“Teddy Rides A Moose” is an actual photograph (not “photo-shopped”) from an old Life Magazine. My nephew Daniel just sent this photo along. One of his classmates at Princeton was doing some research on Roosevelt and came across this very cool picture. The description below the photograph states: “Roosevelt once said, “the conservation of our natural resources and their proper use constitute the fundamental problem which underlies almost every other problem of our natural life” (Photo credit: Bettman/CORBIS) in 1906. I really hope that riding a moose is not an example of the proper use of our natural resources!!

President Roosevelt was an avid outdoors-man and conservationist and one of the leading forces in promoting the United States National Park Services. He was a particular fan of Yellowstone National Park and did a great deal to promote the enhancement, protection and use of the Park.

In 1906, Roosevelt signed the Act for the Preservation of American Antiquities, giving the president the power to officially declare natural and historic sites situated on government land as national monuments.

“It is a pleasure now to say a few words to you at the laying of the corner stone of the beautiful arch which is to mark the entrance to this park. Yellowstone National Park is something absolutely unique in the world so far as I know. Nowhere else in any civilized country is there to be found such a tract of veritable wonderland made accessible to all visitors” . With these few words, President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated the arch that now bears his name, at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, Gardiner, MT on April 24, 1903.

As many of you know, our dude ranch is just 3 miles from the NW boundary of Yellowstone National Park and 35 miles to the West Entrance where you can tour Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. We are proud of our Concessionaire’s Permit that enables us to take our guests horseback riding in Yellowstone as well.

Horseback Riding at Fawn Pass in Yellowstone National Park

The Covered Wagon Ranch is pleased to announce our Top Ten Dude Horses for this past season.  We are really proud of our entire herd, and each horse contributes in some way to the overall success of our operation; but these are the stars of the show.  The Top Ten are as follows:

10.    COLONEL – Colonel is a big, black gelding who handles many of our larger riders with confidence and ease.  This year he provided 38 guest rides, and two wrangler rides for a total of 40 out of the possible 96 riding days.

9.    BUSTER -  Buster is a smaller, sorrel gelding with a fair amount of age on him.       

       Very gently and friendly, he is pretty darn solid in the mountains, even with his very  

       crooked from leg.  Riders who can keep him from enjoying the green grass (at his

       convenience) really like his stable personality.  He had 39 guest rides, 1 wrangler

       ride, and 2 crew rides for a total of 42.

8.    EMERSON – Emerson is our Tennessee Walker who is very comfortable for our 

       guests riding pleasure.  He is noted for his high socks on each leg.  He came to

       us about 4 years ago from Kentucky, and has taken to mountain life quite well.

       We have never worried about Emerson missing a meal, he seems to always maintain

       a rather rotund figure.  Emerson provided 40 guest rides and 3 wrangler rides for a

       total of 43.

7.    TRIGGER – Trigger is a good sized, and handsome palomino gelding.  A favorite of

       many guests, he has always been a very dependable mountain horse with a very

       steady mind.  He and his good buddy Chisum are always reluctant to go to pasture

       on Saturdays, and are often seen being pursued (and probably cursed) by a couple

       of wranglers way behind the rest of the herd.  He gave 43 guest rides and 3 wrangler

       rides.

6.    RENO – Reno is a handsome sorrel ranch raised gelding.  He came to us from

       Georgia, and has become a really nice mountain horse.  A couple of years ago he

       quickly became a wrangler favorite, and the past two years has performed quite

       well as a guest horse.  Reno provided 44 guest rides and 2 wrangler rides for a

       total of 46.

5.    PROXIMO – Proximo is a very tall (well over 16 hands) palomino appaloosa

       gelding.  He had suffered a very serious leg wound two years ago, and was used

       sparingly in 2009.  This year one of our wranglers took him under his wing, and

       used him for leading guest rides as well as wrangling horses to and from pasture.

       He provided 48 wrangler rides out of 96 possible.

4.    SIXGUN -  Sixgun is a beautiful blood red bay gelding with a “zorro” star on his

       forehead.  A perennial favorite of the ranch, he has always performed at a high level

       for our guests.  He provided 49 guest rides, and one wrangler ride for a total of 50.

