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Tag Archives: horse

Tending camp on the North Elk River

Border collie supervising Bubba and Pepe

 

 

The ewes and lambs graze on the National Forests in the summer months. They move through a rotation so that they are not in any area for long. Part of the journey for Pepe’s sheep includes several weeks in high mountain pastures near the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. He stays in a tent and we pack in his groceries and dog food. When he drops into the north fork of the Elk River, we bring his camp to him. This involves a drive down a death-defying curvy road to a wonderful mountain meadow. Bubba came along, both to learn the way and to provide the muscle.

 

Pepe’s horse, pine-beetle killed tree

Pepe and Bubba: twins separated at birth?

 

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Battle Creek Reflections

Fall’s first reflection
of Julie in Battle Creek,
Seasons in motion.

 

 
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Posted by on September 12, 2020 in Animals, Horses, Nature and Wildlife

 

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New babies at Powder Flat

Coco and her filly--a half sister to Dirte's new colt

Coco and her filly–a half sister to Dirte’s new colt

 

 

Meanwhile, back at the Powder Flat ranch…new babies keep arriving. They gladden the heart!

heifers and calves at Powder Flat

heifers and calves at Powder Flat

 

Pat with the heifers and ewes

Pat with the heifers and ewes

lambs snacking on alfalfa

lambs snacking on alfalfa

 

 

 

 
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Posted by on April 24, 2016 in Animals, Cattle, Family, Folks, Horses, Sheep

 

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The first colt of the season

Dirte and her new colt

Dirte and her new colt

The weather is still trying to make up its mind. Is it Still Winter? Almost Spring? Spring? But Eamon’s mare Dirte made up her mind that it was time to deliver her colt. We still haven’t gotten close enough to determine whether it is a filly or a horse colt. The trees are trying to decide if it is safe to send out buds. In the meantime, the calves, lambs and colts are making their appearance. It must be spring!

 

Waiting for the green

Waiting for the green

cows with their new calves in the Big Meadow

cows with their new calves in the Big Meadow

 

Dirte and colt running

 
 

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Fall Filly

Pat's mare Plata did not foal in June with the other mares. She is an older mom, and took her time. Maeve called, saying, "Grandpa--Plata had a filly and she is black with a diamond on her forehead!" Pat asked Maeve what she wanted to name the baby and she said "Diamond."

Plata and Diamond

Pat’s mare Plata did not foal in June with the other mares. She is an older mom, and took her time. Maeve called, saying, “Grandpa–Plata had a filly and she is black with a diamond on her forehead!” Pat asked Maeve what she wanted to name the baby and she said “Diamond.”

 
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Posted by on September 25, 2015 in Animals, Events, Horses

 

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Tending sheep camp

Jean Carlos and Tiarnan near Tennessee Creek

Jean Carlos and Tiarnan near Tennessee Creek

 

Tiarnan and Rhen went with me to move sheep camp on Tennessee Creek in the Routt Forest. Jean Carlos was happy to see the boys and fed them a hearty lunch of spaghetti, vienna sausage and mixed vegetables. They were hungry. After pulling the camp down a very rough and narrow road, Jean Carlos gave Tiarnan a ride. In spite of the bouncy trip, Rhen had somehow fallen asleep, and was mad when he learned he had missed a ride on the horse. We then went on to Clark for some of their famous ice cream.

Jean Carlos, Rhen and Tiarnan at the sheep camp

Jean Carlos, Rhen and Tiarnan at the sheep camp

Tiarnan helps to siphon water

Tiarnan helps to siphon water

 
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Posted by on August 19, 2015 in Animals, Family, Folks, Horses

 

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A’horseback

Tiarnan and McCoy on Pat

Tiarnan and McCoy on Pal

 
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Posted by on May 1, 2015 in Animals, Family, Folks, Horses

 

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Gather those cows!

It’s time to gather the cows from their summer grazing grounds on the Forest. Rhen is getting the crew organized.

Rhen organizing the cattle gathering crew

Rhen organizing the cattle gathering crew

 
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Posted by on September 29, 2014 in Animals, Family, Folks, Horses

 

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Another baby on the ground!

Coco with her new colt.  I must be spring!

Coco with her new colt. It must be spring!

 
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Posted by on March 25, 2014 in Animals, Horses

 

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The Christmas Trail by Badger Clark

Geo0rge on Hickory, Buck Drawphoto by Patricia Moore

George on Hickory, Buck Draw
photo by Patricia Moore

 This is in memory of my Dad, George Salisbury, who died Christmas Day, 2010.

The wind is blowin’ cold down the mountain tips of snow
And ‘cross the ranges layin’ brown and dead;
It’s cryin’ through the valley trees that wear the mistletoe
And mournin’ with the gray clouds overhead.
Yet it’s sweet with the beat of my little hawse’s feet
And I whistle like the air was warm and blue
For I’m ridin’ up the Christmas trail to you,
Old folks,
I’m a-ridin’ up the Christmas trail to you.

Oh, mebbe it was good when the whinny of the Spring
Had weedled me to hoppin’ of the bars.
And livin’ in the shadow of a sailin’ buzzard’s wing
And sleepin’ underneath a roof of stars.
But the bright campfire light only dances for a night,
While the home-fire burns forever clear and true,
So ’round the year I circle back to you,
Old folks,
‘Round the rovin’ year I circle back to you.

Oh, mebbe it was good when the reckless Summer sun
Had shot a charge of fire through my veins,
And I milled around the whiskey and the fightin’ and fun
‘Mong the mav’ricks drifted from the plains.
Ay, the pot bubbled hot, while you reckoned I’d forgot,
And the devil smacked the young blood in his stew,
Yet I’m lovin’ every mile that’s nearer you,
Good folks,
Lovin’ every blessed mile that’s nearer you.

Oh, mebbe it was good at the roundup in the Fall,
When the clouds of bawlin’ dust before us ran,
And the pride of rope and saddle was a-drivin’ of us all
To stretch of nerve and muscle, man and man.
But the pride sort of died when the man got weary eyed;
‘Twas a sleepy boy that rode the nightguard through,
And he dreamed himself along a trail to you,
Old folks,
Dreamed himself along a happy trail to you.

The coyote’s Winter howl cuts the dusk behind the hill,
But the ranch’s shinin’ window I kin see,
And though I don’t deserve it and, I reckon, never will,
There’ll be room beside the fire kep’ for me.
Skimp my plate ’cause I’m late.  Let me hit the old kid gait,
For tonight I’m stumblin’ tired of the new
And I’m ridin’ up the Christmas trail to you,
Old folks,
I’m a-ridin’ up the Christmas trail to you.

 
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Posted by on December 25, 2012 in Family, Folks, Poetry

 

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