September
September 3-9 Summer Ranch Week
Sunday, September 3, 2000
I went horse looking this weekend,15 hours of driving, saw
about 25 horses, brought home 2. A really handsome dark dapple
gray 6 yo grade gelding and a very nice grandson of Doc Olena
by Olenas Sugarman out of a reining bred mare. He is a 3
yo red line back dun.
Monday, September 4, 2000
We have a great group, Bob and Anna from S.D. George from England,
Ellen and Tom from Scotland, Nina and Minia from Austria,
Francis from England and Lisa and Cathy from N.H. Today we
went and helped our neighbors Don and Jeannie gather a pasture.
They run 1,100 head of heifers and had about 600 in the Slater
pasture. We worked in four groups gathering to a good water
at the south end of the pasture. By evening we had over 300
on the water where we left them till the next day.
Tuesday, September 5, 2000
Most everyone came with me and helped move the heifers about
seven miles to a new pasture. We trailed up a beautiful canyon
to the top of Elk mountain. where we put them thru a gate
into new grass. The heifers sure travel a lot faster than
our pairs do, we were done by mid afternoon. We made a few
loops looking for strays, saw none but did get into some
great country I had not ridden for a long time. My group
was back home by about 5:00. The others went with Lyndsey
and Alan into Bearwallow pasture looking for mavericks and
checking water. Alan really took them thru the country and
they all came back agreeing that he was crazy. Tom got into
some ground bees and put on a bit of a rodeo, wish I could
have seen it.
Wednesday, September 6, 2000
This morning we trailered out to Canyon Creek pasture where
we gathered cattle off the Wilderness boundary coming out
with 33 pairs, 8 dry cows and heifers, and two bulls. We
pushed them all the way across S.S. Basin to the gate into
Pitchfork pasture. All the way we had a bull working against
us, he went back and forth trying to keep the cows from moving.
He was a real pain in the ass! It's times like that, that
I don't carry a gun. He would have been 2000 lbs of coyote
bait. At the gate I cut him back, I was riding my 3 yo Doctor.
He was great, he worked that bull hard and fast in really
rough ground. The bull charging this way and that, Doctor
stuck with him and held him as the others got the cows thru
the gate and got the gate closed. Doctor and I relaxed as
he caught his breath and I told him what a great job he'd
done. About that time...pop ...over the fence the bull jumped!
The look on Doctors face was priceless, he was pissed!
Lyndsey and the others moved the herd on thru Pitchfork with
the goal being to get to Doubtful tank. Well they got there
and found the tank dry and had to move them on to Pit tank
another 2 miles. They left them there on water and rode another
hour ending up at 7HL camp for the night. In the meantime I
rode back to the trailers, loaded Doc and drove out to fix
some holes in the fence. Along the way I saw 4 pairs we missed
and hopped Doc off, climbed on and moved them all the way back
to the gate and put them thru then back to the trailer and
continued on to repair fence.
Thursday, September 7, 2000
We rode all the way to the eastern slope of the mountain in
Pitchfork pasture checking grass and water and looking for
unbranded calves. We found great grass and White tank was
full but no cattle till we headed back picking up a dozen
pairs. We got to Pit tank and found over 400 head watering
there. It was way too many for what little water there was.
We eased our unbranded pairs thru the crowd and left them
at Fence tank, then they all headed on back to camp after
a long day. I rode over the mountain back to where one trailer
was left from the day before. I was riding my big paint Gambler
and he ate up the ground at a walk-trot pace getting there
in less than three hours.
Friday, September 8, 2000
Today everyone went out and gathered up a hundred head off
Pit tank and pushed them out to White tank to use that good
graze and fresh water. A late day thunderstorm threw some
lightning and pelted hail. Then they rode all the way back
to the H.Q. putting in a good 30 mile day. It was a week
of great weather and lots and lots of miles. The days were
in the upper 70's, low 80's with nights in the low 40's.
