Posts Tagged ‘ranch life’

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 […]

From the Branding Pen

July 11, 2016
Jenn Zeller

Horses and cattle swat at flies, their tails never resting. Cowboys reset their horses, to get the least bother on their cows during the sort. Some come. Some go. Stories are swapped. Memories made. Quiet hands, with good timing, make quiet horses. In life, you should never look back but in the sorting pen, it’s […]

Creating a Working Horse; A Series

June 20, 2016
Erica Mannix

Hey Cavvy Savvy readers! I wanted to share my most recent working horse experience. This filly is Puma’s Grand Finale, named for being her mother’s last foal as she was orphaned not long after this photo was taken in 2014. Her mother was a spectacular brood mare that we lost to colic. Finale is a […]

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. […]

Setting Goals

March 12, 2016
Jenn Zeller

I’ve struggled for quite some time with setting goals for myself. If I set one, I seem to fail at it, and I realized that it’s because I’ve tried to make my goals progress oriented. For a while I stopped setting goals altogether and have often felt like a fish out of water.  Or a wanderer with […]

A Bronc, A Smart Horse, And Cholla

March 11, 2016
Jan Swan Wood

Years ago when I was working on a ranch in New Mexico, I had an experience that I wouldn’t have believed if I hadn’t seen it for myself. When I went to work on the outfit, I was told I could have one personal horse. I had a string of horses assigned to me when […]

Heaven Help the Spontaneous Horsemen

March 8, 2016
By Ellie Dalton

There’s something about a horse standing in front of you that makes you want to be a horsemen, climb on, and go for a ride.  I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s definitely a real force and it seems to be the strongest with people that have never ridden before in their entire […]

The Mare that Will

March 2, 2016
Richelle Barrett

I purchased a yearling filly last summer, and now that spring is nearly upon me, I find myself wondering what the hell I was thinking! Working full time off the ranch, raising young children, and helping my husband with our trucking business has all but left me with very little time on my hands. But […]

Ranch Life In Black and White

February 18, 2016
Jenn Zeller

I know that most of us see the world in color. And colors are gorgeous. I love color. But sometimes, when you’re taking a photograph, or trying to make art, black and white is the way to go. Personally, black and white photographs are my favorite.  They allow you to see so much more – […]