3.    TUGBOAT – Tug is probably one of the best “kids” horses on the ranch.  He is a

       tall (upper 15 hands) and handsome bay gelding.  Tug has a great mind, a very

       kind eye, and is truly a gentle giant.  He has been a Dude horse all of his life, and

       does his job extremely well.  Tug gave 49 guest rides, 1 wrangler ride, and a crew

       ride for a total of 51.

2.    PRIZM – Prizm is a tri-colored paint of medium size who had an exceptional year

       for the ranch.  He has always been unnoticed in the past, and seems to just do his

       job without fanfare.  He finally got recognized for the solid horse that he is, and

       quickly became a favorite of all of those who had the opportunity to ride him. 

       He provided 44 guest rides, 7 wrangler rides, and 1 crew ride for a total of 52.

And finally, drum roll please…………. The number 1 horse at the Covered Wagon Ranch, for the third straight year is…………

       DEUCE – Deuce is a very special horse on the ranch, and very quietly, confidently,

       and reliably performs his job at the highest level.  He is a ranch raised gelding who, 

       before coming to the ranch, had performed as a roping horse on a working cattle

       ranch.  Since coming to us, he has shown a great mind in the mountains, and can

       still “get after it” if called upon to do so.  He is an extraordinary Dude Horse, and we 

       are really proud of the excellent service that he provides our guests each summer.                                  

       Deuce provided 59 guest rides and 1 Wrangler ride for a total of 60 rides out of the 

       possible 96 days.

Congratulations to these great Montana Dude Horses for being the best of the best.  If you have the pleasure to join us at the ranch, tip your hat to the hardest working employees at the ranch, for they are the true essence of the Dude Ranch experience.

It was love at first sight. When Cordy visited us from Switzerland this year (and Erna too!!) we were really excited to have visitors from this country, although they will tell you I kept saying they were from Sweden. At least both countries started with “Sw…”! They took full advantage of all the ranch had to offer, including a Backcountry Pack Trip right from our Montana Dude Ranch, and tons of horseback riding. It was a perfect Montana Dude Ranch Vacation including trips into Yellowstone National Park.

Cordy did not ride Annie (the mare, not the mule) for most of her stay. Towards the end she wanted to try a horse that was better suited for a more advanced rider. She (Cordy) is quite a cowgirl. She even has her own Western Store in Switzerland called “Western Store” (www.westernstore.ch). So the last few days of her trip she decided to ride Annie and just loved her. And Annie loved her as well!

Cordy heads back home. The ranch finished out its season. Then next thing you know I get an email from Cordy that she wants to buy Annie and send her back to Switzerland! I have never done anything like this before and basically didn’t think it was possible. I (unintentionally) put just about every obstacle I could think of in front of Cordy, but she is quite a goal oriented, determined woman. Much like Annie! She worked on all the details that were necessary to have her transported overseas. This was quite an exciting process for me to observe (I have to say observe and not participate. She did all the incredible legwork).

The time was drawing near. Her first attempt failed because Switzerland has a quota on how many horses they can ship into the country during the period of a year. They were full for 2010, so she had to wait until 2011. Then there’s the quarantine period, health checks, vaccinations, transporters, etc. that have to be arranged. But she charged forward and pulled this all together.

Once I could see this was really going to happen, we had Boone haul Annie back to Bozeman to go through her health checks and vaccinations.

She was pretty furry this time of year, as Montana has had some pretty cold weather for extended periods of time. The next difficult step was coordinating all her health requirements and getting the vet out here. Sometimes he’s just pretty busy and hard to find. You never know where he is!

It was all coming together pretty quickly now. Brand inspections, health certificates, vaccinations, etc were all being put together (might I add that JT was in Eastern Montana goose hunting during this time period??) (did I also mention that it was sooo close to Christmas??).

So here is what Cordy had put together. First, there was a hauler from Twin Bridges, Montana that picked Annie up at my house. He actually had another horse in his trailer (an Arabian) that was going to Kuwait! He was driving them both to Utah.

From there, they were hauled to Oklahoma, to this amazing company called Nedpoint Quarter Horses (www.nedpoint.com). Here they quarantine the horses for thirty days, then transport them, via plane, to Amsterdam. From that point they are hauled to where-ever else they go. Nedpoint was really fun to work with. Watch their video!

