Bringing Us Up To The 21st Century

Dad, Greg and I went out to Jennies Mill to muck out the drinker. It didn't take long so we went ahead and remounted the electrical box for the pump.
Stopped by the ranch to grab a couple of blocks of salt to take to Cecil's Mill. As we were approaching the mill, out of the west we had some cows on a fast run toward the mill. We were commenting that we had never seen a sight like that. Then I noticed that there was a second bunch on the rise doing the same thing. We were joking that the cattle thought they were antelope. Antelope always run the same way you are headed and they will beat you at an intersection in the road and keep going. It baffles me why they don't turn and go far from you. Why they race to cross you. Anyway here is two group of cows racing toward us. We get to mill before them and put out the salt. I have noticed that just before reaching the mill they have turned and now are walking north. Out of no where comes along a man on a mountain bike. Ends up he is what my dad calls a (Nester). Some one that buys a few acres and lives out in the desolate range we call the ranch. He talks to us and loves to check out everyone that crosses our section. He wants to help out how ever he can. As we drive off it comes to me that cattle were on the run from the man on the bike. We decided that is what we need to do. Round up on bikes and we will have them gathered in less time. Straight into the 21st Century.

Two Much Trouble

For the first time I worked both of my dogs together. They are a year apart and both under 2 years of age. Believe me when I say they compete. I knew it was going to be an easy ride. We were riding early in the afternoon, going to just throw them on water so we could film them for a video auction. I was dropped off on the south on my quad. My dad would go get his quad from the ranch house and come in from the north and my cousin would come from the east on horse.
I have the option if it gets to hairy with both I can tie them to a tree and come back after them. First thing I notice is one of our calves is over the fence. I decide that my younger dog Vaquera, who loves to ride on the quad, will ride with me then I don't have two scary monsters chasing one scared calf from here to there. We go through the neighbors gate, swing wide, low and behold it goes down the fence line. Now momma has noticed and she comes the fence line. Just got to get the calf to the gate before his mom, and it will be fine. Yes, the calf saw the hole and ran through. Now as I close the gate the cow takes off on a trot the wrong way. I go to turn her and the game is on. The two take off at top speed to see who can get there first. The cow and calf have tails high in the air and are gone. First choice is to get the dogs back under control. My trainer has showed me how well dogs listen to a quirk (a whip). I catch up with them, jump off my quad, give two snaps with the quirk and tell them to get back. I get on my quad, once again tell them stay behind me and slowly come up on the cow. My older dog, Gideon, he's a heeler. Doesn't like to go out front. He loves to trail behind. He keeps his distance. Not much fight in him. He will take a nip if he feels that is needed. The other, she is a control freak. She tries to take charge of every situation. Head is her place but she will come behind. Always on the move she is. Swing up one side and then the other, always trying to get to the front.
We now have the cow and calf almost bunched up with about 12 other head. My young one has now stepped up to work the cattle. Every time she gets close the last cow stops and takes a look at her. I call her back. Soon she takes notice that if a cow looks back she is too close and she either stops to get distance or she slows down. Lesson learned. It was a beautiful thing to behold.

Worth the fifteen minute wait

Two weekends ago Tom and I were with my dad checking Cecil's Mill, when dad got telling us stories.
He said when he was young they also raised colts for sale beyond just the cattle they ran. They wintered them in Cecilville and summered them on a forest permit and also the Taylor place.
They would sale the colts to the Apaches. They were pretty good horses. Had a stud and quite a few brood mares.
It was first of December. Him and Judd were to move them off the forest. They had found them earlier in November and left them in Los Burros. As they left the ranch they stopped by the Midway. Which at the time was also the post office and told Donald Goodman to watch for them. They would be a few hours and they would need someone to stop traffic on the 60 as they crossed back.
They got to Los Burros. To get them to all follow them, Judd saddled up the stud. They did a few laps around the clearing until all the mares were in tow. Dad brought up the rear. They strung out for quite a ways. Mare,foal,mare,foal.
Back at the midway, a highway patrol man had stopped by the store and Donald asked if he wouldn't mind hanging around just a little longer to help the boys and horses to cross the road. It had been about two hours and it shouldn't be much longer.
Close to that time Donald could here them coming down the road. So Donald and the officer went out to stop traffic on the 60 while the horses crossed. The officer told Donald after they had gone bye that is was worth the fifteen minute wait.
We asked how old he was at this time and he remembered it was the last winter before he went into the service.

Now that explains all the pictures of colts in at the ranch corals.