Across The Fence: The Solomon River Stampede

I have often tried to stop a spooked cow from high tailing across the pasture in a direction opposite of that which I intended.

This maneuver has often resulted in a cross-pasture race between horse and cow or, if not horseback, a sudden and painful introduction to a hard-headed bovine and a dusty patch of ground.

I learned early on that I could not physically restrain a thousand pounds of bellering, slobbering beef, though I would continue to unsuccessfully try. Therefore, I can only imagine what it must have been like to attempt to stop an entire herd in their panic-blinded flight.

I'm re...