The Rancher - The Idaho Rancher's Wife

Breaking in New Horses

April 18, 2014 by Allison

Every cowboy has a good string of horses and this spring we have been working on ours. We have two new mares that we have been working with. Both of them have been pretty labor intensive but with time we have seen some great progress.

The sorrel (red) horse with a white blaze is Loca. She is a baby from The Rancher’s mare when he was growing up. If you know Spanish, you know that Loca means crazy. She’s named that for a reason! For a couple of years now, The Rancher has been trying to work with her. She’s about to turn 6 (or maybe 7… I’m not quite sure) and for that many years she has been a wild thing. Too wild to really do anything with. We haven’t really even been able to get a halter on her, let alone try anything with a saddle.

One day The Rancher was working with her and he had a rope around her neck. She went to being crazy (like she doe)s and got the rope caught on the fence. She hit the slack and it tightened up around her neck. Being crazy already, she started working against the rope and before long it was tight enough that she passed out. When she tipped over, the rope broke free and loosened up around her neck. Slowly she got up and walked to The Rancher. It was like she was a completely new horse! And ever since that day, she has been a gem to work with.

The Rancher has been a little weary of her, knowing how she used to be a little crazy. But every time he has worked with her its like she has done it hundreds of times. Now all we need is to get a little experience on her and she is good to go!

Our other new horse is Sugar. We bought her from a family that had a few horses and other animals, but they really didn’t have the time to work with her. When we called to tell them we were on our way (it was a few hours to get there) they said, “Are you good with horses? I don’t think that she has ever been loaded in a trailer…”. Oh boy that was a great start!

Don’t worry, she practically loaded herself! The next day we saddled her up to see what kind of skills she had. After only a few minutes The Rancher said, “Well… she has no manners, no steering, and no gas.” I guess that left only room for progress! And boy have we made some progress- we can actually get into a good lope and move left and right. Its still rough, but with time she is going to be a great little pony!

Maternity Pen Prep- We’re Ready For Babies

February 13, 2014 by Allison

A little something you should know about The Rancher- if there is something that needs fixing he will do and when he does it, he fixes in a big way.

With calving just around the corner The Rancher is finding and fixing everything that needs updated. The major one has been the maternity pen.

Last year it was such a struggle to get the heifers in when you were alone, so that was high on the list to get fixed. He spent a few days in the shop making a new gate to replace some old panels (that, of course, we were there to “help” put up). They put in a few man-gates to make it easy to move from pen to pen. The last day they replaced a handful of poles and added some tin for a windbreak.

It makes me feel better that these new mamas have their own maternity bay- all fixed up and ready to go. Granted, we don’t really want to use it because that means there are problems… but still its nice having it there!

So lets have some babies! (don’t let The Rancher know I’m begging for the calves to start coming!)

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

December 10, 2013 by Allison

A fellow rancher from the Curlew Valley decided that it was finally time redo the fence that we share. For some time they have had trouble with his cows sneaking in with ours and I think he got tired of us calling him to take them back to his side. So on one a cool November day they loaded up their hammers and nails and got to work.

Fencing isn’t my favorite chore- I’m sure it was the hot summers. But The Rancher likes it. Its one of things that you can really do well. There’s not anything much prettier than a new, tight, straight fence.

After building so many fences it is second nature to these cowboys. Without talking they know how far apart to space out the posts, where to put in a brace and all the parts and pieces to make it work. They get right to it and go until the work is done … or dark.

There was more fence to build than daylight this time, so they went back out to finish the work just last week. I don’t have any pictures of them working that day because it was cold and snowy. My warm slippers begged me to stay home!

The Rancher, a DIY-er

November 19, 2013 by Allison

I love DIY projects, LOVE them. The Rancher does too, maybe not the ones I enlist him to do, but he des non the less. He likes the manly ones that come with bigger or more dangerous tools. I mean what is a welder if not a really hyped up glue gun, right? 🙂

But seriously, isn’t that really a integral part of being a rancher. These cowboy need to be able switch between whatever jobs the day calls for- truck driver, irrigator, welder, tractor operator, horse trainer, nurse maid… You get the idea, they gotta do it all. They are DIY-ers.