So Annie was loaded up on the trailer and headed to Utah. Some pretty significant snow storms delayed the trip to Oklahoma, but in a few days she was on her way again. She is now stalled at Nedpoint, waiting for her trip to Amsterdam on January 21! Good luck Annie! What an adventure. And thank you, Cordy, for taking such good care of her. It’s a rare occasion that a Covered Wagon Ranch horse gets sold. But when you know it’s the best thing for both parties, you can’t stand in their way. I’ll keep you posted when we hear she made it safe and sound to Switzerland!

The weather up at Raspberry Butte Ranch, where our horses winter pasture, has been some of the coldest, snowyest, windy weather I’ve seen in all the years I’ve been here in Montana.

I thought JT was crazy when a) he wanted to buy a tractor and b) he “needed” to get some expensive snow blowing attachment for the stupid thing. Well, after watching Boone (bless his heart) plow and plow and plow with this tiny little bobcat, I finally got it. I was glad he got it….until now.

JT, being the Good Samaritan he is, volunteered to plow out our neighbors road to their house. Then the call came-he was stuck and could I please drive the white pickup out to help pull him out of the ditch. I mean “really”??  I’m just a girl from New Jersey.

But being the faithful wife that I am, I don the carharts, boots, hat and gloves, and head to the scene of the crime. I’ll take the truck. He takes the tractor. Bad move. I can’t budge the truck to pull the thing out of the snow bank. Assuming this was a safe bet, we switch places. Second bad move.

We’re now back to back. I’ve been in a vehicle before that was being towed, and knew there was a quick “jerk” when the chain reaches its end. I’m ready to get this thing out of there, when all of a sudden “BOOM”. I’m hurled to the back of the tractor with lightening speed. Then “BOOM” I’m pushed back against the tractor again. What in Sam’s Hill was he doing??? So here I am, thrashing about the cab of this tractor like a fish in a bowl in an earthquake, and now I watch the tractor slowing tipping to its side. I’m doomed, I fear, as I fight for my life to drive the thing backwards and steer it out of the ditch. I mean, after all, I AM a woman driver.

How we got it out of there without me killing myself was nothing short of a small miracle. Once on the road, I crawled out of the cab and back to safe ground. My knees were shaking so hard I could hardly stand up. Thankfully, I threw a menancing “wifely” glance towards my husband, that only those married long enough would understand, and simply stated: “Don’t ever do that to me again.” And then I drove back to the house to regain my sense of balance.

Not fifteen minutes later, I get a second call. I’m stuck again. OMG. I frantically search the ranch for some other source of testosterone. Damn you Boone for taking time off and going to the NFR. I look to the geldings-no luck there. The only thing I can find to a living breathing male is a very hyperactive ten month old Golden Retriever that’s been neutered and a fifteen year old deaf, half blind, neutered, demented Jack Russell Terrier named Francois Pierre. Nope. No help here.

So it’s back in the truck, and once again I don’t have the where-with-all to pull the stupid thing out. But who’s the stupid one? It’s back to the tractor I go. But this time I have the sense to expect the earthquake-like tremors in the cab when the chain takes force. We slowly move out of the snow, as rocks keep throwing back to the cab windows. The truck spins out to pull us out. Next thing I know the windows blow out and the safety glass is thrown all over the cab. I thought I was going to lose my eyes. Fortunately, all was well, with the exception of the windows, and we were once again back out on the road.

I quietly got back in the truck, passed a “classic” glance to my husband, and drove off. I’m headed for Arizona, I say. And I definitely don’t think “his tractor’s sexy”!!

I decided it was time to get over my writers block. Besides, I’m here with the horses and it’s blowing like crazy outside, snowing, and the temperature is in the 20′s. So it’s time to start thinking about warmer weather and all the fun we have at the ranch. This is a photo story of one family’s journey here at the ranch.

First things first. Monday mornings the wranglers get up around 4:30 a.m. It’s true. They head out up the mountain and find the horses on our 2000 acre grazing pasture above the ranch. They wrangle them down the mountain and into the corrals to get ready for work. Hey, even the horses have a “Monday”.

They ride all day and search for wildlife. It could be moose, bear, deer, and in this case, elk. This bull is in velvet. It’s a protective coating enriched with nutrients to help his “rack” grow. By September, when the elk go into “rut” (their mating season), he’ll shed this coating and the antlers will be smooth and shiny.

