I'M A COWBOY!!

June 7

First, I want to say "Get Well" to my brother Ed. I talked to him on the phone today and he said I should mention him in my blog -- I didn't even know he was reading my blog. Last Thanksgiving, Ed went to the local hospital for a knee replacement. It was obvious before Christmas that something was very wrong, and the day after Christmas, he went back to the hospital for another operation to replace the first knee and to take care of a staph infection. That did not work out either.

He is now in the Cleveland Clinic (one of the finest hospitals in the world). My sister and brother-in-law both have very good jobs at the Clinic, and were able to get him into see a very good surgeon, and he has now had the 3rd operation. They have totally taken the knee out, and have put a "block" which is soaked with antibiotics into where his knee should be, and by the end of August, they will do a 4th operation to install another knee -- hopefully for the last time.

So everyone say a pray for Ed that we get the infection this time, and he can finally have a knee that works -- without pain.

Sunday, I went to help my rancher friends, Jack and Jane Clapp, round up some cows real cowboy style -- on horseback. This maybe the first time since I was about 15 years old that I used a horse for something that has a real purpose. (When I was young, I rode western horses and raised steers for 4-H. Once our steers got loose, and we used the horses to round them up).

It was great fun. First, we had to separate 2 steers from a group of heifers (take the boys out from the girls). The first one was easy, and the next wanted to be a bit more stubborn. But Jane is a "real" cowgirl -- she was riding their quarter horse stallion, Linx, and had him running back and forth to get the final steer. This is the first stallion I've ever met who acts just like the geldings. Of course, Jane doesn't have any mares on the property. He is turned out with the geldings, and does work just like the geldings.

(Note on the picture -- if you look off into the distance, that is the farm all the way down that hill, which really shows how far up we were.)

Once the steers were out of the pasture, it was fairly easy to drive them up the gravel road, as it was fenced on both sides. But Jane needed to get ahead of them so she could block the road at the driveway, and the steers would go onto their property. So she ran Linx down the road, and at one point was racing the steer. Her horse was flying, so he did get past (and won the race).

We got the steers into the paddocks where we did the branding. They were actually pretty good going through this huge open field towards the paddocks. I believe in one of my previous posts, I told you about the team penning that I watched. So I know how fast these horses can move, jump, turn, spin to stay with the cows. And I did have some idea that you had to block the escape route the steers would take. I'm always a little nervous about getting on a horse I don't know and just taking off at a run and immediately pulling them back up. So I was a little "slow on the draw", and one of those little guys got past me. Sorry Jack and Jane. I was riding their horse, Smokey, and he is a great horse. Ludo should be so responsive. You put a leg on Smokey, and he is moving. And Jane said he does have his share of "cow sense".

Jack is going to fatten up "Andy" and "Babe" -- they were twins and had the same #, but given the designations of "A" and "B". He said next year when I come back, we can have steaks. I'm sorry, but I just can't eat steers that I know.

So our next task (after lunch) was to round up some cows and calves that had gotten out of their field. Their property goes up into the mountains behind their house, and while it doesn't look that steep, the horses were really huffing and puffing walking up the hill. Glad to be on horseback. That also means that it was somewhat steep driving the cows and calves back down the hill. But they all went into the pasture. Next task was to drive all of the cows and calves from the ranch into a higher pasture. Again, a fairly easy task.

I did take my camera (bought a new Canon out here which takes fantastic pictures), but at times I couldn't get the camera out, and at other times when I'm just slowly encouraging the cows to move and had time, I forgot. So sorry, but no really great shots.

After that was done, we had to move a neighbor's bull into the neighbor's paddock. He wasn't all the happy about being moved from the "girls", but with a little yelling and Jane's dog, Sophie, we got him going. It appears to be the easiest just to move them along the fence line, so they have no where to go. Now we are going down the hill, and about half way, the bull (I believe his name was "Junior") decides he might make a run for it. So he tires, but Jane and Linx run him down the hill, jumping back and forth like a cutting horse to keep him moving forward. Jane said one thing she had learned with cows is, once you get them moving, don't let them stop. I was trotting down the hill, but certainly didn't feel comfortable enough to start running down the hill. But apparently Jane didn't need our help.

Did I mention there are bulls in all the fields -- doing their job of breeding the cows and heifers. I believe I saw at least 3, and they also use "Junior" at times.

But it was a very fun day, and my butt was sore.

And as a separate note, if you any one reading my blog wants to experience a real working Montana ranch, ride the horses, etc., please feel free to contact Jane and Jack at "Heart of Sky Ranch". They have a great guest house, and I'm sure their rates are reasonable. And they are both EXCELLENT COOKS -- they will fatten you up.