Saturday, September 9, 2000
Steve Little came out from Ca. and bought four horses, he took
home The Man, Clell, Arkey and Mescalito. I was sad to see
Mescalito go, he had been here 7 years. A great horse never
lame, never did anything wrong. He is now about 14 and had
paid his dues, I wanted him to go to a little easier life.
I knew it was a good place for him to go but still I look
for him in the corral and miss our daily conversations and
head rubs. He is a very cool horse.
September 10-16 Summer Ranch Week
Tuesday, September 12, 2000
The guests this week are Fred from CA. who’s been here
four times, Francis from S.C. who is making her second visit,
Bill and Jackie who are from here in New Mex. also a second
visit, and Shell from TX. who was here in May at the lower
range. This time she brought along Chris who lives in CA. Also
from CA. is Julie here for her first time. All are very good
horsepeople. Monday was the usual shakedown ride to the fire
tower, but instead of the usual four or five hours the wanted
more so Lyndsey kept them out for about six hours. Pretty long
first day. Today we went out into Pitchfork Pasture and moved
a bunch out to White Tank, then bringing back some unbranded
pairs to Fence Tank. We ended the day at the 7HL Camp and Amy’s
good spread of food.
Wednesday, September 13, 2000
We expected to brand a bunch today but Alan is ill for the
first time since I’ve known him so we only did a few
pairs of mine. Rule of the range is you don’t brand
another man’s cattle unless he is there. He may want
to keep a bull calf a bull or tag a heifer, etc. – the
sort of thing one has to decide for himself. But it was enough
to let everyone know how to do it.
Thursday, September 14, 2000
We gathered up about 15 head of cattle out of T Bar valley
and moved them to the good grass in the east end of Pitchfork.
After a shady lunch break at Dead Horse Corral everyone wanted
to take the long way back to the H.Q. so I took them all
the way around T Bar Ridge into Canyon Creek Pasture, all
the way across into Loco Mtn. Pasture, and across Loco down
the rough trail into Snow Canyon which is starting to glow
with the changing Aspen trees. Up out of the canyon on the
steep red cliff trail and into Negrito Pasture then into
7HL pasture. Here we found nine head at Elladeane Tank which
is now a mud death trap. It was too late in the day to move
them so we continued on home getting in about 7:00 just in
time for dinner. A long 30 mile day.
Friday, September 15, 2000
Lyndsey took everyone out to find those cattle and of course
they were not at the tank and spent most of the day riding
all over looking for them. Nine head in a 14,000 acre pasture
is like a needle in a hay stack. It was a very hot week.
Days in the 80’s, nights only down to the mid 40’s
and no rain. It just keeps getting drier and drier. How we’re
going to work the gather next month is a real puzzle. All
the horses worked well this week – no rodeos to report,
no bee encounters. Chili is slowly getting better, he thinks
the stall ball we got him is a real bore but the orange traffic
cone I threw in is a big hit. He carries it around looking
like a horse with a megaphone, but no one listens to him
anyway. We found the brood mare band this week, all the foals
look just awesome. Saint the stud is a bit thin from working
so hard keeping them all in line. We will gather him up at
the end of the month and send him to Ca. where he is going
to stand next season. All of the mares are in one bunch except
Chancey and Belle, two who used to be in the working string.
I guess they are too good to hang out with the riff raff
bronc mares. For those of you who know them, Belle has a
beautiful Palomino colt with four socks, wide blaze and blue
eyes. Chancey has a hot looking bay colt with four socks,
a blaze and deep blue eyes. No wolves around lately and no
fires close by.
You cannot remain unmoved by the gentleness and conformation
of a well bred and well trained horse. More than a thousand
pounds of big boned well muscled animal, slick of coat and
sweet of smell. Obedient and mannerly, yet forever a menace
with its’ innocent power and ineradicable inclination
to seek refuge in flight. Always a burden with its’ need
to be fed, wormed and shod, with its’ liability to cuts
and infections, laming and colic. But when it greets you on
a cold morning with a nicker, nuzzles your chest, breathes
a hello in your face and regards you with a warm and liquid
eye the question of where you want to be and what you want
to do has been answered.
