This time of year Mother Nature is determined to deliver summer to us but it’s two steps forward most days with an occasional three steps back. A handful of warm days and the sun hanging in the sky a little longer every day has the grass greening up…but the cold nights and wind have kept it from growing much yet. The heifers and steers that we received last week act like last sumers old grass with the new green comng up underneath is a banquet up on the Dry Land pasture.  They came in on semi-trucks that haul about 48,000 pounds of cattle each. That is about 85 head. They came from Rocky Ford and Limon where they have been fed, vaccinated and branded by good cowboys, since I purchased them between January and now. One load came from Nevada and they will have to be branded here at Music Meadows. When we turned these heifers out they were on a high trot so with two of us riding we just headed them to a pond on the east side of the pasture. We put them on the water and they took a big drink and then started walking again. We got in front of them and just slowed them down until they began to put their heads down and eat. When they seemed fairly calm we just rode away and left them. Since then I have put out salt and mineral and protien tubs that weigh 250 pounds for them to lick. Yesterday I rode through them to count and inspect each one to be sure none were getting sick. The wind was blowing hard but it was still very enjoyable for me because the cattle looked good, they were all there, they had plenty to eat and were very contented.

Happy Trails,
Elin

Today I went to the cattle sale in La Junta and bought yearlings to stock the pastures this summer. They were sent to a grow yard where they will be cared for, branded and vaccinated till sent to Music Meadows in about ten days. As I headed home loaded with salt, fence posts, dog food for Shorty, grain for the horses and new leather gloves I figured my winter vacation is indeed over! I have been purchasing cattle since the end of January but my winter was relatively liesurly with only the horses, my dog, two barn cats, firewood and snow removal to contend with. Last week, George started working to repair the flood damage and now is on fence repair. George has worked with me over the past several years on an unofficial (and typically unpaid) basis but it’s now official, he is cowboying on the Music Meadows Ranch and I couldn’t be more pleased to have such a talented and consientious man to help me get the work done!
Cattle will start rolling in here next week. There is some old grass left over from last summer for them to start on till the new grass start cranking.

Each truck can haul about 90 head of cattle at a cost of about $3 per loaded mile and the cattle are about 120 miles away. After they arrive they must be looked at and counted twice a week for a couple of weeks to see if any get sick. If they do they have to be driven to the corral for treatment. Fence repair will continue for a couple of weeks and irrigation will start as soon as the ground warms up. I almost forgot, I have to start training some unbroke horses (a deal I couldn’t refuse).

I am anxious to see who my first guests of the season will be! Whoever they are, they can count on being a “hand for the day” on the Music Meadows Ranch (or for more than a day if they really want to submerse in the reality of life as a rancher). There will be a new page in my website shortly explaining how you can stay over in the ranch house for the first time ever! This is a great opportunity for folks to really “get-away” for a true break from the norm of life!

Happy Trails,
Elin

So, I stand here with my hat in my hands…so much water under the proverbial bridge since my first post.  So much I could have and should have written about while it was still fresh.  Alas, here it is winter…snow on the ground…cattle gone for this year, yet the memories linger and plans are in progress for the coming year.

Late last April most of the snow had melted away.  Grape ceek started running and I opened irrigation head gates to start the water flowing over the thirsty ground.   I know that each day of April that comes and goes has me one day closer to a full immersion in the work of the summer.  For all practical purposes there is no spring here and no fall.  It simply goes from winter to summer then back to winter.  Any transition that might be called spring or fall is so fleeting as to nearly be missed.

I eagerly await a special group of guests who I am told are coming to work and to play!  Girls (women, but we are all girls at heart) who have horses of their own back east and are ready for adventure on a western ranch!  The coordinator of this happy intersection of women, work and adventure is college best friend and polo team mate Andrea.  Other members of the group were her daughter Lindsey and friends Patti, Susan and Debbie.  I plan our work goals and our play goals.  The cattle won’t arrive till after they leave and the weather is a wild card with snow a distinct possibility. 

We “rocked” and the weather was very kind to us!  First the saddles and bridles got an overhaul of cleaning, oiling and repairs.  All were rewarded with a pleasure ride through part of the ranch that afternoon.  Next we attacked the overgrown and trashy willows in the Little Horse Pasture.  Two days of chain saw work, raw labor and fire had the Little Horse Pasture looking like a park!

Each day was closed out with a horseback ride somewhere we had not been.  Sunday it was unanimous to have a day of rest with a steak dinner and hot springs soak at Buena Vista…  only a short 90 minute drive out of town.

I saved the best ride for the last day.  Riding through the ranch, up to the National Forest and Crystal Falls, a favorite spot for me was beautiful and shrouded in ice.  The Rainbow Trail still deep with icy snow on the northern slopes looked somewhat forbidding yet I wanted to lead us in a “round-trip” as I hate to follow the same trail  home as I take out.  I led my horse a couple hundred yards, struggling through the deep snow, trying to stay out from under him and nearly failing.  Once to good ground I tied him and went back to get another horse.  Susan went ahead to catch the horses as I tied the reins to their necks and sent them on their own down the trail the first horse had broken.  We encountered a couple more spots like that and then headed off the mountain and back to the ranch on a “fresh trail”.  It was soooo worth it. 

This was the first time I ever had guests at this time of year and it was so rewarding and memorable for all…and we even got a ton of work done!

Happy Trails!

Elin

This is a unique life from the perspective of sheer numbers.  Less than 2% of the population are engaged in production agriculture of any kind.  Those raising cattle on ranches are a small fraction of that number.  The number of those operations run by a single woman is yet another fraction.

Ranching life is a unique occupation due to the fact that creation is the work place where nature has a mind of it’s own.  Weather, land, water, cattle and horses are the raw ingredients I have to work with to produce a profit each year.  The key word is “work with” as working against these elements and creatures would only produce frustration and failure.  The truly “wild card” in this business is the market…but that’s another story.

I would be remiss if I failed to speak of the importance of the human element in the success of the ranch.  It is critical to have reliable help when needed and I am fortunate to have a full time hired man by the name of  Bud.  We work like a team of good horses to ‘git er done’.  In addition, I have a few local ‘volunteer’ hands who come on board when needed with their own horses.  My guests though provide the most interesting and rewarding “ranch help”.  

 The learning curve is steep and not to be had from a “how to” book.  Still, the most important element is a good attitude…the rest falls into place as my helpers learn and grow with every project completed.  

Happy Trails…Elin