This is our “Horse Pasture” where the cows we had gathered the afternoon before got to spend the night. We arrived early, with frost still on the ground, to saddle up. There was a slight delay as some cowboys were sent to bring in three that had given us the slip and more cowboys had gone ahead to clear neighboring cattle out of our way. Finally, we had the permission to proceed.
Look on the left side, you can make out a few guardians for the gate. This is where the herd will exit. ALL of these cattle will waltz out that gate, some happy to leave the mountain’s chilly mornings, others anxious about where their calf just disappeared to, and others just have to beat the next cow in line. A cow can weigh 11 or 1200 pounds. Shove them out a gate and all of that pressure can be hard on gate posts.
Here at another gate, Megan and I are Gate Guardians. Positioning yourselves by the gate posts naturally restrict the cattle because they’re not sure what you’re doing. They’re cautious to walk by, so they file through a few at a time instead of cramming in like crazed commuters on a train.
This not only helps form the lined out style we prefer as we trail, it keeps us from having to return to repair and reset our neighbor’s gate posts. Been there. Done that.
Jobs like this are often passed along. As the lead of the herd goes through, Brandon may stay there a while. As so many have passed him by, he breaks from this job to make sure the lead doesn’t get into the next bog or miss their turn. Megan will replace him. I come up to lend a hand. Soon she will leave and head Brandon’s direction. Then, if things go according to plan, I’ll protect the gate for a bit, followed by Victoria, who would wait until the kids have brought them all of the way through.
Trailing a herd has many positions. Good cowboys keep watch to see where they are needed next… do I have to zip up there to keep a neighbor’s cow out of ours? I shouldn’t need to worry that my position I just left wouldn’t now be covered by the next cowboy. There’s a hillside on the left with green grass? Cowboys should swing left to keep the cows moving and not let them slow down or stop to eat. The kids are learning this… but it can be difficult for kids to keep focused after the fourth or fifth hour of riding! Me, too! A few more years and we will have a helluva crew.
Hot, tired, and hungry, we did manage to get them all down but one cow. Horses, dogs, and people were all tired, but the 2023 trail off the mountain is complete.
I am interested in how the kids learn the ropes in this and other cowboy tasks, so that action becomes habit becomes instinct. Are they initially instructed on where to go/what to do next, how to check whether a need for a particular move is needed? Or do they observe that someone has changed positions and ask why? Or do they just get it by figuring out that you moved here because … and Brandon went there because …
I realize they have been included in tasks where they can observe these unspoken needs and actions since they were old enough to ride along, and that there is no written Cowboy’s Manual to study and follow. Just wondering how these skills are imparted, how they evolve. And whether an individual’s capacity (or lack thereof) to get it on the first or second take suggests that another day job might be in her or his future?
Thanks for that explanation. What a big job!