Buckaroo Texan Blog

I was invited to come to the fall branding on the 3G ranch outside of Midland, Texas this past weekend.   Kate and Sam Gooding had a recently weaned group of calves to brand and work.   I arrived Friday night and got settled in for a full day of riding and roping on Saturday.  I took my most experienced horse, Button, so we could do a good job for our host and hostess. 

Saturday morning we started out in the pastures, looking for 6 head of renegade cattle that have been running loose for over a year.   Kate on her trusty steed, Ranger and I, mounted on Button rode out in search of the cattle.   The cattle had been spotted a few times, so we had a good idea where to start our search and gather.  A lot of the fences have been down in west Texas due to the vast ranging fires over the last year.   So it was easy for this group of six to be hard to find roaming in thousands of acres.   Sam sent a text that he saw them north of the windmill in the pasture we were in so off we went at a fast trot and gallop.   We found the cattle, eased up on them and headed them towards the nearest set of pens.  It was a few miles, lots of wind, and they had a big bubble.  We had to drive them from a far distance, like fifty yards or more at first.  We got them penned about noon and headed for the branding pens.

 After a water break, and arrival of the rest of the crew, we set up to brand.  We had three ropers.  Jerry Allison joined us for the branding.  Martha and Josh helped Sam with the branding pot, vaccines and wormer.   We took turns heading a calf, the other ropers would fall in to heel and whoever had not caught heels, helped with the ground work.  We all headed, heeled and worked the ground.   The calves got worked with very little stress. We got lots of good practice roping in the 20 to 30 mph gusty winds.

Sunday morning we spent driving the renegade cattle to another stronger set of pens near the highway, so they could be hauled to another pasture and joined up with another group of cattle.   The cattle were wild enough that having experienced horses that could be maneuvered one foot at a time, backwards or forwards was important to keep from having them run off.   Any pressure from the horses got their heads up looking for a place to run.   We got the cattle moved and penned.  The cattle were starting to settle some, ease around and be driven quietly by the time we made the four mile drive to the next set of pens.   What a great weekend of riding, roping, horsemanship and stockmanship practice.

A group of us Buckaroos planned a Ranch Roping clinic for the end of September, thinking the weather would be cooler.   We have had some almost fall days here in drought stricken Texas and we were expecting a nice cool weekend of weather in the high 80’s or low 90’s.   At my ranch I had had quite a few mornings in the 50’s and even in the 40’s so the horses were actually starting to fuzz up just a bit.

I took precautions in case the temperatures got hotter than expected.  I gave my horse XanGo juice in his feed the night before and also put some in water bottles for us both to sip on during the two day clinic.   Four days before the clinic I gave my horse a pack of essentials everyday, instead of every couple of days, to build up his system with the probiotics and algae.     I also  took carrots, oranges and apples for us to snack on.

Saturday of the clinic, the temperature soared to 99.  I kept a bucket of water in the shade to offer to my horse every time we were between working cattle or taking a break.  He also got a carrot every time I offered him water.  He also got several slices of an orange a couple times in the afternoon and I ate some too.

Sunday, the temperature reached 105 by the time we were done. I think my horse drank close to 15 gals just during the day and I had at least 8 20 oz bottles of water.!   We both had a pack of Essentials to start  the day.  I mixed XanGo juice in his morning feed, and gave him a small amount of hay .  We both had water, oranges, apples and carrots during the day.  I kept my bandana wet with ice cubes rolled up inside during the afternoon.  It was so hot, the water in the bandana did not drip much, just evaporated.   My horse trailered home just fine.  I knew he was very well hydrated before leaving the clinic site for the ride home and he got his evening meal after dark. The  temperature already had dropped into the 80’s.  My horse and I had a very enjoyable clinic and stayed comfortable.    Really paying attention to our mental,  physical and biological well being sure pays off with bouncy health that snaps back easy after stressful events!

This past Saturday and Sunday, I attended a Ranch Roping Clinic at the ranch of Jeff and Liz Spooner in Gatesville, Texas.   We had a good group of eight.  Most of the group already knew each other and had some roping skills, and we had a few new friends  trying out this style of roping.   We got started Saturday morning with practicing throwing loops at the dummies and helped each other with our form and techniques for the various throws.   We moved on to throwing loops horseback.  Several of the participants were riding young horses or restarted horses, so everyone looked out for each other to give the youngsters plenty of challenge but in way to let them learn at their own pace.  

