Repetition, hesitation, deviation?

Apart from gale force winds it's been a very quiet start to 2012. With the pork provisioner not attending any markets till (or "while" as they say in Lincolnshire) 20th January there's been no need for to-ing and fro-ing. However, piglets being weaned reminds us that there are other cycles to attend to. Hence Friday 13th was the first of the new year's Pig Movement Days. Lots were planned; the 6 'Victorian' hoglets had to be transported from the barn to their new rented premises a dozen or so miles away. That entailed moving the one gilt - Victoria - in with the Merkel the Ferkel et all (EU Leaders litter) - a feat which under normal circumstances would have required at least two humans. But who cares for normal. Linda hefted Victoria out of the barn and across to the stalls, hardly hesitating to draw breath (actually, she admitted to questioning her actions half way but by then it was, as they say "Too late" to buzz anyone.....).
 So, Hoglets loaded and off without a hitch. Settled at other end, instructions left for the care and the removal team were back here within minutes of The Bestest Gundog and I returning from another day in the field.

Next job was to part Scrabble from Samson. The hurdle channel was meticulously constructed to ensure Scrabble knew where to go. Two judiciously placed bowls of food saw her journey' accomplished with hardly a moment's hesitation. "Why did we need to set up all these Hurdles?" asked somebody. I think it was Conley.  Scrabble was quickly transported up to the woods; she happily trotted out of the trailer into her new pen without hesitation or deviation; snout hardly leaving her bowl - eyes maybe lifting for a second to register new surroundings.Maybe.But actually, I doubt it!  Hurdles packed up - a bit repetitive this -and everyone back to the Church Field to move Delila up to Samson.  Another hurdle channel constructed. As you  can see, Delila wasn't hanging about. I think she'd have jumped over the gate if it'd been less gloopy on her side. She positively ran into the trailer -Linda and the bowl of food may have motivated her but I think she'd have gone regardless. No deviation; no hesitation. Hurdles packed up and removed to Samson's pen entrance. Sturdy construction built (Repetition). Delila out of trailer and straight through gate without looking left or right. Again no H or D.  Maybe raised her eyes a moment to acknowledge where she was but I can't honestly say I noticed! Food over and it off to check out who'd been sleeping in her ark and then it was "Hello Samson, nice to see you again".

"What did we need these hurdles for?" somebody - probably Tony that time, asked........... Packed them up and moved the whole kit and caboodle up to Darbie and Joan's pen. ( More repetition)..... Another hurdle channel constructed from pen to trailer. Opened gate and down they jumped (thanks to the mud there was a height difference of at least 18 inches between inside and outside pen!) and trotted on to the trailer with only minor deviation by Darbie. May have had something to do with the foodbowl they were following. On the other hand I think they were ready for a new adventure. Still we packed up the hurdles and took them up to the woods with the trailer transporting the two girls. Repetition. Reconstructed the secure hurdle channel from trailer to pen gate. Opened trailer and out they trotted - with just a little urging from Tony but only because they were still happily chewing on their food - and followed Linda into their new pen without further hesitation or deviation. Hurdles not required. "They just provide that extra little bit of security" said the boss when somebody else questioned (Linda?) why we'd bothered with the hurdles........

Thanks to the amenable nature of our pigs and the slick synchronisation by us humans all that lot was achieved in just over an hour and a half. Why do people always think things go wrong on Friday 13th? I haven't a clue.