September 17-23 Summer Ranch Week
Monday, September 18, 2000
It will be a great week due mostly to the people who are here,
almost all returnees. We have Chuck from Ma. who has been
here 5 or 6 times, Peg from Ma. who has been here the same
and is here for two weeks. Kathy a friend of Pegs from Ma,
here for her first time. John also from Ma. here for his
5th time. Lynn from In. here for his 2nd time. Dean from
Va, here for his 3rd time. Tom from Ca. a friend of Chucks
here first time and his friend Debbie from Ar. And Von from
Mi. here for a 2nd time. It is a lot of fun for us, it’s
having friends come. The week started with helping neighbors
move cattle today from Collins Park to Y Canyon.
Tuesday, September 19, 2000
We moved cattle out to White tank and ended the day at the
7HL camp. When we got to White tank the horses were drinking
and wading around Chucks horse Buck started pawing the water
and Kathy asked me if we should tell him he was going to
roll. Naw, I said waiting for the show. I rode up to Lyndsey
and she was waiting for the same thing. But Buck the gentleman
he is shuffled on out of the water and just as he did Lyndsey’s
horse just dropped out from under her and rolled, with no
warning. We were in hysterics as she slid out cussing and
laughing covered with mud and stinky pond water. Her horse
is now known as “MUD PUPPY”. She took it well
and said it was her fault since she was waiting for Chuck
to take the swim.
Wednesday, September 20, 2000
More cattle work gathering unbranded pairs and moving to Fence
Tank where we laid on the irons. Spending the night back
at camp. John and Alan came up, Alan still a bit green around
the gills but doing better.
Thursday, September 21, 2000
Today was more of the same, riding all over the country looking
for unbranded. I left early for Drs. appointment in Albuquerque
I guess they had a little bunch together way out in the rock
fields when a terrific hail storm sprang up with lots of
lightning the horses quit working and turned tail to the
storm as the cattle drifted off. They ended up at the branding
pens with just half of what they had started with.
Friday, September 22, 2000
A free ride day with most folks going to Snow Lake and a long
day in the saddle.
Wednesday was Dean's anniversary, his wife and I had worked
out a surprise weeks ago. She flew into Albq. on Tues. and
drove to the ranch Wed. morning. Tanya got her a horse and
rode out to the pens with her about noon as we were having
lunch. She rode up as Dean sat in the shade of a trailer and
just surprised the heck out of him. The whole bunch was a group
of jokesters. From Frank tying Vons tent zipper shut to Von
filling Franks coat sleeves with shaving cream. Dean putting
a stuffed bear into Tom and Debs cabin to the whole group getting
it on Dean...the day his wife arrived a pair of thong panties,
bra and condom were put in his sleeping bag. His wife we decided
should be told, we did. She is a nice Virginia lady but played
it well, the words that came out of her mouth when Dean shook
out his bag scared us all. But not as much as it did Dean!
The look on his face was priceless. A few folks did not ride
today. When the riders got back they found an article of everyone’s
clothing strung out on a make shift clothes line in the trees
near the cabins, underwear, bras, pantyhose you name it. It
just went on, from people getting locked in outhouses to saddles
put on backwards. It was a laugh filled week!
September 24-30 Fall Gather
Sunday, September 24, 2000
Lots of you ask all the time how my arm is doing....ahhh not
so good. Went to the Dr. Thursday and Friday hoping to get
the cast off. It came off! Then right back on as x-rays showed
one bone doing...ok the other not healing at all, and one
of my 13 screws having worked its self loose. They are now
planning to give it another month then do more surgery putting
a floating piece of bone back in place and lacing it together.
I am so sick of beating myself in the head with this damn
thing as I sleep!