In the afternoon , we  mounted up and headed to the pasture to bring in the cattle.  We worked as a team, with the cow boss giving directions on how to bring the cattle in.  Every time we headed to the pasture, we changed who the cow boss was.  This was a bit of  a challenge for a few of the group.  It was good mental practice.  Not only were you responsible for you and your horse and your job, everyone else’s too. 

We brought in the cattle to a round pen, two of the participants would sort out 2 or three head and then turn the rest back out.   We then spent time with one or two riders throwing break away shots.   After a few participants practiced throwing breakaway loops with discussion on strategy, a team would come into the pen with either metal or rawhide Hondas and  work to head and heal and take the calf down.  Then a ground crew would come in the finish getting the topes on the legs of the calf, clear the area and then the two ropers would let the cow up.  Then we headed to the pasture to gather again and sort out  fresh cattle to rope.

The following day we worked on our horsemanship, handling the rope, did some drills to work on our dallying smoothness, and stretched some ropes.   The day was getting really hot, so we emphasized watching the expression of ourselves and the horses to move the cattle gently and slowly to not over heat them.  We discussed positioning of the horse to work the cattle by watching there eyes and feeling for the flight zone of the cattle.  Staying just out side of the flight zone allowed us to move the cattle very softly and quietly to most anyplace  we needed them.  This roping part was done just with our breakaways to lessen the stress on the cattle on the hot day.  We all learned a lot from each other, our horses really enjoyed their jobs, and  everyone came away with heighten skills and a real feel of working cattle slowly really gets the job done fast.

 This year at the Belton, Texas,  Buck Brannaman Clinic,  I rode Button in the Horsemanship 2 Class.   It is always fun to work on the advanced manuvers and learn new skills in getting these better.  The roping and cow work are just more ways to advance your skill level and give your horse real jobs to do.  It’s a real test on how well you and your horse are working together.   We spent a lot of time over the four days working on the soft feel at all gaits.  I was working in a hackamore.  I felt I had advanced to a ½ inch hackamore  with the idea of getting ready to more on to the two rein.  As the work in the class advanced with more loping, Buck pointed out to me that Button was really pushing back on me, so I changed back into our 5/8ths hackamore.   I had a better communication with him then and we were able to get some better feel between us.   I realized from the discussions in the morning,foundation class, on the flexions and soft feel, that these were not as good as they needed to be at the level Button was at in the advanced class.   The flexions and soft feel are ways of working to get the horses to engage his hind end and to be more balanced on all four corners.   These last few weeks after the class, Button and I have really gotten more balance between us,  I am being more assertive in asking for him to move in balance at all gaits, forward and backwards,  two tracking, side passing and during haunches in.  I am constantly thinking about my position in relation to where all four feet are of my horse.  Its getting to be a true feel between us so that when I ask for a change we change together, most every time, as it should be.   Photo by:  Jenny Hasz

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 The following tells about a session with a yearling filly getting haltered.  Each colt can be handled differently and should be handled as the situation presents itself.  You will be able to pick up ideas on halter training your baby!

I am looking forward to seeing Sassafras today.  I have 3 horses I need to work with tied up in the round pen, near her pen.  I will go work with her first while the others wait for me.

 I take my bucket of brushes, rope and a halter with long soft lead and head over to her pen.  She sees me coming and nickers.  That’s a good sign.   I open her gate to let her into the small pen where I have set down the brush bucket and laid down my ropes.   She comes right in, this is where she gets fed so it is a comfortable place for her.  

She starts walking the pen and I don’t waste time, I pick up my rope and at the first opportunity, I throw a side arm loop on her.  She wheels away but the rope stays on,  it is not on her neck, and with a flip of the rope the wrong way, it comes off.  No worries, I just recoil calmly and throw a side arm loop again as she comes by me, left to right.  It settles nicely over her neck, she bolts to the other side of the pen, and then as I apply a little pressure, she stops and faces me.

