March 26, 2015

Moving cows and calves

One of the days before we left Colorado, we got to see Mick move his cow/calf pairs. Justin helped. The kids and I stood around watching and occasionally getting in the way. It was terrific fun.


Mountains in the morning. 


The girls watching the canyon go by


Pretty cool to have in your back yard, hm?


Mick waiting with a lagging calf. Dawna had hooked up the cattle trailer and we all piled in the truck to follow along behind the herd and put any calf who wasn't moving ahead in the trailer. Only one had to be put in. 


Mick


Galloping down to meet up with the others


The calves don't really know what they are doing. While cows will quite frequently go where you are directing them, the calves like to stop and smell the sagebrush and generally see no need to scurry. A little tap from the rope keeps them moving with their mammas.


Very straggly bunch, with all the calves milling around. 



That's my cowboy!




Father and son


Justin getting after an escapee


This red calf. Not sure where it came from. But it was cute against all the black.


Heading up the lane to the corrals


Cottonwood buds (I think)


Following them up the lane


Kids hanging out the window


Finally where they are supposed to be. And the bellowing and bawling started in earnest, with mothers looking for little lost calves and calves hollering their little heads off. 


There is a little sorting, trying to aim cows and calves in each other's direction


A calf, doing his thing


Waiting for them to settle


Justin's aunt Cari, Justin, and Matt, the guy who owns the ranch


Mick checking his cows


Orianna


Lily


I loved the train in the background


Kids on the fence


Matt and Justin doing something in earnest


A reunion


Horsies


Running after a cow who went through the fence to the horses


A few more of the canyon, just for good measure




6 comments:

The McCoys said...

Wow - those are gorgeous pictures...thanks much for sharing. Just awesome :)

AJWG said...

Super Awesome pictures. You see this a little less and less all the time. We had a cattle drive near us in Lewistown, but they used four wheelers. Not quite as romantic. ha!

Cecil and Amy said...

I'm confused as to whose ranch this is- your in-laws or someone else's? Also, I would've expected Justin in a jacket and snow on the ground!

Cecil and Amy said...

And yes, lovely lovely pictures!

Geri Douglas said...

these pictures were breath taking Bet, loved seeing the kids hanging out the window too, nothing like the West is there/

Bethaney said...

Amy, this is the ranch that my father-in-law runs, but he doesn't own it. Hence the confusion! We often refer to it as his ranch, but it isn't really! :-)