The Ranch From the Wife's Perspective
Most of the time when we move cows we are with our neighbors and other ranchers. But now that our cows are alone we get to do it just us. Just the family. And what is even better is that we love to do it as a family.
Every family has their own thing that they like to do. We like playing games and working together.
I’d like to think I’m a tough girl. I mean, I have had babies. A mother by definition is tough, right?
Maybe I should admit that I do have a damsel-in-distress side that does counter my tough-cowgirl side, but as tough as I am, its ok that on the cold morning cattle drive I was invited to stay in the warm feed truck. We used the feed truck to lure the cows home. And it worked. It worked GREAT.
It took only a matter of minutes for all of the cows to come running up the hill. Every once in a while they did slow down. But all The Rancher needed to do to get them moving again was to pretend to drop the hay.
I thought I would get a little creative and take some pictures of the cows in the rear view mirror. Ya, that only works of the mirror is clean. I guess that my picture is proof that we are in a REAL ranch truck.
The cowboys decided that it was time to move the cows to the ranch now that winter is upon us. All though there isn’t a lot of snow, there is enough now that we have to feed every day. This means that The Rancher would have to take the hay to the cows each day or bring the cows home. Of course, they chose the latter.
So on a beautiful, clear morning we trailed the cows home. I really shouldn’t include myself in the “trailing” part of the move because we were at the head of the herd in the feed truck, coaxing them to come along. For once I have pictures at the front end of these cows!
In fact I woke up bright and early to go out the with The Rancher and ride while Grandma watched the babies. We trailed these cows along the highway for a while until we could get on the back roads. It wasn’t too long and we made it to the first of the fall pasture. It was a nice move because there wasn’t any babies to slow us down. These cows walked hard and fast!
For a while The Rancher was up at the front to turn the cows so I got to be with some of the old cowboys. I LOVED it! These cowboys have such fun stories to tell. They talk about the days when they were just starting and getting things figured out. They have stories of one darn cow or another that had to be roped or that headed for home and had to be chased down. Maybe someday we will have some exciting stories on here to tell.
Here is The Cow Puncher again. A darn good cowboy, helping us out again.
The ranching men were moving cows again and they did it in the best way. They brought them in front of the house so we could easily grab some pictures and come along. They initially were only moving one bunch but since they had the men and the time they moved another group. It was really time that they did too because this darn bunch of cows were always getting out! Funny how being without feed makes these cows get out…
These are more of the pictures from our trail down the road to Jacobsen’s field. The cowboys waited there for a bit doctor the calves. They also try to keep the cows gathered up long enough for them to get paired together. At least we hope they will…
Having the cows on the range for the summer does bring its challenges. If ever the calves get sick they still need to be doctored, regardless of whether we have the luxury of the corrals or chute. Most often they get taken their medicine when the cows get gathered to move to the next field. There was a handful of calves to be done as we moved them to Jacobson’s field. Even though there are challenges, The Rancher doesn’t really complain. Any chance he has to rope a calf he will take, no matter the circumstances!
The association cowboys gathered up the forest cows to move to the next of their summer pasture early Saturday morning. It was a beautiful morning for a ride.
A bike ride that is.
I too headed out on the road, thinking that these cowboys were pushing the herd back across all of the fields instead of down the lovely paved highway that I had chosen to peddle my bike down.
As I just about to turn around I got a call from The Rancher. He casually asked what I was doing and where I was. I responded that I riding my bike down the road. Why? Well, they were heading down the road with the cows, were almost to the house and if I didn’t hurry I was going to get caught in the midst of them.
I should get a medal for how fast I turned that bike around and peddled back to the house. Just as rolled into my driveway the first of the cows came across. Phew… I made it.
And just in time for pictures too!
I quickly changed out of my stinky exercise clothes and into my stinky cowgirl clothes, loaded up The Rancher’s Sidekick and The Ranch Princess to follow the cow trail. Its kinda hard to miss… they leave digested bread crumbs along the way. Another good reason to not be riding down the road with the cows.
Hello! I'm Allison, The Rancher's Wife! There's nothing I love more than being out on the ranch with my husband and kids. Join me for a look at what goes on here at the ranch and the life being a rancher's wife!
