Let's. Let's. Part of all these Let's was......let's sell him, let's take him to the meat plant. So many let's. Finally, I decided I can't take him to a meat plant. Granted, he is still considered a lamb, and his meat would be delicious. No, I don't think I can follow through with that. So, I decided he's happiest if he's with ewes and doing his thing. On another farm.
To sum it up, I sold him. I sold him to a man in OK City who has 10 ewes and would like lambs. Sam's their man. Sam can do that - just ask Eve. And just like that, this man is at our farm, picking up Sam in a horse trailer to drive for hours back to his new ewes. Sam loaded up in the trailer with ease. A little grain is all he needs, and waa-laa, he's in a trailer heading to Oklahoma. I kissed him GoodBye and told him to Be Good! Then, I explained in great detail the need to be safe around Sam, to his new owner. Please, I begged him, you must be careful. I left his bell on him, as the man is going to need it. I kept saying over and over.....he will hurt you if you are not careful. I hope he heard me. I hope he heeds my words. Yet, I have a feeling Sam will be immediately placed in a pasture in Oklahoma and left with the other sheep. He won't be coddled, brushed and rubbed. He's going to have to transition to the real sheep world. No more gravy-train Graves Farm. He's about to meet The Real Deal. He'll be 1 year old in December. He's got this.
Sam would have a long trip to his new home in a horse trailer. As they drove down the gravel drive back to the main road, I knew I had done the right thing, and wished him only the best with his new harem of ewes. After all, Eve is his witness. Eve will give us Sam's lambs soon. Sam will always be our first ram, our first boy crush, and forever in my memory and heart. I know he will love being in charge of a flock, as he's built for that and will mange it nicely. Go Sam Go. I have been thinking of you often this past week, wondering what your doing, if they let you in from the rain, or if it even matters now. The bell around your neck is ringing in my heart. My Sweet Sam.

You will live on here at The Graves Farm, as your babies will arrive soon. Be still my heart.

Cyndi