Well, this post is long overdue. The last three nights have been really late nights so here goes a long update.
Thursday:
We got up and fed our calves like normal and then headed down to the barn where Jenn made pancakes for breakfast and we then headed out to the pasture with Burt and Calico to check cows. We didn't get very far before we found a dead cow in the dam. We then spent some time trying to see the number on her tag without going into the water.
The day before we had tagged a calf who appeared to have no mother in sight. We found her in the exact same spot Thursday morning, so we picked her up and took her back to the calving barn to be our new bottle calf. After dropping her off, we headed back out to check the rest of the herd. We only had one calf to tag, and between the four of us, it got pretty western. Burt tried three times to rope the calf, but it slipped out of every shot he made. I tried next, and I would have had him if I had kept my slack higher up in the air. Calico tried next, almost catching it as well. Then it was Melissa's turn. She tried roping it twice, missing by long shots each time. Then she bailed out of the ranger three times going for a back leg. She finally got it on the third time. After some really great laughs, and thirty minutes chasing this cow and calf at least a half mile, she was finally tagged.
We then had sandwiches for lunch at Jenn and Zach's before going to get the horses in. I brought in Gump again while Calico brought in Banjo and Melissa brought in Dino. I continued to work on everything I've been taught here: moving the haunches, leg yield, haunches in, reaching the front, transitions using my seat, and directing him with my legs.
After we spent some time riding, we then got ready to go to a barrel race in Dupree, about 70 miles west of where we are at the ranch. I've never been to a barrel race before, so it was quite a lot of fun. Jenn would have had an amazing run, but Avie lost his footing and fell. They are both all right and didn't seem too shaken up about it. We then stopped at Dairy Queen on our way home for dinner.
Friday:
It rained quite a bit in the night so we were stuck at our house for a little bit in the morning before we could get out. Calico ended up coming to get us in the ranger and taking us to feed our calves and down to the barn. We got the horses in. Melissa and I rode Dino and Gump before heading to Granny's where we made smoothies with Calico. It was a spinach-apple-banana-nutella smoothie and it was pretty good. We then cleaned out some coolers for the coming day and headed back down to the barn.
Melissa and I rode again before cleaning the tack room out. We rearranged everything, swept, and dusted. Some of Kirsten's family (Bud's wife) wanted to ride so they hopped on Dino and Gump after us. Melissa worked with them a bit on what we've learned here.
After putting the horses out, we fed our calves and got ready to go Bob's Steakhouse for the annual Branding Dinner and a celebration for Jenn's parent's 40th anniversary. It was a great night. I even discovered that I like virgin strawberry daiquiris. Melissa and I left just before everyone else because it was going to start raining soon and we were in her two-wheel drive car. We didn't want to get stuck on the road at all.
Once back at Kelsey's, we stayed up a little bit, chatting with her friends that were over for branding weekend before getting to bed pretty late.
Saturday:
The big day we've all been waiting for. Branding day.
We had planned on having breakfast at 7 down at Granny's, but because there was an incredible thunderstorm all throughout the night, we weren't able to get out of our driveway until around 11. So we all pretty much just slept in. Biscuits and gravy were waiting for us at Granny's. After finishing up, we headed down to the barn where we roped and hung out with everyone who came out to help brand. It wasn't until three in the afternoon that we went to get the horses and ride out to start the gathering.
The gathering went great, until some calves got away and then the whole herd started to move the wrong way. With a few more people horseback, we probably would have been able to hold them better, but in the end we did get (most of) them in. After sorting the cows out and making another pen, it was time to start branding.
I flanked calves the whole time. I was kicked, stepped on, got cow crap on my jeans, mud and blood all over. But it was a great day full of strong calves and tons of fun.
Once the last calf was branded, we took a group picture. It was time to quickly ride back to the barn, as we could see the storm rolling in with rain, thunder, and lightning. We did a fast trot back to the barn through the pasture. Five minutes later and we would have been poured on. Everyone seemed to make it to Granny's before the rain poured down, but we were stuck down at the barn. When the storm lit up, everyone came down from Granny's and brought the food with them.
It's tradition to stay up until sunrise after branding. Steve played his guitar all night, with special appearances by Bud and Kelsey occasionally with a few others. We danced for a good part of the night and it was one of the greatest times here at the ranch. I honestly cannot believe that I made it, without even a hint of tiredness throughout the whole night (or even a pop to keep me up). It wasn't until I lied down at 6:30am that I felt tired and slept for five hours.
Today is recovery day; most people getting over the number of beers they had throughout the night. With just one more day left here at the ranch, it's going to be a good one.