Now she is ready for the fun stuff.  No getting sweaty today.  She remembers, hey that person turned out to be good yesterday!!   I approach and start to rub her, she stays put and really lets down.  I rub her face, put the coil over her face,  rub some more, block as she attempts  to pull her head away a time or two. She settles and stays with me.  Great she is ready for the halter!  I  back away from her, let out a couple of coils and reach for the halter on the fence.  She actually takes a step with me.    I reward her big time.  I go slow here.  Let her sniff the  halter and rub it on her neck first, then alternate rubbing  with  my hand then the halter and still holding the coils of my rope in the left hand.  I slip the halter on with no fuss and no resistance from her.  No big deal she says as she  licks and chews.  I clip the lead rope on and slide the coil of rope over her head and off.   I spend a few moments just rubbing her all over again.  

I brought some worm paste with me and I don’t waste time,  I handle her mouth some more and in goes the wormer, no big deal.  She said it did taste funny, but she forgave me  as I keep rubbing and making a big fuss over her.  I step back and get a brush and get to work.  Its’ a sea of horse  hair flying around in the wind, and she says it does feel so good!!!

I brush a few strokes and encourage her to move a  step my way.  Then I switch sides and encourage her to move towards me again.  In a few moments we have a pile of horsehair on the ground and she is moving a few steps at a time towards me.  She will give her head to either side with a hint of suggestion from the rope.  The rope touching her hindquarters is now getting some meaning to step over with her front and step under with her hind, on around towards me for a rub.   As I work round her with the brush, I pick up each leg a couple of times after rubbing it. 

Well done,  I end this session with her wanting more rubbing.  I take off the halter  and walk off.  I open the gate and she comes right through with a confident aire.  She looks my way with pride.   She knows she did good.   I smile and think “we are on our way, baby.!”

  My training is in the Buckaroo Way and I offer consultation services to those who believe in partnership of horse and rider. 
 Honoring the horse and horsemanship through the western buckaroo way- Jeannie

 The following tells about a session with a yearling filly getting haltered.  Each colt can be handled differently and should be handled as the situation presents itself.  You will be able to pick up ideas on halter training your baby!
Sassafras was recently weaned.  She was raised with her mom out on pasture, and although she has been around people and touched a little, even had her feet picked up a time or two, she has not seen a rope until now.  

I brought her into a smaller pen from her large pen with shed and room to run.   She was suspicious of the bucket with brushes and the rope in my hand.  She paced the pen wondering if there was an escape somewhere to go find mom.
No luck there.  She paused a brief moment or two, to look at me, then continued walking the perimeter of the small pen to find something better elsewhere.   To keep her from learning to just avoid me, I shook out a loop and threw a hoolihan on her.   She was startled and took off around the pen.  I didn’t let it get tight on her and just let her wear it.
The feel of the rope made her spin around but this gave me opportunity to throw in over her back a few times, let it drape around her legs and sides.  In a couple of minutes she settled down and was starting to look my way again.  Another horse try.

I started to apply a little pressure to get her to face me.  Timing and feel and watching her for a horse try, pretty soon she was ready to let me walk up and pet her, without her just running off, or walking off with no regard for me.

 She was beginning to see me as someone of importance.   Maybe I could be trusted after all, the rubbing sure felt good to her.   My goal was to halter her.  Maybe today, maybe not.   I shortened up the rope and held the coils in
my left hand.  I worked at touching her face.  When she would try to duck I would block her with my right hand or the coils of the rope in the left.  Pretty soon she could stay with me and get rubbed on the face.  I didn’t stay any
one place long, just until she gave me a horse try, then I would rub her elsewhere.   I brushed her all over, that felt good to a hairy, itchy, sweaty baby.   Aahhh she remembered some of this from last summer.  

I got to where I could lift a coil of the rope over her nose and over her face.  Then I worked at putting if all the way up her face and over her ears.  All the time going slow and looking for a  horse try.  If she got worried I slowed
down.  Just let her work at it and see that it would not hurt her.    About this time the stallion and mares showed up in the big pen next to where we were working.  Big distraction.  She had to leave; I gave her some rope, and
then worked at bringing her attention back to me a couple of times.  When she was really looking at me good, I slipped the rope off her head and walked away. 

