bunch of questions concerning livestock and ranching

[per]

When you get that story written many on here like to write and critique prose so post it up. If it is funny we most certainly also like humour.

[Clarencen]

I agree with per. I would like to read it also. I would be interested in how the people in cities and other places see the Ranchers and ranching.

You might be surprised how much of the way people in ranching dress, and even how they veiw themselves, because of the way eastern writers have portrayed them.

[Blkbuckaroo]

Heck, we all live it everyday,romantic and not so romantic,maybe we could help him with a few passages.

[KevinL]

I keep coming back to the ranching-issue time and time again. I have phases where I can't stop thinking of being on a ranch, working on a ranch. Then I tell myself "not gonna happen", and go on with my life.

I was telling a friend about how to achieve dreams, how to make them come true. I say to her first she needed to find out what her dream was, then be totally honest about why it seems far fetched. We kept talking, and all of the sudden I was like "how come I never follow my own dream?"
Because ranching to me feels as impossible as being an astronaut. When I told my friends about this being my dream, they were amused.
And I thought "I have to follow my own advice and at least try."
Easier said than done.
I'm not talking about having a ranch myself or anything. I'm talking about working on one, living there. As I mentioned before, I really don't know anything about ranching, other than what I've read on the net.
I'm not physically in shape to do it neither. Which leads to a simple conclusion: nobody would hire me.
So I was thinking about how I could come closer to this dream anyway.
First I would have to find out if me and ranching fit together.
But I tell you, I'm scared to end up on a dude ranch where I can't really work. Is there something like internships on ranches? This would be perfect for me to find out.
If I only had the basics down, like being able to tell front and rear of a horse (hehe). I will take riding lessons in fall.
And I realize ranchers don't have time for people like me, who cause more work than there already is.

Everything about this is saying "impossible. Forget it."
And still I would like to try.
I don't want to end up OLD, wondering what could have been.

I'd really like to know what you think.

Oh, about that story I was writing, I stopped writing it. It was quite painful to write about something I will probably never have. Also I knew too little about it.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Someone else was asking about gettin into ranching. and possibly doin an internship.

I suggested contacting the Galt Ranch from the Series on Animal Planet a few weeks back. They were saying how they are always having interns come and go. It's a possiblity that you might be able to get on with them. I will tell you tho...that winter is a hard hard time there. Not that I have experience with it there......but it just will be....snow..ugh LOL

I'm sure some of the members here can tell you how hard winter is on ranchers. But give it a shot. If they aren't looking..or taking any new one's on...ask them if they know of any ranchers that would be interested in doin that.

[Silver]

I would think it wouldn't be too difficult to befriend a rancher and give him / her a hand from time to time just to get a feel for what all is involved. You may be disappointed to find that most ranch work isn't glamorous or even very fun most times, and not nearly enough of it is done from horse back. It often involves long hours on machinery, pulling wrenches, fixing fence, or a multitude of other menial tasks that are very 'uncowboy like'.
Lilly has winter all wrong though, it's the easiest time of year for a rancher 99 % of the time. The further north the easier it gets. You go from a warm house to a warm tractor (if it starts) feed cows for an hour or two then decide what to do with the rest of your day. In the frozen north winters tend to be pretty relaxed because there is not a lot of chores you can do, so guilt isn't even an issue.
I think if you're going to experience any kind of ranching you want to do it where it doesn't get too hot (above 90F) in the heat of summer.... that kind of weather isn't fit for man OR beast.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Aww come on Silver...don'tcha wanna come do a Summer in South East Texas?

[Silver]

[KevinL]

Oh, I read about Galt Ranch. It was a book by David McCumber, who spend a year there, learning how to live and work on a ranch. It was very interesting.
And, no, I don't expect much traditional cowboying.

Thing is since I live in Europe it will not be that easy to befriend any american ranchers (like Silver suggested). I couldn't spend more then 90 days there nor work for money, because of visa-issues.

I even looked up working ranches (which are too close to dude ranches for my taste) but I don't think I can afford about 2000$ a week, in addition to a flight from Europe and back again...

Well. If you ever feel like you could use some "help" for a few months, drop a line
(You never know, right?)

[Big Muddy rancher]

[KevinL]

Hey

I had a look at that exchange organization big muddy rancher suggested, and I found that it is only for people that are doing agricultural stuff in any way - so it is not for people liek me who don't know anything about it. Too bad. The program sounds great.

I don't know if it is a silly idea or not, but I decided to take riding lessons (like I said, I'm from the city...) and I also found roping lessons. Can't hurt, what do you think? I'm very limited here in my options, and it's getting more frustrating by the hour. So I thought it could be fun to do those roping lessons. And yeah, I know you will laugh. Go ahead. It's alright

And, yes, I'm pretty embarassed to come here and tell a bunch of actual ranch people about my pathetic ranchhand-wannabe dreams. Thanks for bearing with me.

[Northern Rancher]

Send Dylan biggs a pm he can help you out!