Pulling Bulls

Ranching would be a lot easier if it weren't for bulls. At the same time, they keep it exciting. Kicking bulls in is easy. Pulling them out once their work is done, can get western. 

Breeding season is over at the Neiber Ranch. Two main reasons I can see to pull bulls two to three months after you kicked them in. First, if a cow didn't catch the first or second cycle and there's a bull around to breed her on the third, you'll be calving in July. Second, little heifer calves can get big enough to get bred if bulls are around them late summer and fall. Consequently, it's best to pull your bulls after two to three months of breeding. 

So Dad and I set off. Great day for a ride. 

One doe antelope with twins pretty well live in our pasture. Kinda fun. 

This is what you call farm ranching. We irrigate the pasture with the pivot and run 35 pairs on 25 acres all summer. Working good so far. 

We found the two bulls, hanging with a my brother's cow in heat. 

When working bulls, best to take a few cows with them, especially the one in heat. 

You can chase a bull anywhere it wants to go. Fortunately, going in there corral was part of their prerogative.  

Phase one complete. 

Then we ran them in the working pen and cut the cow off. 

Then jumped the two breeders in the trailer and hauled them to my brother's place. 

Alls well that ends well. When working bulls, one never lets down his guard. They'll cooperate to the degree that they want to. Fortunately, everybody worked together today, especially Dad and I and the horses. That's what makes ranching fun, navigating the unpredictable. Bulls will keep you on your toes. I'm thankful they're out and the herd can just graze for the fall. Thanks for your service guys. See you next spring. Just ranching. 

St. Augustine

Is a window and light that points us to the Father's love.

           https://youtu.be/7ZjiOMvPdn4         

Crupper

With fall sneaking up on us, I better be ready to ride in case I get a call to help round up. This year, I think I'll ride Mollie. Which means I've get to get my saddle all set up for her. 

The adjustments I made to my saddle a few years back, have really help it fit my ole mare better. However, it still creeps forward and will stand up in the back, a bit. 

Insert, crupper. A crupper goes right under the trailhead of a horse and pulls against the tailbone, keeping gear in its proper place. Generally used with pulling harnesses and pack saddles, cruppers also work well on mutton withered horses, like Mollie. I've rode with this on her before, but haven't had a good way to mount it. Until now. 

I really didn't know what I was looking for, until I went to the tack store. This bracket is perfect.

There's a lot of good leather right behind the cantle to mount to. This will make it look clean when not in use and strong when in use. Brass is also the color of the rest of the metal on my saddle. Gotta stay consistent. 

There comes a time when the leather is too thick for a leather punch. I find a drill to do a good job in a pinch. Just don't tell any real cowboys. 

These bad boys are called Chicago screws. Perfect for situations like this. 

Because the threads are internal, they make for a smooth finish on both ends. Just have to make sure and get the right size. 

Done.

Giddy up. 

We'll see. I have no worries that she'll accept it. Just wonder what kind of effect it will have on my riding experience. I doubt anything too noticeable. It will probably catch the eye of other equine enthusiasts, however. Who likely ask if my horse is part draft. Not sure. But she does keep me on top of my horsemanship. Ranch on. 

St. Monica's Challenge

It's good to be real about sin and conversion.

           https://youtu.be/f32jzy2w4s0         

Tough Love

Our Lord is the master of tough love.

           https://youtu.be/BzGghYkNy-I         

Whole Person

Jesus is always about healing the whole person.

           https://youtu.be/tIzEuRp1k4Q         

Consider Catholicism

The Catholic Church is the ship of salvation. Be at peace if you are in full, active communion with her.

           https://youtu.be/MOq-OQ7LZ-4         

Playing in the Dirt

I've been accused of drumming up projects just so I have the chance to play in the dirt. There is truth in that. Regardless whether the job needs to be done or not, my playing in the dirt usually has good end. 

It's been a bit since I've sat behind this four cylinder, especially while dragging the can. A little free time and a semi-cool day made for a great opportunity to level out some ground.

