In the corral the horses are so aware of everything that is going on. They are quick to respond, agile and can think for themselves. They are remarkable four legged hands that complete a full days work.
Photograph © Simon Carter
https://knownorigin.io/simon-carter
Youngsters are encouraged to learn under close supervision. Helping sort yearlings, moving calves and cattle with timely gate work are all essential skills that need to be learned and executed without shouted instructions.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Innoculations and ear tags are fgiven to all new calves each year.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Women play a vital role in all aspects of ranch life. Some hve excelled in organisation roles in stock management and animal welfare. This does not mean they don’t get stuck in when it comes to the roundup.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Valuable resources are recycled into new needs wherever possible.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Vital to the day-to-day tasks is the transportation of cattle and horses.
Every day is different and a very early start to take working horses across the huge ranches is normal. The horses need to be fresh and alert so trailers are essential.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Colorado. High level roping skills are learned early on and required every minute during branding week.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Yearlings born early in the season have grown significantly bigger than the youngest ones and are tricky to catch. Here Kurt takes the strain before this large calf can be put on the ground and inoculated.
Photograph © Simon Carter
https://knownorigin.io/simon-carter
The ranches favourite seat is virtully unchanged after 140 years.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Leather and brasswork adorns the single most valuable friend in the landscape.
Photograph © Simon Carter
After years of declining rainfall, hopes of an arable harvest are long forgotten.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Man-made possessions are gently absorbed back into the landscape in this hostile terrain.
Every item is used to its full potential and nothing is discarded unnecessarily. Parts can be salvaged and adapted to keep other machines running. On the High Plains there is so little moisture
Photograph © Simon Carter
The intrinsic teamwork within the corral is a sight to behold.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Tempretures of 100 degrees are encountered every day during the summer on the range.
Photograph © Simon Carter
The unstoppable technological developments creep ever closer from the horizon. Sprouting up across the landscape they signal constantly changing times.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Man made boundaries lay across the plain in all directions. But in these vst areas herds are free to roam.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Fuel is a valuable commodity in day to day running of the ranches.
Photograph © Simon Carter
A herd of turbines across the plain seemingly blowing away The Old West.
Photograph © Simon Carter
The skillset of each cowboy is immense and their knowledge is gained through years of learning and practice.
Photograph © Simon Carter
Watching steady progress and keeping and eye out for problems is essentiual to a smooth day’s work,.
Photograph © Simon Carter
The cattle are driven in from the range for the yearlings to be branded. Once gathered, the yearlings are carefully separated from their mothers into another corral. Each ranch has its own mark and branding is a legal requirement. The process is highly co-ordinated to minimise stress.
Photograph © Simon Carter
A two year drought hs seen the landscape turn to a fine powder similar to the conditions of the 1930’s Dust Bowl.
Photograph © Simon Carter