I bought four new horses this week, a nice 2 yo paint gelding,
a beautiful 3 yo dapple gray, a spectacular 6 yo black and
a nice 10 yo bay. I sold one filly who is still by her mothers
side. Anyone wanting a nice ranch horse let us know we have
about 70 and all are for sale!
Monday, September 25, 2000
Looks like lots of miles this week as usual. Small group! Due
to some last minute cancellations we only have four folks,
John and Peg both from MA. are here for their second week.
Judy, a friend of Peg’s from MA., and Kathy from PA.
We went into Devils Canyon with Alan, another usual Alan
ride. The country is steep and rough causing us to get off
and walk a few places getting down into the canyon. The bottom
is choked with walnut, cottonwood and pines but a semi-trail
ran through it. We did not find any cattle but saw a few
deer and found and elk skull with a huge rack attached. Tried
to figure a way to get it out but it was just too big so
we hid it for a day with a pack mule. The hundred mile views
into Arizona were truly inspiring.
Tuesday, September 26, 2000
Today we went into Negrito pasture, rode through the infamous
Negrito Triangle. A place where you always get turned around!
We rode and rode and rode. It’s a mix of transition
country where the timber meets the meadows. Again we saw
no cattle but saw bear tracks, about 30 turkeys in one bunch,
and a large herd of elk with a nice big bull leading them.
Wednesday, September 27, 2000
Tanya and I took them up onto Corner Mountain and the east
slope of Bearwallow Mountain. It was fantastic up there going
through tunnels of golden aspen. Saw the largest bull elk
I’ve ever seen but again no cattle. It is not a bad
thing we found no cattle these days as it means they are
all in Pitchfork Pasture where they belong. But these three
days we averaged about 25 miles a day through lots of rough
wooded country. Everyone changed horses every day and that
was tiring on them.
Thursday, September 28, 2000
Tanya took the riders out across 7HL Pasture and into Pitchfork
and moved cattle off Fence Tank out to Pit Tank. On the way
the rain spattered down and lightning struck less than 100
yards away. Tanya had seen it coming and had everyone off
the horses and in the bottom of a canyon. Maggie and I drove
a trailer out to Pit Tank to try and find our stallion and
the mares to catch him. He is going to stand stud out in
southern California this year. On the way we were going down
toward 7HL Camp and I saw footprints in the road. Looking
closer I saw they were bear prints of a huge bear. His tracks
were almost as long as my foot. We followed him into camp
where he had a drink in the corral but had not bothered anything
at all. Continuing on out to Pit Tank we sat and waited hoping
the horses would come into water. As we waited we saw the
lightning that had come so close to the riders. Finally after
about an hour I saw the horses coming down a ridge about
2 miles away. As they got closer of course the rain and lightning
started harder. As they finally made it into water it was
scary out. A bucket of grain and Saint, the stud, was on
the trailer. As soon as he was loaded it stopped raining
ending with just enough to settle the dust and get me soaked.
Friday, September 29, 2000
I took Saint and a filly I sold to the vet in Socorro to get
paperwork done. That was 7 hours in the dang truck and the
whole day. Tanya and the riders did a long ride through Negrito
Pasture out to the Lookout Tower and over to the airstrip.
No cattle were found but Peg did find a nice piece of elk
horn. Lyndsey was on a well-deserved vacation this week,
going to Silver City and taking in a couple movies, a few
nights at a cowboy bar, some T.V., and a bit of shopping.
Frank has the cook tent about covered with boards, it’s
no longer the cook tent but the cookhouse. Maggie just got
a big order from Sundance Catalog for her jewelry so looks
like she will be in her studio more than she wants to be.
Fall Gather is everyone’s favorite time of year. Weeks
spent riding pastures that we used earlier in the season, making
sure there are no strays left before we begin our main Fall
Gather next week. We rode some great country at a great time
of year. Mostly in Bearwallow and Negrito pastures, our mountain
country. The aspens are changing spreading the mountains with
a golden glow and the elk are at the peak of the rut so we
had bull elk bugling at us everywhere we went.
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