Moving cattle on the allotment.

[leanin' H]

We move the cows about every 4 to 6 weeks. On
this trip we picked them up in Pole canyon and went
to Ott's canyon. Here's Phil, my cousin, leadin' out.
We unloaded low and rode 10 or 11 miles up to the
head to start the gather.

Adam, a nephew of Phil's, then Wayne and his wife Melonie.
Melonie is Phil's oldest daughter. His youngest Trish was in
the back somewhere.

We picked up 26 pair on top and started them down.

Stringin' down the canyon.

My wife and son with the cold soda's and sandwichs.

We left the crew with the cattle from the top and made
a sweep through the low end of the pasture. Picked up 40
more and started them up to "Meet in the Middle".

The low, old-burn area is the pass we took them over.

Kickin' them out'a the bottom and over the hill. They put
up a good fight for two hundred yards and then we changed
their minds. It was hot and 3:00 p.m. but over we went.

Pushin' horns (not in this bunch) werent easy like the movies
said it was.

Down the other side. Steep, shale, cedars and dusty.

Once off the ridge, we hang a right and start up the
Jonny-bull hollow. Cows hit the old trail and away we go!

Rode around a cedar and found an old shed horn. Made
a nice frame. Headin' for the horse trap.

This is a really old trap for catching mustangs. They'd bring em' off the top and watch where they'd duck away to escape. Then build a trap
in thick cedars with poles for a gate and run em' in. Grand dad rode
desert mustangs all his life. The cow trail goes right through
the old gate.

Almost to the top to drop into Ott's.

Crestin' the ridge. Another mile and we are there.

Got below them to turn them out'a the willows and up the canyon.
They turned up but spent a lot of time cussin' them and the willows.

A shot of the steepness of the country. It's lovely!!!!

Another picture of the mouth of the canyon.

Quick! Close the gate before they escape!!!

My bay gelding Ranch. He was a tired pony. Even helped me rope
some calves born late on the mountain so we could tag and band em'.
A good--make that great cowhorse. Hope ya like em'. Sorry it's so long.

 

[Soapweed]

Looks like you had a hard ride and got a lot accomplished. Your cattle summer in very beautiful rugged country. It would take a pretty good horse to negotiate the obstacles. Thanks for taking us along, but giving us the easy job. :wink:

 

[Shortgrass]

Good pics, Thanks. My cousin runs cattle north of Canon City, Co in rough, Pinon country, much like your pictures show. That country makes for lots of wet saddle blankets, which makes for lots of solid horses. Looks like you had a nice warm day for it.

 

[WyomingRancher]

Neat pictures! You are in neat country. Do you use dogs to move your cattle?

 

[Bward]

Beautiful County. Reminds me of Bonanza.
My cows would starve there.

 

[gcreekrch]

Pretty country, reminds me of where my wife and I cowboyed just after we were married. West of Penticton BC there is a big patch of rough semi-desert country. Nice to see someone else that wants to have their horse where it was left if you have to tie it and leave for a bit!

 

[andybob]

Thanks for sharing your 'drive' leanin' H, I really miss not having cattle at the moment so enjoy sharing on the board. My Tuli cattle would just thrive there! the country (but not the foliage,) is exactly like the hill area south of my hometown in Zimbabwe

 

[andybob]

Sorry, duplicate post

 

[HAY MAKER]

thanks for the photo tour,that ole rough country is mighty scenic.
good luck

 

[efb]

Beautiful country. Thanks for taking the time to take us along.
Gives new meaning to "good feet and legs". I doubt some of my cows would have made the trip. I am never going to complain about having to move cows. Do you have any predator problems in that country ?
Thanks again.

P.S. now I understand your handle.

 

[leanin' H]

Neat pictures! You are in neat country. Do you use dogs to move your cattle?

We had dogs when i was a kid but we havent for 12 or 15 years. Maybe if we had the right dog? But it's tough to replace perfection.

 

[Jassy]

Great Photo story you did...After my education on Mountain riding and Mountain horses, I have a new respect for the rough country that those horses have learned to adapt to..how they climb rocks without slipping going straight up or down, amazed me...Our sandhill horses wouldn't last an afternoon on a roundup like this...weanie's...lol

 

[leanin' H]

Beautiful country. Thanks for taking the time to take us along.
Gives new meaning to "good feet and legs". I doubt some of my cows would have made the trip. I am never going to complain about having to move cows. Do you have any predator problems in that country ?
Thanks again.

P.S. now I understand your handle.

We only have cats around and they leave us alone. I'll see some tracks in the fall as we wean or gather to drive across the desert to winter. They have enough deer to munch that they have, so far, ignored the bovines. But we carry a 30-30 every fall just in case. As for my handle..... it's our brand. My folks had a brand they used and had some history and so did my wfie's folks, so we started our own, the leaning H. But we have kept the other two brands registered in our names also to continue the tradition. But you are right as leanin' matches this country. Ya can tell a Canadian cowhorse by his woolly exterior. A Nebraska pony comes with really neat goggles for seein' cows in sand storms. And our cayuse's have a heck of a time standing up on level ground.

 

[burnt]

Incredible pictures of some beautiful country. I should send our cows out there to teach them a lesson in contentment when it comes to chewing off some of our drier grass!

When they are accustomed to rotational grazing in our well-watered part of the world, they feel pretty hard done by when they get into some older grass or poorer hay, spoiled rascals they are.