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Bull drive

Soapweed

Well-known member
This afternoon, I needed to move the only old bulls we kept over for the winter. The nine bulls were three miles from home on a meadow, and I moved them three miles west to my dad's place where Saddletramp had earlier today filled bale rings with hay. Then it was a three mile ride back home. Basically the project was a triangle ride with three miles per side.

The whole job appeared to be made to order for my new green-broke spotted horse, Gander. By riding solo, he paid attention to me instead of to another horse and rider. The first three miles took the edge off him, and the bull drive wasn't anything one lone cowboy couldn't pull off, even though there were several gates to take them through. It was just challenging enough to give a young horse a purpose, without being too challenging and bogging down his young mind. Before I arrived at the destination, ol' Gander had already let me swing a rope off of him, and I accomplished opening a barbed wire gate and carrying it around while on his back. I took time to visit a bit with my dad, and he liked the new horse. Then it was a brisk trot awhile, lope awhile ride back home. Going by the barn to go secure the heavy cows for the night gave Gander a reason to keep going and not go right to the barn to get unsaddled. All in all, it was a perfect little excursion for the young horse.

One highlight of the ride was seeing the first curlew of the season. Maybe spring is here after all.

Lookingatthesoutheastsideofnorthwes.jpg

Looking at the southeast end of a northwest bound bull
Backbehindthebulls.jpg

Back behind the bulls
Stillsnowalongthecreek.jpg

Still snow along the creek
Pastoralscene.jpg

Pastoral scene
Grassontheprairie.jpg

Grass on the prairie
Stillgrassinthepastures.jpg

Still grass in the pastures
Riparianareaingoodshape.jpg

Riparian area in good shape
Waterholeinthepasture.jpg

Waterhole in the pasture
Bullsalongthecreek.jpg

Bulls along the creek
Bullsgoingthroughtallgrass.jpg

Bulls going through tall grass
Bullsattheirnewlocation.jpg

Bulls at their new location
Gandermightturnintoaprettygoodhorse.jpg

Gander has the potential to become a good horse
Gandergazing.jpg

Gander gazing
FairlynewRitchiewatererthatImnottoo.jpg

Fairly new Ritchie waterer that I'm not too proud of
Chintzydeal.jpg

Chintzy deal
Ilikemynewadoptedmomshejustdoesntli.jpg

I like my new adopted mother; she just doesn't like me. :cry:
 

Jinglebob

Well-known member
Good pix and a good day for you Soap! :D

Hard to beat ridin' a good you ng horse and havin' him advance with no fuss nor muss. Wish I would have been with you. :D
 

the_jersey_lilly_2000

Well-known member
Great pics soapweed, those pictures really show how you can see forever out there in that country. Even with the rollin hills, it's just on and on and on.......Thanks for sharin.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Had some visitors from Western Montana here once and of course there are lots of mountains in W. Montana. They remarked, "Good grief. You can see clear into next week." Kinda that way on the Soapweed outfit too. :shock:

But that's just the way we like it! :p
 

cowboyup

Well-known member
Great pictures Soapweed, sure nice to see cattle strung out even harder when you are moving a small bunch. Sure nice range your running on reminds me of some of the big country I used to ride. I heard my first meadowlark yesterday still haven't seen a curlew yet so I won't be sure spring is till here. thanks for the pictures
 
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