More Branding

 

It seemed everyone was especially tired after this summer's Branding.  Most of us had a week of early mornings, rising at 3:30-4:00.  The calves were bigger this year too.  We've had a wetter than normal spring and summer, so far.  Throwing down bigger animals is harder work!

The Branding

Organized chaos is the best way to describe Branding.  Everyone has a job and everyone watches out for everyone else.  Its hot and smelly, with calf flesh burning.  Its gory, with blood flowing from notched ears and bull castrations.  And its a really fun and very dirty day!

Getting Ready to Brand

When sorting was done, the propane burners were brought out.  A fire was started, branding irons heated, and everyone took a short break.  The peaches picked at Apple Annie's were set out in the shed, along with apples, and freshly baked cookies and muffins.  There were coolers of drinks.  The kids gathered in the corral to chase the first group of calves.  This was an enjoyable part of the day!

 

Sorting

Once the cows and calves were in the corral, cowboys sorted and separated the calves from their mothers, putting the calves into groups of 30 for branding.  I think of sorting as a dance. 

Final Roundup

The final roundup for Branding 2015 went very quickly.  Dickie, was riding in the roundup and took photos.  I'm grateful to have photos inside the roundup for the first time!  By 8, most cows and calves were gathered and at the top of the hill.  I jumped in my Hummer and headed down the hill, to get to the Rock House corral before the cows.  It was a terrific morning roundup!

Branding Day Morning

Everyone in our house was up by 3:30 on Branding Day.  Everyone but me was out the door by 4:30, to get the horses ready for roundup.  I went down the hill at 5:30, to pick up some things at the Rock House plus our guests staying in the Rock House, Jim, Elizabeth, Bryce, and Emily.  We scurried up the hill to meet cowboys arriving at 6.  Jim served muffins to the cowboys while a horseshoe was replaced and saddles were tightened.  Soon all 28 riders were off in different directions.