 Enough for today, a good start.   I opened the gate to her pen and she followed me through and then went and found the water trough with not a look at me!!

My training is in the Buckaroo Way and I offer consultation services to those who believe in partnership of horse and rider.  

 Honoring the horse and horsemanship through the western buckaroo way- Jeannie

April 17, 2010 -   Spring Branding  Part 2-Crewmembers:  Roy Bowling, Nate Bowling, Mike and Cindy Bowling, Jake Bowling, Richard Crawford, Sam and Kate Gooding, Jeannie Choate, Keenan Ivy, Josh S., Cody Porter, Johnny Moore.
 Photos by Kate  & Sam Gooding.

The cattle and calves are gathered at a slow pace after trotting many miles looking for the cattle.  Many of the calves are rather young so the cattle are slowly pushed to the pens about 2 miles away.   A couple of the younger calves get tired and a crew member stays with them to tie them up at a well marked area so a pickup and trailer can come back to get them and haul them to the pens. 

The crew of cowboys spread around the herd on all sides.   The ones in front show the cattle where to go.  The ones on either side of the herd keep the cattle funneled in the direction of the leaders and the ones riding behind, the drag, keep the slow ones moving forward and with the herd.   It takes concentration to details to read the cattle and calves.  Several of the cows along the way will try to make a run back in the direction they came from.  Just the pressure on the eye of the cow by a horse is usually enough to turn them back into the herd.  The cattle will generally not make more than a step or two out of the herd if you and your horse are alert and reading the cattle.  As we get near the pens, we let the cattle and calves water as the leaders set the gates to take the cattle through and in this instance, we need to open gates to cross the highway to the bigger pens on the opposite side.   The cattle mingle here for about 15 minutes while everyone gathers in and gets spaced out to watch and hold the herd.   The trail boss, Roy, takes quick count and checks with the crew on how many calves were left behind.    Several of the cows and calves think about making an escape.  Button and I are in the right place at the right time and turn the mommas back.   There is plenty of opportunity to get horse trys while working the cattle.  Backing half circles, backing straight lines, turning on the haunches, asking for soft feel, and backing then rolling back quickly to stop a cow.

When the gates are set, the leaders file through the gates and we start moving the herd through the trap and out over the highway into the bigger set of pens.   Two crew members hold traffic as we get the cattle flowing at a fast walk and get them across as quick as possible.

After gates are shut behind the cattle and all the crew is across the highway, the trail boss sets crew members up for sorting.   Button and I were in a big pen to hold the cows as they were cut off from the calves.   This job was easy at first but as the numbers of cows grew and calves were bawling, realizing their moms were gone, the cows gave us several good tries to get back into the pen with their calves.  Mommas wanting to get to their babies no matter the species can be pretty darn headstrong.   Button and I had to be quick and assertive to keep them back, until the sorting was done and we were able to shut the gate.

The ground crew works quickly to set the branding fire and brands.  Vaccines and earnotcher is made ready.   The crewmembers that will rope the calves, get their horses set and the rest of us tie or hobble our horses outside the branding area, while we work the ground.    The calves are roped by the hind legs and drug to the fire.  The ropers us a trap shot or a ride by flank shot.  

Two crew members hold the calf down, one by the neck and foreleg and the other by the hind legs, they take the rope off the calf so the roper can get another calf while the crew works on this calf.  One person, brands, another person castrates if a bull calf, one member ear notches the ranch marks, another person gives vaccines to the calf and the last person gives the calf a dewormer.   This process takes on the average, less than 30 seconds for the calf to be down at the fire.   Two ropers can keep the ground crew moving at a steady pace. Two of the crew take a horse and a pickup with trailer and go back to find the 2 small calves that were left behind.   The work moves fast and the near 90 head of calves are worked in a little over an hour.

The next chore is to treat the cows for flies, ticks and lice and vaccinate.  The cows are brought down an alley into a curved chute and 4 to 5 cows are worked at a time.  The cows are over 1000 lbs and not real happy about being in the chute.  It takes some timing to vaccinate each one and not break off needles. 

