Cow Country

[daytime dave]

Wow, those are gorgeous gathering photographs. Very nice. Thanks.

[RanchRoper]

I'm the mysterious shadow in the photos. It sure was a beautiful November day.

[PT7]

My very favorite B&W photographer is Ansel Adams....love his outdoor photos, especially of forests and mountain areas.
Your cow country photos are darn quality stuff, too. Have you published any, or planning to do that? It would work, I think.

I love black and white photos. They have a lonely look to them I think.

[RanchRoper]

That's an interesting idea. We have several books of Adams photographs, they are spectacular for sure. His National Park pics of Yosemite, etc are great. We do have quite a collection of photos we've taken over the years of my working cowboy days, and some would make good calendar photos maybe. The late David Stoecklein put out many coffee table quality books on working cowboys from various regions of the US; we have several of those books too. One of my favorite photographers is L.A. Huffman, who photographed cowboys in the late 1800's. If you google these guys check out some of their work.

[RanchRoper]

Out checking cows with Dakota. In the high country near the Castle River Forest Reserve, southwest Alberta.

[daytime dave]

Beautiful countryside. Great photograph.

[RanchRoper]

Badger and I just got back from our Sunday morning ride, my wife was on the deck taking photos of deer in our yard, and she snapped this one. Nice cool late fall day.

[White Squirrel]

Have you ever thought about posting a photo that doesn't make me want to chuck this job and move to Alberta!

[RanchRoper]

Haha...I'll see what I can find...

[RanchRoper]

Here's a darn traffic jam I got stuck in. Man these freeways are frustrating.

[daytime dave]

Better than the traffic jams I see here.

[RanchRoper]

Sometimes have to stop for a herd of elk crossing the road too.

[daytime dave]

I saw my first elk this fall in the Rockies. What majestic animals. Those old bulls are really something.

[RanchRoper]

Here's a recent photo my wife took of the Crowsnest River right near our home. This is looking south. I ride in those hills quite often.

[Deadwood Dutch]

Beautiful country!

[JEBar]

Here's a recent photo my wife took of the Crowsnest River right near our home. This is looking south. I ride in those hills quite often.

beautiful ..... just curious, once the weather breaks and you are able to get back into the saddle, how long does it take to get your horse back into working condition ?

[RanchRoper]

Once the icy ground is done, hopefully in a week or two, I'll start getting them going again. This is the first winter season I've not used them moving cows, but it was so bad a winter for bitter cold and deep snow that the rancher I work with fed cows at the home place. I'll start them slowly with 30 minute rides either in the round pen or just out in the open. If I can get a few rides on them each week they'll start to drop some fat and muscle up. Calving time and sorting times are good because there's lots of slow walking around but still covering lots of ground. Legs are the big issue, have to avoid bowed tendons from over stressing them. So we just go easy. once I'm out in the open I'll trot lots as that's what really shapes them up. If I post at a long trot we can cover lots of miles and it's not too strenuous for them. But that's later in April. Easy does it for awhile. Then by May we're good to go for brandings and long days in the saddle. Can't wait!

[JEBar]

well understood .... many folks might not be aware of the fact that just like humans, its best to work them to where they are really ready to go to work

[RanchRoper]

Yes they can pull muscles if they are out of shape. Depending on the injury, could be out for the season.
The town nearby has an indoor arena and you can ride for $20 for an hour. It's ok once in awhile but riding in circles gets boring for horse and rider. I'd rather be outside.

[JEBar]

also well understood