A lot of the ranches around here are starting to get calves on the ground...it's an exciting time. I saw many on my drive to town yesterday. So far the weather's been holding pretty good. A lot of ranchers won't start calving until March (like us); it's a personal preference...decisions made by past experience usually, or maybe tradition.
January and February can be pretty harsh in SE Oregon, and loosing calves to bad weather is terrible...if you only have a few head, it's easy to keep an eye on everyone. But many ranches have hundreds or even thousands of cows to calve out, which makes it very difficult to make sure every calf gets up to nurse for that first time.
I dug through my archives from last year's brandings for this photo. Since I was usually holding a rope instead of a camera last year, I don't have near the number of photos I've had in year's past.
But, I'm ready to hold the rope again...it's an addiction ;~)
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| A steady ranch horse holds a calf at the fire for vaccinations, branding and castration. |
My Man found this video the other night...it's always fun to find something that hits close to home. The photographer is from our area, JoAnna Lamb, and she's got some awesome photos of the Great Basin Buckaroos (and Buckaretts!) hard at work doing what they do best.
And the music is by Dave Stamey...who I can listen to all day long. The song is the perfect accompaniment to JoAnna's photos. I think you'll enjoy~
I'm joining Madge Bloom's new meme:
Awesome, very nice post. You are very lucky to be able to live such a life! I can see why you wouldn't want to calve before March. I get steers to raise as beef for just us and the family and I don't like to even have them in the winter, too hard to try a make sure they survive in the cold. Even though the winters have been pretty mild the last couple of years. I love the music in the video.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to imagine the work it must take to brand calves. This is very interesting - and I'd love to jump into that background photo on your blog!
ReplyDeleteWow, cool horse, & just in a viewpoint, too.
ReplyDeletehe must not have heard them say "castration"!
ReplyDeleteA great post, thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteHi Gtyyup, Love Dave's music, always makes me a little teary, reminds me of Dad and Grand Dad and how much I miss ranching life.... a gal might live it but it never leaves her.......
ReplyDeleteI like the way JoAnna used the color pop in her pictures! Great video and music, thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteYour picture from last year is awesome!! :)
I can appreciate your excitement for the coming season of new life and all that comes with it... I so enjoy your images of working life on your ranch... and always tucked in my memory is the drive through that gorgeous valley where you live... Thank you for joining in 'Rurality Blog Hop #1' Hope to see you next Wednesday for #2...
ReplyDeleteWow! Fascinating life style ~ so completely different than New England ~ great photos and post for Rural ~
ReplyDeleteCarol of (A Creative Harbor) ^_^
I like that bosal in the photo. I'm looking for a nice light one like that, the one I have is pretty heavy. I used to have one, but no idea where it is now.
ReplyDeleteThe video link isn't working for me- just a black square with no place to click.
I got lost is the music and the photos, very nice!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a calf branding, but I've helped at a horse branding before. I do hate the smell!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you stopped by my blog - good to see you again! :-)
I'm getting the itch to begin saddle training on two of our donkeys. AND getting the itch to ride.
ReplyDeleteNever have used a rope though! I'm afraid I'd be useless!
Morris sezs hey back at Cindy Sue!
That's an awesome shot. Wonderful horse.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get to a couple of brandings this spring to shoot some more photos. it's fascinating to watch the skill involved! and I want to try Jose out on a couple of cattle roundups this year...
ReplyDelete- The Equestrian Vagabond