The Dude's Photobomb

Monday March 23 2015

It was a simple picture, of Carol and August and The Dude, before we took off to help move Don's cows.

Little did I know till I got home and looked at photos, that The Dude was mugging for the camera. Obviously it's a new one of his tricks.

He CRACKS ME UP!

Joyce Ranch Branding Day: Part I

March 13 2015

Another branding day in Owyhee county, this one on the historic Joyce Ranch (established 1865). It's a tradition of hard work, skill, camaraderie, family, and culture, handed down through the years and generations - herding, sorting, roping, branding.

It's working art on horseback.

Here are a few shots from the day:
up top: a bit of silver

a bit of color


Fred - what're'ya doing down there??


Hmm, should I stay or should I get outta here?


The Joyce Ranch brand: MJ for Matthew Joyce, the founder in 1865


Neighbor Rocky on his Blazer, Comet. You don't see many Blazers working cows. You don't see many Blazers!


Dallas hunts through the herd of cows and calves


There's always a good cow dog or two around supervising


Aiming


Got one


Holding a calf


Ed aiming for one


Missed! Ed said "My timing was off today!"


This guy on the left was totally suspicious of my motives


Here is the complete gallery:
http://theequestrianvagabond.smugmug.com/Joyce-Ranch-Branding-Day-1-313/

Rent-a-Cowpoke: The "C" Team

Sunday March 15 2015

A day after the historic Joyce Ranch roped and branded their calves with the skilled "A" team of Owyhee cowboys and cowgirls (post coming soon), it was the "C" team that helped move another rancher Don's cows out onto the range.

We weren't quite "F" students/riders; we definitely weren't the "A" team; but we were the solid "C" team (as in, the up-the-Crick team).

Don, plus 7 of us Crick people moved 50-60 head of cows with calves a couple of miles (most of it with a fence to help guide the cows on one side), across a highway, and into another pasture closer to the mountains. (And it was a southwest Idaho highway on a Sunday, with not too much traffic.) One horse and rider were first timers. One rider was a first timer on 25-year-old Krusty, who's been to France and Dubai, so he can do anything. I rode The Dude, who was much better behaved this time than last time.

There were no bucking fiascos, no lost calves, and no riders got lost: the "C" team did not fare too badly.

We were good enough that Don fed us lunch at the end.

Don, guiding his herd of somewhat rank angus cows (well, rank if they're squeezed in chutes for branding and vaccinations!)



Connie on Saruq, who would rather be off galloping somewhere. He's sneering here at the cows.



First-timer Abe on old-timer Krusty.


That's Rocky and half-Arab half-mustang Calvin on the left. Rocky's from up-the-Crick too, but he's from lower-upper, and he's more experienced than most of us cowpokes.


Threading the needle - squeezing the herd through the final gate.


Carol on August, Regina and Mufasa, and Don on his horse, surveying a job well done.