The rides are endless and into some of the most spectacular country you will ever see. However, if you’re so inclined, you can also take a day off and head into Yellowstone National Park and enjoy the sights there as well. We’re only 3 miles from the N.W. boundary of the Park and a lot of our rides will take you there. This picture is Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon.

But there’s a whole lot more to do, include fly fishing, white water rafting, hiking, biking, and just plain nothin’!

The end of the week we have a great cookout on Friday night, with roping and music and all kinds of great food. Then it’s more riding on Saturday. Only to end the day with our “infamous” wrangle, where the horses head back up the mountain to graze on fresh green grass and play “horse”. This particular shot is one of Boone running the horses across the water to head up the mountain. When the journey is done, the wranglers come home and rest on Sunday. Just to get ready for their next adventure on Monday morning!

He was a beautiful horse. One bright day in March our vet, and friend, Dr. Shannon Moreaux, brought Apache to our home. His owner needed to find a good place for him and Shannon knew we would take care of him. My sister and her family were staying with us this week, and it was an exciting time. He was a beautiful horse. A black and white gaited paint. He held steady as you jumped on his back without a saddle. Soft and fuzzy from a winter coat. But most of all, big, beautiful black eyes that you could look into and see what a kind soul he was. I believe the best way to tell a good horse is by the look in his eye and the smell of his coat. I could breathe in that smell-almost hypnotizing and peaceful.

He did well at the ranch after some rough starts. He always seemed to cut his leg or get a hoof abscess and we had a hard time getting him to saddle and ride. But midway through the summer he was up and running and the guests loved him. He was too kind to give anyone a hard time under saddle. I think he was happy to have found a good home.

And then last Friday night JT and I were cleaning up after the cookout. It was dark. I was walking my dog and could hear some noise in the corrals. I yelled to JT to get a flashlight to see what was going on. Apache was down on the ground and obviously thrashing about for about an hour. The dreaded signs of colic-the number one killer in horses with little explanation as to why it happens. We got him up and about, gave him a pain killer and took his vitals, then called Shannon. It was 10 pm, but he is always there to answer my calls. Such a caring, dedicated man. An hour’s drive and he confirmed he was a surgical candidate-but a good one. This particular type of colic-a right dorsal displacement, carried the best odds of success in surgery. But there are never any guarantees. The question, he said, was whether or not we were willing to pay the $4000-$6000 necessary to perform the surgery. The decision was simple. Yes. Off he went to the OR and we went to bed. At 6 am the surgeon called and said things did not go well. His intestines turned and cut off his stomach-never to recover. It was the end of his life with no hope for success. It was over.

I love my horses. They are beautiful animals and we trust our lives on their backs. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly they sense who we are, how we ride, and how we react when we ride. They’re not big clumsy animals with a small brain-quite the contrary. And oh, those eyes and that smell. Heavenly.

So this is the hard part of the job. And to share with you just how much we care for our horses. After all they give to us, I could only honor and respect the decisions we make to help them get through life. At least I know I did all I could. You will be missed Apache, and Buster and Scout, your two buddies, say goodbye. I see you heading up Cameron Draw to your new pasture. I know that Satin, my beloved mare I lost last year, will find you.

“Don’t cry for the horses, that life has set free

A million white horses, forever to be.

Don’t cry for the horses, Now in God’s hands,

As they dance and they prance to a heavenly band.

They were ours as a gift but never to keep,

As they close their eyes forever to sleep.

Their spirits unbound on silver wings they fly,

A million white horses against the blue sky.

Look up into heaven, you’ll see them above,

The horses we lost, the horses we loved.

Manes and tails flowing, they gallop through time.

They were never yours. They were never mine.

Don’t cry for the horses, they will be back someday.

When our time has come, they will show us the way.

Do you hear that soft nicker, close to your ear?

Don’t cry for the horses, love the ones that are here”

unknown author

It’s not always about the horses! Fall is approaching Montana, although I wonder where the summer went? The leaves are starting to turn and it was 24 degrees this morning when we woke up! Brrrr. But the days are in the 70′s, perfect riding weather (okay. I said it wasn’t about the horses). As the weather cools down, the mice and chipmunks are getting ready for winter and we’re starting to find them hanging out at the Tack Barn-not desirable. Such is the case yesterday, when I narrowly escaped death. Now I have your attention……

We put out some glue traps in the Tack Barn to try and catch some mice. JT and I took a leisurely stroll down to the barn later that day, and much to my horror, we caught a chipmunk instead. I was mortified. He was still alive and just his little legs were caught in the glue. I told JT that I was going to try and save his life and pick him out of the trap. He told me I was crazy (as he usually does) and the thing would bite me. No way. Not that little creature. They’re so cute and run all around with their little tails up in the air. How could you not love them??