Once we moved the fence, Grandpa's old stack yard stood out. He hauled a bunch of dirt in here to make for a level spot to stack little square bales. With the fence now down below, the dirt ridge was pretty apparent. So the idea/plan was to take this dirt and put it at the crossroads. 

We just dove in, getting a feel for the scraper and the ground. 

She loaded up pretty nice and full. 

Then we'd haul the load about 75 yards to the dump site. 

We've filled this ravine in before. The more we fill in, the less of a corner we have down to the barn. 

Once you find where a load should go, just stand the can up and dump it. Hydraulics are beautiful. 

Every project goes through an ugly-duckling stage. 

You just have to persevere through it. 

Occasionally the scraper would close right on some rocks, preventing the door from latching and spilling half the load. 

Pretty good. There comes a time when a guy needs to call it good and shift gears. So we ditched the can and used the dozer to polish up the site. 

I'm a back-drag guy. 

Just put the blade in float, and putts backwards. I'd make a mess trying this last part with the front of the blade. Back-dragging is a blessing. 

At the dump site. We leveled out our tailings and track-packed them down. 

Making a transition down to the field gate and putting a berm up top so Mom can stay on the road when rounding the corner. 

Muy bien. 

I do like dirt. And I like it better when it's in the right place. We'll all sleep better now, knowing there are no abrupt edges next to our new fence. I will, anyway. Probably more from the shower after wearing all that dust and dirt. Fun stuff, though. I love working hard to have a little fun. Dirt has to be my play-dough of choice. Thankfully, our ranch has plenty of. Keep on ranching in a free world! 

Last Stretch

The day to build the last stretch of fence this summer, final arrived. Not much really, 150’ or so. Compound that with some August sun, and I was happy to be done. Let’s take a looksee. 

This stretch went from the barn to the pivot point. 

Before we could start to build, we had to take down the temporary fence we had in place. 

While we had the farmhand down there, we brushhogged the weeds. Then stretched a straight line wire for our posts. 

Then got to pounding. 

That’s about when Hank showed up to give us a lesson on setting steel posts. 

Spacing is crucial. We’ve found that four paces (12’) makes for a nice distance. Not too close, but not so far away that you need a stay. 

Depending on your height and strength, sometimes you want to put the pounder on the post before standing it upright. Regardless, put the point of the post right next to your straight line. 

Then get to whacking. I prefer this style of pounder, it lets your hands slide down once contact with the post has been made. Takes away the jar. Two things: First, don’t lift the pounder too high as your whacking. You pull that bad boy off the post in the middle of your thumping, some part of your body is going to the pay the price. Second, let the pounder do the work, but don’t just let it fall in the post. Drive the post! Pull the pounder through the posts, and let your hands slide by. Then you’ll get something done. 

Figure out the height you want your posts. When you’ve got your first post set at that height, then mark where the pounder lands on your body. Then you can happily pound without getting out your tape measure every time. Bottom of my sternum made for a 51” post. Just right. 

Fences by the road I like to line up nice. A quick hit with the level doesn’t hurt. 

Money. 

After we strung out our last roll of old hog wire, we stretched it tight with White Horse’s winch. 

Every once in a while, I come across a leftover roll of barb wire. The ole bar through the spool trick works well. Be careful walking backwards. 

This hog wire was a bit shorter. So we went 48” with the top wire. The three knob's down, three again, the two, before the top of the hog wire. Worked. 

I will fence no more forever!

For the rest of this summer, at least. I’ve got all the wire fence done that I wanted to build this year, thanks be to God. I like to do things right, especially building fence. I’ve always said that you can tell a lot about an outfit's operation by the condition of their fences. Ours are now tall, tight, and straight. New posts, with good reused wire. Not sure where that rates us on the ranching scale. But I can tell you one thing, the sheriff won’t be calling us to say we have cows on the highway. Let’s ranch!