Good Neighbours

14X21" original watercolour. 

When there's work to be done in the ranching community...branding, weaning, gelding, gathering....it's inevitable that the neighbours will show up.  And usually they bring their horses.  Many families work together and have for decades, or even generations. This often means getting up well before daylight, capturing the mounts, loading and then driving many miles in order to be there for the work day, which can be long and hard, be done in freezing cold or searing heat and dust.  OR it could be just a lovely fall day, like depicted here with my friend Lee and his trusty old gelding. 

Unlikely as this sounds, it nevertheless is how it works, and when it’s time for the same job at THAT ranch, reciprocity prevails. 

The skill sets of ranch and farm people is accomplished by a lifetime of experience, and lots of lessons are taught on these days to the youngsters coming up through the ranks. And though the work can be hard, there’s always a lot of laughter, pranks and yarn-telling, plus wonderful food, and hospitality to go with it.