So I proceeded to pick up the trap (glove-less I might add) and took a hoof pick to work the feet out of the trap. I was thinking how much this little guy was going to appreciate me and what a saviour I was. And then… the little xo!!??? chirped a couple of times and wheeled his head around and bit me on the finger! O.M.G. Horror ran through my head. Tetanus? Rabies? Infections??  I might add the bite was two tiny pin points on my pinky finger and I actually had to squeeze the finger to produce one drop of blood. Doesn’t matter. The damage was done. Blood. Doom. Terror.

I rushed to the phone and called my trusted vet and friend, Dr. Shannon Moreaux, who is the Equine Professor at Montana State University. He is keenly aware of my neuroses and manages to always say the right (wrong) thing to evoke fear. Yes, he said, there is the potential that chipmunks carry rabies. Can I find the animal and take it to MSU Diagnostics to evaluate for rabies? Yes, as it was glued to the board in the trash can fighting for it’s life (with no concern that he now jeopardized mine).

Of course the next likely step was to jump on the Internet, as I was sure I was going to find some article, chat or blog that told me chipmunks were highly contagious animals and carried a high risk of rabies. No such investigation. Quite the opposite. For your knowledge from the trusted world wide web: foxes, skunks, raccoons and bats carry a high incidence of rabies. Chipmunks, squirrels, mice, etc carry a low incidence. Good to know. My heart rate slowed down a little, but not much.

Well, I pulled him from the trash (with his one visible eye looking up at me with an angry stare) and took him to the lab. I quickly aborted the thought that I would save his life since it was apparent he could care less about mine. I sheepishly explained the situation to Andy at the Diagnostics Lab. Yes, it’s true, I was trying to save a “wild” chipmunks life. He graciously accepted the now deceased chipmunk and told me he would have the results later today as they were working on “skulls” this morning and he would fit Alvin (my newly appointed name for the dead animal) into his schedule. Thank God, as I didn’t want to have to wait through Labor Day for the results. Now that would be laborious.

While waiting for the results, I called my next trusty confident and fear invoker-my cherished sister Rene’e. Nobody can better help me think of all angles of concerns than my sister. I love that in her. She asked me about my last tetanus shot. I said maybe five years ago, when we traveled to Belize and went snorkeling. A spiny urchin pricked my thumb which immediately turned black and blue. Sheer panic raced through my head as JT and I kayaked back to shore and took a twenty minute boat ride to San Pedro, where the only physician available for evaluation was a gynecologist. Soak the thumb in vinegar she said (a likely treatment plan for any OB/GYN physician) and let me give you a tetanus shot. Are we beginning to see a pattern here?

So back to the ranch. I then went to the Health Department who immediately whisked me into the office and gave me a tetanus (okay, maybe it was just because she had an opening. I took that as Divine Intervention that I needed this shot). Whew. Now I’m covered.

I’m sure the suspense is now killing you. Andy called this afternoon. The “wild” chipmunk is negative for rabies. I’m saved. Back to finishing the last sixteen days of the season And yes, the chipmunks are running rampant around the barn. So be it.

The trip started out at Red Canyon where the wildflowers were just spectacular. It was a long, but beautiful day. Camp was set up and the views were amazing.

Now this next picture isn’t quite in focus, but I think that’s because JT’s hands were shaking he was so excited! And he knew if he didn’t have a picture of this we would have never believed them! For some reason, about 200 head of elk decided to walk into the camping area and start to graze! They didn’t seem to be too bothered with the horses, the camp and the people. Now I wish I had been there!

They camped therefor two nights, and then headed out on Day 3 over Snowslide and Monument Mountain, a 10,000 ft mountain top where the views are spectacular. However, you need to know that there is one spot on this ride that is not for the faint of heart!

But the trip is worth it (or so they say. I, personally, have a fear of heights and haven’t had the gumption to get over Monument Mountain. And the computer wouldn’t even download the scariest part!! Now what does that tell you?