Posts Tagged ‘Great Basin’

Great Basin Gathering, Music, Poetry, and Gear Show

November 3, 2017
Tiffany Schwenke

The first weekend in November many of the nation’s top cowboys and cowgirls will be in Winnemucca, Nevada competing at the Western States Ranch Rodeo (WSRRA) Finals for the championship title! In conjunction with the WSRRA Finals is the 3rd Annual Great Basin Gathering, Music, Poetry, and Gear Show! This is a place for friends […]

War Knot Series, Part One: Mustache Knot

July 31, 2017
Jolyn Young

Here’s the first installment in a four-part series on tying a war knot or buckaroo knot in a horse’s tail. Buckaroo traditions were handed down from the California vaqueros, who learned their skills and customs from the Spanish conquistadors. In keeping with tradition, many modern-day buckaroos tie a knot in their horse’s tail each day […]

Cowboy Gear

June 1, 2017
Jolyn Young

Cowboys from across the regions of the Western United States all sit in saddles and ride horses to work. But aside from those general similarities, the gear they pack with them all day can vary widely. After we moved to northern Arizona from northern Nevada, my husband discovered that cowpunchers carry a LOT more supplies […]

Modern-Day Buckaroo Attire

May 15, 2017
Jolyn Young

In articles about the differences in clothing and gear used by cowboys in different regions, the buckaroo is usually portrayed as a caricature from the 1980s. Modern-day buckaroos no longer wear snap-brim hats and thrift-store coats unless they find a wicked good deal on a Cabela’s cast off. Here’s a breakdown of the typical buckaroo’s […]

A Two-Rein Horse

January 20, 2017
Jenn Zeller

I thought I’d take a moment and share with you a quick video about the two-rein. I’ve just recently moved my horse into this set-up. He is the first two-rein horse I’ve ever made, and so I’m watching a lot of DVDs on how to NOT mess this up! I really enjoy the teachings of […]

Rope Horse Training And Selection With Casey Awbrey

November 27, 2016
Jolyn Young

Roping is an important skill for any working cowboy to have, and it’s also a great way for equestrians of other disciplines to cross-train. Here are some tips for selecting and training a rope horse from trainer Casey Awbrey. A lifelong cowboy, Awbrey worked for reputable rope horse trainer Bill Hill in Merrill, Oregon for […]

Ranch Country Neighbors

November 20, 2016
Jolyn Young

I loaded up my kids the other day and drove an hour north to visit some neighbors who had just moved to the IL Ranch. In the Great Basin ranch country, our “neighbors” sometimes live many miles away, often down a rutted dirt road. I love the drive to the IL. While still on the […]

Our First Sale Horse

September 7, 2016
Jolyn Young

We’re putting our first horse in a sale this month. At first I was apprehensive, then I was sad, and now I’m proud. So many emotions! We’re selling Bob, the first horse my husband bought as an adult. Jim rode Bob through a divorce, across numerous Great Basin ranches, to Texas and back home to […]

Take Care Of Your Horse

July 27, 2016
Jolyn Young

When a cowboy catches a horse for the day, he catches a horse for ALL of the day. Depending on the work to be done, he and his equine partner might start their day at 4:30 AM and not get done until well into the afternoon. Sometimes, the cowboy crew will return to the ranch […]

Cow Behavior

July 23, 2016
Jolyn Young

Much has been written about the importance of studying horse behavior and knowing why a horse reacts a certain way in different situations. Horsemen pay attention to whether their mount’s ears are pointed forward or flattened backward. They know that a cocked hind leg can mean the animal is relaxing…or about to kick. Clinicians and […]