I’m late to the party. The cowboy crew has risen before the sun, braving the crisp, cool Fall morning to gather the cattle from the holding field to the shipping corrals. Meanwhile, I am still snug in my bed. Eventually I drag myself from under the covers to face the day. I prepare my kids for the school day and whip together lunch for those hard-working early risers.
Once I am done cooking and the groceries loaded into a pick-up, I begin my trek to the shipping corrals. It is 80-miles, half of which is rutted, gravel road. Lunch and I arrive, two hours later, intact though thoroughly bounced and jostled. However, rattled I may be, I am in better shape than the dust covered fellows working cattle.
On a cow/calf outfit such as this, the Fall Works typically involves sorting and separating, or weaning the calves from the cows. Once the cattle are penned sorting begins. Several hands gently pressure the cattle toward the gate or alley, where the lead-off will sort calves from the cows.
It is delicate work, requiring a finely tuned mount and good communication. This sort of cow work, highlights the relationship between human and horse. Participating in this dance is my favorite ranch activity. The outside world falls away, as you become wholly mindful of the movement of your horse and the oncoming cattle. The higher purpose of the humble cow is not known to me, but they are an invaluable tool to showcase the intelligence and training of a fine cow horse.
When the calves are sorted and counted, they are loaded upon waiting stock trucks in tune to their mothers’ mournful mooing. As the calves go off to a new life elsewhere pregnancy testing begins. The mother cows are worked through the alley or snake to the chute. While in the chute, they undergo a quick veterinary exam, receive any necessary vaccinations and anti-parasite medications, and are mouthed for age. As they exit the chute, the cattle are sorted yet again. Those not bred or too old to thrive on the desert are bound for new homes.
Corral work is dirty and tiring. Men used to spending their days on horseback are sprinting about on foot, inhaling powdery dust laid down by successive generations of cowboys and cattle. The noon meal is the highlight of their day. The sad truth is I am a rudimentary cook. Fortunately, feeding a cowboy crew requires limited skill as long as the fodder is plentiful (and dessert is included).
The flurry of activity that defines Fall is slowing to a steady drizzle here. The last of the calves shipped out a few days ago, the sorrowful sounds of their mothers’ slowly dying out as they relish the pleasure of fresh water and Fall fodder. We face a few months of rest, but our thoughts will be upon the renewal of the ranching cycle in the coming year. What are your thoughts upon this season?
Appreciated the additional details and last post’s definitions. Thanks!
Rachel, have you heard of Bud Williams? He has been very influential on how we run our business and handle our livestock. He passed away yesterday, and I’m wondering how wide his influence was in his own country (USA).
Mandy, Mr. Williams was very well-known here in the States as well. I regret never having pursued the opportunity to attend one of his clinics, but I read his articles with interest. He has left an indelible imprint upon the livestock industry.
Rachel – wonderful post, thank you. I hope you don’t mind but I’m going to link you on my blog. I am sure there are some Aussies who would enjoy this as well. Oh, if you have any spare “good” cow horses, I could sure use one at the moment!
Rachel, I happened upon your blog by way of a former classmate at USU and I was instantly hooked. I am in my second Fall in Missouri and sure miss the sagebrush and changing seasons of the Great Basin. I don’t know where the wind will blow us after vet school but I’m looking forward to being up to my ears (literally) in cows when the time comes. And if I have my way it will be back in the West. Thank you for your ramblings, I’m looking forward to more in the near future.
Your grand expression of the way we live is fun to read. I wish that I could put into words as well as you a day on the ranch. I am honored to get to be a cowgirl ou there, and hate the days that dishes out do the horse!
After reading this, my thoughts come to rest on how much I truly miss this kind of work. After accepting an “indoor job,” I still have yet to figure out where I “fit in” in terms of horses, agriculture and riding down here in my new Colorado home.
This is a beautifully written post. Articulate, accurate and elicits all the appropriate responses of this dusty, browning/yellowing season that brings the quiet of winter. I love autumn and think you captured it perfectly.
First, thank you for such a thoughtfully composed comment (I hope to achieve that someday myself). Secondly, I believe focusing on being mindfully engaged in our present, will bring surprises in the form of new opportunities. Opportunities that if we had been actively seeking them, would have evaded us. So, keep doing what you’re doing and your “place” will find you.
That’s some of the best advice I’ve heard in a while, although I’ve known it’s true all along. Sometimes we need those little reminders. Thanks 🙂
Good job Rachel. Always fun to see the fellers working in some other place. We also are in the season. Have had good weather so far, but snow is looming! Keep up the good work!
Thank you Tim, when you get froze out up there head this way.
We went out to Fallon today and noticed quite a few cowboys out there doing just this … real cowboys.