The cow and calf work is done in less than 3 hours.  The cows are turned back with their calves into a big pen for them to pair back up.   The cattle will be allowed to rest for a couple of hours before being turned into a fresh pasture.  The fire is put out and the gear stowed into the pickup.  The crewmembers get horseback and head to the ranch headquarters for a late lunch.  The ride is alittle over  a mile.      

The ranch supplies the crew with a big meal of steaks, potatoes and salad.  Roy’s wife is a wonderful cook.  The talk at the big table is of adventures with cattle and horses.  Times that were challenging  but now funny in the retelling.    

 It is time to head back to the  horse pens.   The horses have rested and are ready for the trip.  Kate, Sam and I head off at lope for a mile along the ranch road.   We cross the highway and head for home.      The horses know they have done a good job and we arrive back at the horse trap about 4 p.m.   What a day for horse and human and a rewarding experience.

Photos by:  Kathy Greer

The afternoon class at the Texas  BUCK BRANNAMAN CLINIC in March  2010 was Beginning Ranch Roping.

The ranch ropers gathered on the first day with their ropes in hand and watched Buck Brannaman demonstrate 3 different hip shots.  He recommended a soft rope 45 to 60 feet in length for this style of roping.     He had us work on our swing before we started throwing loops at the roping dummy.   He told us to imagine swinging a milk pail over and around your head and back down by your side.    With a proper swing you will not spill your milk!!

1. The first shot we worked on was the “ride by flank shot”.  We would approach the calf or roping dummy that was headed left to right.  This entailed swinging our loop forward and over our heads and with an angle, like the shoulder of the calf.   As we rode by perpendicular to the calf, the time to deliver the loop was when our leg was even with the tail of the calf.  We would look at the flank of the calf and follow through with our loop and deliver our swing as if wiping the table across the back of the calf.   One third of the loop would go all the way under the calf and out the other side and wrap around the hind legs, one third would be standing up against the calf’s legs under his flank and one third of the loop would be on the right side of the calf’s rear legs angled back toward the person who just threw the loop.  The power is in the swing as you come from behind you forward.  It does not need to be swung hard to have a lot of power and effectiveness.

2. The second shot we practiced is called the “hip shot”.  This is a standing shot. You position your horse at about a forty-five degree angle to the calf ’s hip (right side of calf) and swing your rope on the right side of your horse, forward swing and over your head.  Again, the power in the throw is when you bring your arm forward from behind you.  In this shot you focus on the hip and as you pull your rope forward in your swing you quickly open you fingers and point them at the hip.  This allows the loop to travel faster and hit the calf over the hip and then the tip follows under the flank and stands up nicely around the hind legs until the header can draw the calf into the loop.

3.  The third shot is the “trap shot”.  This is delivered from behind the calf, in his blind spot. Your horse is positioned off to the left of the calf.  Your swing is a forward swing but angled over the left side of the calf and your horse.
When you deliver the loop, your drop your arm down as you bring if forward down the right side of your horse and wipe the table across the back of the calf for the throw.   This shot is usually done with you and your horse being closer to the calf and your tip is over the back of the calf in your swing to help you judge when you have the loop ready to be delivered.

After working on our swings and roping the three shots on the roping dummy, we were ready to rope live corriente cattle.   You have to practice adjusting your swing in relation to your horse and the moving calf.   If you ever thought that riding was like doing 8 things at once, well we just added about 4 to 5 more things going on a once.   You need to be able to pat your head and rub your tummy type of coordination to do ranch roping, but you need to do that to have good rider and horse communication. 

The work was fun, you needed to feel of your horse with a lot of concentration. Horsemanship skills at the highest level were being developed.  Buck always stressed our horsemanship first and the roping second.   The roping is just a job for the horse to do.   Classic dressage in western saddles!   “All dressage is, is good riding.” said Buck Brannaman.

Jeannie
J Bar B Ranch
Honoring the horse and horsemanship 

My training is in the Buckaroo Way and I offer consultation services to those who believe in partnership of horse and rider.   My approach includes everything from evaluating the compatibility of horse and rider, developing programs of fitness for horse and rider to compete in various events, to offering experienced feedback on horse management, diets, and supplements.