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Branding day

Even at the bigger brandings here we don't get that many people or feed that well. A big pot of homemade chili or beef stew along with corn bread. Some cake and cookies for dessert. I don't drink but I notice the amount of beer is limited too. It is pretty much just the neighbors who come. Very little outside help. I think limiting the beer and food also serves to limit who will show up. So you just get the neighbors who want you to come help at their branding.
 
Peach said:
Before we stopped having the huge community brandings in 2005 we often fed up to 105 people then we split into two branding days of around 80 each. I don't miss those days. Soapweed would complain that around April 1st he would lose my calving help to start cleaning and baking. My mom was always such a help.
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I grew up with community brandings that got so large, the meals were potluck and held at the Grange Hall, but that came to a halt as it ended up way too much work for a select few. Too many standing around like they were watching a rodeo.

I haven't been to a branding in several years since I would just be in the way and create problems due to health. The last one I went to, had a lot of small acreage horse people that came just to rope and talk rodeo. Now, the ranchers around here keep it quiet since only a few know what they are doing. The same for fall roundup. Lots of folks want to come and ride, but have little clue what they are doing.
 
This is the way my family did it on the large Texas ranch. No corrals, just a large stock tank and windmill. Even though my immediate family did corral branding and used corrals for working cattle, it was always calm. The stereotypical "cowboys" were banned. No thundering hoofs, cracking whips, fancy horsemanship, rodeo attitude, crowding, or even whistling was allowed.

 
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This story isn't about branding, but learning patience working cattle.

The Old Indian Pony
by Faye

I remember the summer of 1970 when old Joe, whom was suffering health issues, decided to sell off all his cattle and just keep his 22-year-old horse. Joe had a small hogan that he lived in and his Trading Post was in another hogan by the two-lane highway. He made what little money he needed selling snacks, cold drinks, and ice cream to the tourist. The nearest towns were 30 miles in either direction. One set of my grandparents owned the neighboring ranch. Near his Hogan, he had an old pole corral with a ten-foot long pole gate. No fencing to funnel the cattle into the corral, just open the gate and the cows always came in to eat hay. Never a problem in the fall pushing the cattle to these winter grounds where hay awaited.

Joe made the decision to sell off all his cattle and donate his rangeland to the Ute tribe since he was Ute and the Rez bordered his land. Joe was unable to ride, so he insisted I ride his horse as it knew the drill. A couple of older ladies from the Rez came to help with their aged horses. They both wore leather split skirts and were so patient, kind, and entertaining. They never seemed to get hot or thirsty. It was mid-summer.

It never occurred to me that this wouldn't be a quick and easy operation. Pushing the cattle down to the lower pasture wasn't the problem. The problem started as the cattle approached the open corral gate. They turned and faced us. Joe and my grandparents stood by the gate chatting like they hadn't visited for ten years. They visited almost every day, year-round, for years on end.

After over thirty minutes of facing off with the cows, finally, one old girl goes in to try some hay and get a drink of water from the trough. Over the next thirty minutes, all the others meandered in at their own pace. Still talking like long-lost friends with my grandparents, Joe shuts the gate. None too soon for me suffering a dry canteen and a painful bladder. I now understand why Joe insisted I ride his horse. Any other horse would have become antsy like its young rider.

It was the old mares' last trip working cattle. She died that fall and Joe died shortly after.
 
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Older Whiskey said:
This is the way my family did it on the large Texas ranch. No corrals, just a large stock tank and windmill. Even though my immediate family did corral branding and used corrals for working cattle, it was always calm. The stereotypical "cowboys" were banned. No thundering hoofs, cracking whips, fancy horsemanship, rodeo attitude, crowding, or even whistling was allowed.

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How long is the average rope they use ?
 
Puzzled said:
How long is the average rope they use ?
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50 to 60 feet. In the video, they used the braided rawhide or reata that come in either 55 or 60 feet. I liked 55' for range and 35' for corral. That part of Oregon is Big Loop country and they have a rodeo every year. I think Webfoot goes to it. I think the rules say they have to have 25' in the loop and your rope is marked, so no guess work.
 
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