Task turns into Terror

Though I don't relish riding alone - I do love it when I have a task to complete. As I was debating about where to ride - my honey suggested I follow the creek & push out any cows I found back around the mtn. It's a spot we'd pushed cows out from before so I was comfortable with the task. There were nine pair hidden under a cottonwood and once they saw me enter the pasture and head towards them - they moved out. Almost like little kids that knew they weren't supposed to be hanging out on this side of the mtn. It was pretty easy to push them back to the dirt tank - along the way I picked up a Charolais bull and another pair. Then I went back up the side of another hill to push down some cows so I could get an accurate count. So, I was upto 14 pair that had wondered back into this part of the pasture (there isn't much water in the dirt tank) so we're keeping a count. I rode up another hill and was headed back to the house - virtually making a big loop around this this mtn. There are many canyons on the sides of these hills and I've been up & down hundreds of them - some easier to cross than others.

I headed down a rather steep one and Dudley my trusty steed didn't think twice about it. As I got to the bottom and began heading up the other side - all of the sudden Dudley was on all fours thrashing about obviously entangled in some wire. I quickly jumped off - I was close to the ground one would say practically on it - Dudley continued to struggle, thrash - it was incredibly scary to see him struggling and thrashing about - he managed to get up, moved a few feet and then as he kept struggling - the wire took him back down to the ground - his legs looked contorted. By this time, I am truly scared for my horse and I'm thinking, how in the heck am I going to get to my fence pliers in my saddlebag to cut the wire if he doesn't calm down.

He managed to get up again - this time he made it about four feet and the wire took him back down to the ground for a third time. The contortion continued - his legs were going in every direction. I am thinking what if he breaks a leg. He finally gets up - stands there holding his leg in the most peculiar position. We are both breathing hard and Dudley's nostrils are coated in dirt.

I walked the four miles back to the house. And thankfully Dudley was ok. He is such a great horse!!

Canyon Ride

We actually had the weekend off! Sat. we explored a beautiful canyon near the house - as you can see Dudley and I get to ride the back!

Roll with the Moment

Where is the water leak?

If you've ever spent time on a large desert ranch you know the trials and tribulations of water - water lines, finding values, locating leaks, windmills and such...and sometimes you just have to get dirty to get it fixed and hope you've got the right parts! This photo was taken around 7 PM - We had returned home around 6 after building a half mile of barbwire fence ready to relax and eat dinner instead we had no water at the house and a leak in the corrals! Whether it is replacing a float in a water tank, figuring out a pressure problem or fixing a leak - plumbing is an important component of running a ranch! Who needs dinner?

Dirt Tanks & The Bull Pasture

Sat. I rode Dudley up to the three dirt tanks near the house. All three had water! The cows were loving it. It was too hot to ride with my camera. Sun. we worked a few cows - done by 8 AM - a record. Then we hauled the horses - near the vine tank - we took our trusty steads into the what was once referred to as the Bull pasture. Long ago one of the owners used to pull the bulls off the cows at certain times of the year and pasture them in this triangular shaped pasture - it is an absolutely gorgeous canyon nestled between some really beautiful rocks - loads of grass - of course there were about 15 head that were taking advantage of the grass that had come thru the gate by the vine tank - they took one look at us and took off running. As we explored the pasture keeping the cows in site - they lead us up a steep canyon to another gate - it was closed but they knew exactly where the gate was! Then we turned them around and took them out another gate on the other side. A beautiful ride.

Fireworks at the Ranch!

Spent the 4th moving 30 or so head of cows w/ calves from one pasture to another to relieve some of the water tanks in the pasture. Beforehand we moved some cows/calves for a video - b/c they'll be sold thru a satellite auction later this month. I don't think the video will do justice to how good looking these calves are.

Spent the rest of the afternoon checking waterers and putting out mineral. Late afternoon we went to the pasture to look for a few cows that were missed when the pasture was gathered. Spotted four.

Then on the 5th we moved more cows/calves from one pasture to another. Our herd split on us and when we brought them back together one of the calves couldn't find her mother and had an anxiety attack. I knew we had her mother so I wouldn't let her turn back - but it tore at my heart strings to hear and see this calf cryin for her mother. All went well in a few minutes we arrived at the spring - mother & calf were reunited

Then on the 6th - we went to find the remenents/cows that missed the gathering - as we were unloading the horses one black cow took off running in the opposite direction of where we were taking them. We circled around the pasture - finally got four cows and two calves (two of the mommas were dry) - they wanted NOTHING to do with us - and took off running. We galloped after them and they ran thru another pasture but they knew where to go - we got them back to the pens of course, one of them tried to turn back and after chasing them for sooo long I wasn't about to let that cow go. Dudley cooperated fully and we were able to get them penned.

Then on the 7th - we worked the few calves we had. I got to sort them in the alley - Dudley doesn't particularly like cutting in the alley - I think he feels claustrophobic but I love it.

Living in Two Worlds

This is exactly how I felt this weekend at the ranch. After a grueling and exciting week - I took off for the ranch. I got Dudley saddled up and as I was leaving - I heard, "If you see those two bulls while your out ridin by the creek bring 'em in and pen 'em" Great now I have a mission! I was at the point in my loop that I turn back towards the house when Dudley's ears stood straight up and he stopped dead in his tracks. It was time to make a decision - do I spend the next couple of hours herding the bulls back to the pens or do I head for the house. Of course, I like a good challenge and moving two huge bulls about a mile and half would be fun. So, off we went - the bulls had alot of flies so every chance they got they ran for the thick brush...I had to hoop & holler to keep them moving and of course they don't move in a straight line and every chance they got they would separate and one of them would inevitable turn back! Needless to say it was a GREAT two hours! Dudley was frustrated with the bulls by the time we got back to the pens at the house because they did not fully cooperate - but we got them penned all by ourselves!

Another Day at the Ranch -

Photo by Deck Walker • Flickr• Taken in Kabul

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Today on the Ranch

Yesterday we moved about 68 cows with calves out of the Hay Pasture into the trap near the house. And then today we brought them in to work the calves.

A Day in the Life of Butch

Learning to Blog.....Bear with me!

Today we moved about 100 cows with calves out of the Barrenda Pasture today. Dudley is so much happier when he has a job to do. Most of the calves mothered up but there were two bull calves that followed up the rear, crying for their mothers and constantly trying to turn back. Even Dudley got frustrated with them. Of course, their mother were up ahead .......I wouldn't want to listen to them either.

We stopped for lunch under a shady tree - and continued moving the cows after lunch. I was in a small valley and couldn't get the cows to move - I had two bulls fighting over cow #73 -

My Horses: Veinte & Dudley

This is Veinte. He is nothing more than a yard ornament these days. In his grand days he was a great working ranch horse - now he barely moves I call him Crip for short. He is named Veinte because he has a 20 branded on hind end.

This is Dudley. He is about nine years old. He got the name Dudley because his mother was a paint and when he was born he did not have any color except a white sock - so they said "What a Dud." He is a really sweet horse, very trusting, wants to please and tries very hard. Horses are just like people - some are really really nice, some are just mean spirited, some have to be yelled and whipped on a bit while others (like Dudley) will respond to just a harsh word....

May 13, 2007:

My parents came to visit this weekend. We toured Fort Bliss - the Military base in El Paso. I had an all access pass so we really toured the entire base! It was great fun hearing Dad's JAG stories and how he learned to write such great commendation letters. I had a great visit with my parents.

My Hereos have Always Been Cowboys!

I found this video on YouTube by J.D. - its got some great old photographs!

• Sing it Willy -