On Saturday we rode at the ranch to pick up 5 late calvers and their summer calves. I invited some friends from town who own horses but don't cowboy much. They been wanting to come help on a weekend and since this trip was in the rare un-steep country we have, they tagged along. Except their horses were mostly mules! Here's Jason and "Cookie".
Saddling up and getting the crew ready. There were 4 adults and 8 kids out to help. Those kids are city kids with western hearts. No complaining and all smiles!
Jason & Paige on a long eared jack-rabbit!
We rode the lower horse trail to Joe's canyon checking the grass and watching for the pairs. Phil and I checked the corners and my friends stayed on the trails and the easier riding. We found the 5 cows and calves and picked up 35 more cows. Since we gotta move em' all next weekend as the grass was showing the use, we took the bunch back to the ranch. Here come the crew off the ridge>
Stopped to stretch little legs. They had a good rodeo on an old black-willow limb!
Jason's brother, Justin astride "cookie".
Has the makin's of a top hand! That ol' horse is the deffinition of bomb-proof!
You are looking at a 33 year old molly mule. She did great and the little dude riding her didnt have to lift a rein. She would walk way out around the cedars and place each foot carefully. From the looks of her hair, winter may be coming!
After getting the pairs cut out we enjoyed a bite of lunch with the crew. Then they loaded up and started for home while we loaded Phil with the homeward bound bovines. Then Phil and i pushed the bunch of already De-calf-inated sisters out of the corral. Phil helped get them across the old orchard and then headed back to load his horse. I pushed em' up into pasture 9. Headed east.
Going to better grass for as long as the weather holds.
Its been dry and snowless except for the really high country. Temps in the 40s during the day. Chasing my shadow!
It was 4 p.m. when i left the ranch. Now i'm racing sundown but the grass is getting better.
As the shadows darken, we reached pasture 9. Now just gotta drop em' on water and head for the trailer.
Looks like somebody bought a round for the house!
That would make me the bar-keep!
Sunset sillouette! My gelding Ranch. He's not for sale.
At the gate the strain-brace made a decent tripod for a picture of a great horse and a guy whos friend's ride lots of mules!
Got to the ranch after dark. Got loaded and headed for home. Took this one at the gate to a place that has made me countless wonderful memories, many long, tired days and molded me into whatever kind of guy i've turned into. Bet ya didn't know that one old gate could mean that much!
A shot of them two stars that have been lined up lately. Jupiter and Venus i think. They kept me company driving home for a couple hours.
Today i had to catch a heifer calf for my dad. An older gentleman had bought her to raise but he was in over his head. She got out of his 1/4 acre the 2nd day there and has been with his neighbors bunch grazing hay ground. He is 80 plus and finally decided she had to go, so my Dad bought her to help him out. Thing was, she had a halter on her and had managed to get a front foot hung up in it. So me and Ranch caught her and untangled the halter with my buck knife!
She's 300 pounds or so and couldnt cover ground too quick in her perdicament. Ranch did all the work. I just had to cut the halter and turn her loose. And snap a couple shots with my digital six-shooter!
The sunset over Simpson.
Sunset on a dry December day.
