Posts Tagged ‘Great Basin’

The Positive in Roping Gone Wrong

July 13, 2016
Jolyn Young

I started swinging my rope in the box just like my husband advised me, then nodded for the steer and squeezed my horse with my legs. Shorty had me in throwing position in just a few strides, so I opened my hand and…watched my loop whack the steer on his back. What the heck. Who […]

Cavvy Behavior

June 29, 2016
Jolyn Young

I’m about to tell a “back when I was a kid…” story. Because I’m turning 30 later this summer, and that makes me old. Depending on where you are in your life’s journey, you may or may not agree with that statement. Either way, back when I was a kid, my mom took my older […]

The Kid’s Horse

April 30, 2016
Jolyn Young

“Jim, grab her off the horse. He’s going to spook. He doesn’t look like he’s okay with the situation. He looks nervous.” “I think you’re the one who’s nervous. Just lead her around, she’ll be fine.” I handed my husband the lead rope that was attached to the horse our three-year-old daughter was sitting atop, […]

Off The Ropes

April 25, 2016
Jolyn Young

Roping horses “off the ropes” is a traditional way of catching horses for a cowboy crew. The practice isn’t commonplace these days, probably because running a large cavvy of ranch horses is becoming less common. The Spanish Ranch in northern Nevada maintains the tradition, however, because it is still the most practical method to use. […]

War Knot Series, Part Four: Figure Eight And Rooster Tail Knots

March 16, 2016
Jolyn Young

In the final installment of this four-part series, learn how to tie the figure eight and rooster tail knot. As mentioned in the previous installments, 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 certain knots in […]

War Knot Series, Part Three: Spanish Ring Knot

March 7, 2016
Jolyn Young

In the third installment of a four-part series, learn how to tie a Spanish ring knot. As mentioned in Parts One and Two, 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 certain knots in their horse’s […]

War Knot Series, Part Two: Spanish Cross Knot

February 15, 2016
Jolyn Young

In Part Two of an ongoing series on tying a war knot or buckaroo knot, you’ll learn how to tie the Spanish cross knot. As mentioned in Part One, 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 […]

Buckaroo Lingo

January 25, 2016
Jolyn Young

Every subculture has its own lexicon. In the buckaroo world, we often use phrases that originated with livestock and just apply them directly to human usage in a kind of reverse anthropomorphism. Here are several common cowboy phrases that have wandered away from the barn and gotten tangled up in everyday vernacular. Ganted up: When […]

Wintertime Ranch Reality

December 27, 2015
Jolyn Young

It’s winter time in the Northern Hemisphere, and the weather is cold and snowy in central Nevada. My husband and I live on the RO Ranch, and he is taking care of a bunch of yearlings that are wintering at headquarters. I’m glad that he’s sticking around fairly close to the house, because I’m more […]

Doctoring With Nylon – And Medicine

September 29, 2015
Jolyn Young

Checking and doctoring newly weaned calves is a necessary chore at any ranch that retains calves in the fall. I use the word “chore” loosely, because on crews like the one at the RO, where sickness is treated with injections of antibiotics, oral probiotic paste, and nylon, it’s a fairly fun chore that involves lots […]