This is the feed truck with arms to lift the bails. Do you see how my creative husband has fanagled it to lift the troughs? I find funny, but boy it is works darn good.

Here is real picture of The “DYI” Rancher. Pretty cool. Finding your own way to get the job done, or being a DIY-er, is part of being a rancher.

A Real Fireman

October 9, 2013 by Allison

The Rancher is very involved in volunteer programs in our community. He is with the Search and Rescue, Fire Chief of our local community, and runs with the EMTs. There was a point that I thought he was crazy but we had a good talk about why he does it.

He explained that when we are wanting to live away from the city for the space needed to run a ranch (or to stay sane), we are giving up the luxury of being close which equals taking on the risk of being so far from certain conveniences, or necessities. And when we take on the risks, we also must take on the responsibilities.

So The Rancher has taken on the responsibility to be the local fire chief. And with that comes some pretty fun perks- like visiting the local elementary.

Where’s Waldo?

September 25, 2013 by Allison

Actually in this picture you won’t find Waldo. But if you used to read those books you won’t have any problems finding The Rancher. And can you find two other cowboys?

Made it to the Finals!

September 13, 2013 by Allison

After the summer of team penning and brandings (and sortings… I don’t know why we don’t ever mention that in the name…) the winners have a chance to come back at one final competition. The Rancher made it on a team for the team sort. The team wasn’t too competitive but The Rancher did good. And more importantly he looked good doing it!

The Rancher’s Sidekick even took some pictures on my phone. Yes, kids are so tech savvy…

Can you see all of the MUD in the arena? We had a beautiful, wonderful rain storm the night before that soaked the arena. Along the side of the grandstand was especially bad because there was runoff from the roof as well. It made for a fun ride!

The Super Rancher

September 6, 2013 by Allison

There is a lot that being a dad requires. Probably more than what The Rancher ever thought he would have to do (you can imagine some of the icky things has been privileged to do). But there are days the cool days when he is so much more than a dad. Days when he gets to strap on his Super Hero cape and save the day!

Like Friday. I opted to not do laundry and go on a ~~rough~~ romantic ride to help fix fence (read wrangle kids while The Rancher fixes fence). This fence was by a water trough, that had a hole. Which meant there was mud… everywhere. That innate-boy-instinct to get in the mud got the best of The Rancher’s Sidekick and before long he was in the mud UP TO HIS KNEES. This momma was so thankful he was in shorts and water boots (minus socks). Ya, we have learned over time…

But when you are up to your knees in mud you need a little help. A Super Hero to save the day! Like The Super Rancher! What a dad!

The Art of a Cowboy

July 31, 2013 by Allison

Being a cowboy is so much more than just riding a horse and following the cows. It may appear that it is all that they do but once you get to know them and watch what they do you realize that there is so much more to it. Most of it is instinct. Its like a sixth sense that they gain over time and through experience. They are born with a certain ability to connect with the animals. They learn to be fearless or need be to face their fears. There are people that say that ranchers or cowboys are the uneducated ones that couldn’t make it in the world. Maybe they couldn’t make it sitting behind a desk all day but that is because God gave them gifts that we can afford for them to waste. You should come and try to do what they do. What they do is an art. There is no other way to explain it.

The Rancher Playing Cowboy

June 19, 2013 by Allison

I shouldn’t say that he is “playing” cowboy because he really is a real cowboy! During the summer the guys have penning heifers that they take around to some of the Team Penning and Brandings. The best part about it is that since he is already there hauling or working the heifers he is available to do some riding and roping too! Of course as the dutiful rancher’s wife I load up the diaper bag, camera, and lunch box and follow him along the rodeo trail! Oh, we bring the kids too… I couldn’t never leave behind The Sidekick- he is The Rancher’s biggest fan!