round up

A couple of times a year Daddy Bird and I help our good friends the Paces round up and work their cattle.

I've known Clint

and his dad Fred

almost as long as I've known Daddy Bird.

Fred recently married one of the most kind and delightful women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Caroline and Fred are truly perfect for each other!

Just look at the newlyweds!

Anyway, back to the cattle.  Depending on the time of year we gather approximately 100 head of cows and their calves and either work them, wean them, sort them, or whatever else needs to be done.
Gathering the cows wouldn't be such a big deal except for the fact that they are on like 300 acres and it's just one big field with lots of places for them to hide, a creek or 2 to cross, and they really don't want to be rounded up in the first place.

I wish I had some photos of the whole rounding up cattle drive process, but honestly it takes all my concentration to make sure my horse and I are in the right place at the right time and not allowing any stragglers to get past us.  I can't do that and take pictures at the same time!

There are always stragglers.  Here's Clint bringing up the last of the group

After we herd all the cattle into the holding pens, the sorting begins.  This time we were weaning, so the calves had to be seperated from the cows.  It's during this process that I'm always amazed that no one gets killed.  It's usually a bit of a rodeo.

Something always gets roped.

Here are some random snapshots from the day.  I'll let them speak for themselves.

Whew what a day!  I always leave filthy and tired and sore, but it's such a treat to spend a day outdoors, enjoying nature, my horse, and my friends and family.