Most people have a certain season or time during the year that they dub as their "favorite time of year." I would say most would stray more towards fall and winter because those seasons include some major holidays and have spirit galore! I on the other hand, LOVE FALL! Not because of the pumpkin spice and sweater weather... it's because of the Fall Run!

In our world this comes every, single year. It starts in September with pre-conditioning calves (giving them their vaccinations and deworming), then moves in to gathering and shipping yearlings, next is gathering cattle (mamas and babies) on grass and bringing them home and finally shipping the calves to the sale barn for our single pay check for a years worth of work. 

When fall work comes, we don't just do this for ourselves. We trade help with the neighbors and work their cattle too. We also get hired to "Day Work" for other ranches in our area to help with their fall cattle work as well. This requires a couple of good horses, maybe a colt or two to drag along and of coarse our trusty cattle dogs!

Some ranches are early morning starters, for instance, there at 6:00 am and riding out in the dark so it's just peaking light as we turn back toward their home place to start collecting cattle as we ride. Other places (like us) like to start mid morning after chores are done and kids are off to school. Waiting a bit also helps the fog burn off a little this time of year so we can see the cattle better in the pastures.

Whatever the situation is, its always been good for my soul to get outside horseback (or muleback) to cover some ground and hunt cattle. The only sound is silence in the distance when beginning the round-up. When cows start to catch the jest of what's going on you'll start hearing them calling for their calf from a ways away. As the round up starts the dogs are starting their panting a bit and my mount usually has a steadied heavy breathing after the warm up to get to the back of the pasture.

Once the round-up is in full motion the cowboys (or cowgirls) start feeding off of each other actions and rate their speed off of the next guy across the way, that way everyone is rounding up at the same pace and no one is getting ahead of each other! Before long everyone has collectively gathered their part of the pasture and the cow dogs have sprung some out of the trees to make sure none were left behind. The cows and calves are all now in one big group be be pushed into a holding corral where they can be counted, sorted and worked or shipped.

Every time I get an opportunity to saddle up another day, have a good mount under me and have a trusty dog by my side... I NEVER take it for granted! My heart and soul lives for this time or year and it's even better when I have the best guy by my side that basically taught me everything I know about this line of work! Ty day-worked when I met him and we've been able to keep the gig for over 15 years together now. If there is ever a time we get hired individually (few and far between and it's usually me who stays home), he knows there is some making up to do when he gets home because I'm probably out of sorts because I missed out!