July 17, 2010

My First Ride Moving Cattle


 It was about zero degrees this day back in the winter of 2002. I had just moved out here - before I was really ranching. I was asked if I wanted to ride along to move Badure's cattle. Diana Elwood lent me her horse and her chinks - I didn't really know anyone yet except for Baxter Badure and Lyle O'Bryan. I remember showing up and getting ready to get on my horse and looked up and realized I was surrounded by cowboys staring down at me probably wondering what the hell? I stayed warm somehow and was crazy enough to pack my Polaroid Land camera and sodium sulfite solution - I can't even remember how I carried it. I remember Chris Elwood telling me how to work cattle along the edge of the herd and I must say - ignorance is bliss.
©JEAN LAUGHTON