It's a Cowboy's Life

We interviewed a local rancher that grew up in the Columbus/Deming area. He gave us a glimpse into a day in his life. He has a small herd of free range cattle which graze on land he leases from the BLM. As supplemental income, he also breaks horses for other ranchers in the area. As we interviewed him outside his empty corrals, his small herd came walking up as if on cue. When we entered the corral, some of the cows ran and subsequently got separated from their calf. We had to manage the interview over the noise of the cows mooing to each other in anxiety over the separation. We got to see him rope a few of the calves as he would if they were being branded. This is a skill I marvel at, but I have to say I squirmed a bit to see the calf dragged across the ground by the rope. The ranching community is strong down here on both sides of the border. There is camaraderie among the ranchers in the area. Cows have been known to stray and sometimes cross the border and ranchers from both sides will hold them and get word to the owners so they can come and drive them back closer to home. He said he knew he wanted to spend his life on a horse. Despite his parent's dismay, he has dedicated his life to being a cowboy. He commented that in school he doodled horses and cowboys roping. I don't remember my doodles in school having that much meaning for my life.

I think we were all a little enamored after the interview of a life so simple and sweet. He really loves what he does and had such a positive outlook on life. We tried hard not to think about our impending return to the City as we sipped beer in the back of a pickup under the Southwest sun.





Cows separated from their calves and not very happy with our presence.


I got to horseback ride, which was awesome. In the past year, I've had this strange craving to ride horses. I was thrown off when I was about 10 years old and for many years I had a fear of riding them. But, there was no fear left. I hopped on Bubbles like no time had passed since I had been on a horse. Bubbles is pregnant with her twelfth calf! But, by the way she took off, you couldn't have guessed.