Thursday:
We got up and fed our calves like normal and then headed down to the barn where Jenn made pancakes for breakfast and we then headed out to the pasture with Burt and Calico to check cows. We didn't get very far before we found a dead cow in the dam. We then spent some time trying to see the number on her tag without going into the water.
The day before we had tagged a calf who appeared to have no mother in sight. We found her in the exact same spot Thursday morning, so we picked her up and took her back to the calving barn to be our new bottle calf. After dropping her off, we headed back out to check the rest of the herd. We only had one calf to tag, and between the four of us, it got pretty western. Burt tried three times to rope the calf, but it slipped out of every shot he made. I tried next, and I would have had him if I had kept my slack higher up in the air. Calico tried next, almost catching it as well. Then it was Melissa's turn. She tried roping it twice, missing by long shots each time. Then she bailed out of the ranger three times going for a back leg. She finally got it on the third time. After some really great laughs, and thirty minutes chasing this cow and calf at least a half mile, she was finally tagged.
We then had sandwiches for lunch at Jenn and Zach's before going to get the horses in. I brought in Gump again while Calico brought in Banjo and Melissa brought in Dino. I continued to work on everything I've been taught here: moving the haunches, leg yield, haunches in, reaching the front, transitions using my seat, and directing him with my legs.
After we spent some time riding, we then got ready to go to a barrel race in Dupree, about 70 miles west of where we are at the ranch. I've never been to a barrel race before, so it was quite a lot of fun. Jenn would have had an amazing run, but Avie lost his footing and fell. They are both all right and didn't seem too shaken up about it. We then stopped at Dairy Queen on our way home for dinner.
Friday:
It rained quite a bit in the night so we were stuck at our house for a little bit in the morning before we could get out. Calico ended up coming to get us in the ranger and taking us to feed our calves and down to the barn. We got the horses in. Melissa and I rode Dino and Gump before heading to Granny's where we made smoothies with Calico. It was a spinach-apple-banana-nutella smoothie and it was pretty good. We then cleaned out some coolers for the coming day and headed back down to the barn.
Melissa and I rode again before cleaning the tack room out. We rearranged everything, swept, and dusted. Some of Kirsten's family (Bud's wife) wanted to ride so they hopped on Dino and Gump after us. Melissa worked with them a bit on what we've learned here.
After putting the horses out, we fed our calves and got ready to go Bob's Steakhouse for the annual Branding Dinner and a celebration for Jenn's parent's 40th anniversary. It was a great night. I even discovered that I like virgin strawberry daiquiris. Melissa and I left just before everyone else because it was going to start raining soon and we were in her two-wheel drive car. We didn't want to get stuck on the road at all.
Once back at Kelsey's, we stayed up a little bit, chatting with her friends that were over for branding weekend before getting to bed pretty late.
Saturday:
The big day we've all been waiting for. Branding day.
We had planned on having breakfast at 7 down at Granny's, but because there was an incredible thunderstorm all throughout the night, we weren't able to get out of our driveway until around 11. So we all pretty much just slept in. Biscuits and gravy were waiting for us at Granny's. After finishing up, we headed down to the barn where we roped and hung out with everyone who came out to help brand. It wasn't until three in the afternoon that we went to get the horses and ride out to start the gathering.
The gathering went great, until some calves got away and then the whole herd started to move the wrong way. With a few more people horseback, we probably would have been able to hold them better, but in the end we did get (most of) them in. After sorting the cows out and making another pen, it was time to start branding.
I flanked calves the whole time. I was kicked, stepped on, got cow crap on my jeans, mud and blood all over. But it was a great day full of strong calves and tons of fun.
Once the last calf was branded, we took a group picture. It was time to quickly ride back to the barn, as we could see the storm rolling in with rain, thunder, and lightning. We did a fast trot back to the barn through the pasture. Five minutes later and we would have been poured on. Everyone seemed to make it to Granny's before the rain poured down, but we were stuck down at the barn. When the storm lit up, everyone came down from Granny's and brought the food with them.
It's tradition to stay up until sunrise after branding. Steve played his guitar all night, with special appearances by Bud and Kelsey occasionally with a few others. We danced for a good part of the night and it was one of the greatest times here at the ranch. I honestly cannot believe that I made it, without even a hint of tiredness throughout the whole night (or even a pop to keep me up). It wasn't until I lied down at 6:30am that I felt tired and slept for five hours.
Today is recovery day; most people getting over the number of beers they had throughout the night. With just one more day left here at the ranch, it's going to be a good one.