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Time to change canyons

leanin' H

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2007
Messages
7,286
Location
Western Utah Desert
Unloaded on the east side of the Sheeprocks and went up Bennion canyon to meet in Ott's canyon with family coming from the ranch. The choke cherrys, snow berries and service berries were sure loaded. Here's the veiw from the mouth of the canyon.
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On the way up looking for our cows that sometimes wander over, i jumped a bunch of bucks. 19 head in all but none were big fellers. Still fun to see and not a tractor in sight! :wink:
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I reached the top after an hour an a half. Nice ride and no wanderin' bovines! Here's the veiw from the top lookin' west.
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So we headed south east on the comb of the mountain checking the draws and canyons as we went. These sisters are on Rattlesnake ridge. My mare Reba is thinking "Why can't these stupid cows gather themselves?"
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Speaking of Reba, here she be posing on the top. After we picked up 3 pair from Rattlesnake.
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Then we dropped into Little valley and found 21 pair and a bull. Here we go kickin' them west and back into Ott's. It's steep and dusty but after much consideration, over they went.
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I took the bunch i'd found and headed for the meeting spot.... the trough in Ott's canyon. There was a bunch of cattle having a noon break in on water.... But no riders..... it's 1:00 p.m. and they should be waiting on me?.... since 11:00.... what to do? If i leave the cows here they will be scattered by tommorow!!!
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So Reba and i started them west across the high trail for Joe's canyon. 50 head or so. At this point i'm sure hoping everyone coming to meet me are o.k. They always are where they oughta be. So worried and tired, away we go.
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Until the bulls realized they were together!!!!! 1/2 hour later after torn brush and sore heads they decided to call it a draw. Cows scattered for 1/2 a mile by this time. All over one cow needing a boyfriend.
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We got em started again and by now my mare is worn down. The cattle hit a patch of green grass amongst the cherrys and they just stopped. About the time i'd had it, here came the calvary!! Here's my Dad riding bandit. What a sight for sore eyes and legs and voicebox!!! It was windy and he was packin' his hat!
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Then Mom and Wayne and Chance and Melonie showed up. With the cows nicely outgunned we continued on to Joe's.
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The high trails are steep and narrow. We break the big bunch into smaller ones and they trail better. That's Dad starting some down into joe's. He turned 69 on Sunday and is my hero!
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Here's my Mom riding skunk. She grew up on the ranch and has spent years on these trails.
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My mare threw a front shoe in the rocks so i led her down into joes as the trail is rocky. Lookin' back at the drags.
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We let the cows water up and had a cool drink ourselves. Then we started them up and over into Hard-to-beat canyon. Really steep and narrow. I got to walk as my mare was done. Oh well, somebody gets to run them out of the cherrys! :D
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Here's Mom and Dad as we push for the top. By this time everybody is tired including cows. Pretty good help if ya ask me!!!
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TOPPING OUT! We made it. Wayne and Chance starting them into Hard-to-beat.
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One fine Lady and a horse named skunk! But i may be a little predjudced!
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Down they go to leave em' on water. I bid them farewell and started back for my pony. A good job done!!!
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Here's the veiw across the top of the Sheeprocks. It was a great day! A fine ride, deer, lost cows, a missed meeting due to an open gate and a horse wreck everybody walked away from, a tired mare missing one shoe(note to self: punch horseshoer.....hard) and cows moved to late summer home. As i led my mare back to the trailer i couldnt help grinning. Some folks pay to do this!!!!!!!!!!!
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Great photos Leanin'H! Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great day, except for some wind.

Have you ever tried one of those EasyBoot? They say they are great to use if your horse throws a shoe. You can put one on as a replacement and keep travelin'.
 
Truly great photos! It really is a way of living not just a job. People that pay for it will never really understand.

P.S.

I have used an easy boot for years as a nice back up. Keep one in my saddle bags!!! :lol:
 
I think I know how you came about that great brand. Pretty hard to get a brand on straight in that country. Thanks for the tour. :wink:
 
Nice pictures you colored, leanin' H. You must have bought the big box of crayolas, with 128 colors to choose from. I only got the basic "8" as a child, but some of my classmates got the box with 16. :? One fortunate girl in the second grade got the big box with 128 colors. She cried when one of them broke. :cry: :wink:

You portrayed a nice story with the photos. Looks like you all accomplished a lot, and rode many miles before that day was through. Thanks for letting us go along.
 

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