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?

Although Robby, Matt, Dan and Tracey have been to the ranch several times, they must admit they never saw a Unicorn here before. It was a magical night.

So for those of you who think that Montana Dude Horses at a Dude Ranch are boring, we’re here to tell you that it gets pretty exciting here at the Covered Wagon Ranch !

Debi

PS I’m politely ignoring the fact that I’ve been extremely delinquent in writing We’re so busy this summer and having so much fun I hardly have time to write! I have so much to share: the Grizzlies that Steve and Sheila saw for the very first time, the Rodeo on Fourth of July, the amazing rides we’re getting in this summer, new trails: such as “Boones Wander”, and the list goes on. I promise to sit down on this computer and make time!

Look who decided to crash our dinner at the ranch! Right after dinner was finished, our guests went outside to enjoy the evening, only to find this yearling moose prancing right down the front of the lodge! We couldn’t have planned it any better.

Everybody just sat on the porch and enjoyed the show! Several days later, as we got ready for our cookout, a mama moose and her brand new baby were munching on leaves across the way! Wildlife activity has been great. Lots of elk, elk calves, some black bears and even some grizzlies with cubs!

The season has gotten off to a great start! Our Head Chef Tim and our Breakfast Cook Cami Jo have been expanding the waist size on our guests! Josh, a 10 year old grandson of Andy and Elizabeth from Georgia, has really been enjoying the food. When he got home he asked his mom why she didn’t serve him his biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, eggs, etc . His mom served him a pop tart and said “welcome home son”!!

We’ll keep you posted on ranch activities as the season goes on. So far, off to a great start!

After a night’s stay at the Wingate in Bozeman (thanks Brandon!) I picked them up and drove them to the ranch in a snowstorm!! They were quite impressed. I promised them there were actually mountains all around us, even thought we couldn’t see them. They said the temperature was somewhere around 90 degrees in their country!

Anya (on the left), 22, has a degree in Art and is going to school for architecture. I’m sure J.T. will fill her in with all the joys of being an architect! And Zoriana (on the right), 19, is studying Economics. And I’ll be more than happy to share the joys of owning a business. They are part of an International Work Study Program and their English is quite good. Much better than my Ukranian, I must admit. I had to Google it to find out where it was. Geography is not one of my stronger suits!

During the ride to the ranch, I got to learn quite a bit about these two. They are lovely. This is the first time Anya has been to the States, and her dream is to draw horses and eventually get to Chicago and listen to some great jazz. Zoriana (which means “Star” in her language) actually worked in North Carolina last year in an ice cream shoppe. She calls herself the “ice queen”!! However, I asked her why she didn’t return there this year and she informed me that her boss died of a heart attack while she was there. I immediately told her I would not be her boss this year and turfed that responsibility on to somebody else at the ranch-and it wasn’t J.T.!!

During their tour of the ranch we stopped at the corrals and they got to pet the horses for the first time in their life. They were thrilled and a little intimidated. Rumor has it that Boone and Lee are taking them for their first horseback ride and lesson today! Zoriana also told me that she’s afraid of dogs. Now really, how could you be afraid of Doc??? We’re going to have to de-sensitive her while she is here.

We made our way back to the lodge and got them settled in to their crew quarters. It didn’t take long for them to get settled in to the American Cowgirl way of life. They are ready to start work! You will definitely enjoy meeting them this summer and we all look forward to learning more about where they live! Please welcome our two “Wild And Crazy Cowgirls”!!

“Roxie” came to us as a surprise one very cold January morning, with temperatures hovering around 40 below zero. Yes-you heard me right! Her Mom was “Honey”-a draft cross horse. We purchased Honey the summer before. We thought she looked kind of fat but Honey was a big horse to begin with. Needless to say, after the season was through, the horses were put back up on winter pasture at Raspberry Butte Ranch in Big Timber. Kurt had been traveling up to Raspberry Butte on a routine basis to check on the horses, when one day in January he called to tell us there was a foal in our pasture. Well, those of us who know Kurt know he’s a prankster at heart, so I didn’t take much credence to his call. Besides, we did not breed any horses that year, and horses are usually bred to foal out from May on, due to the cold weather. Finally, I realized this was no joke, and he trailered the mare and foal back to our house in Bozeman.

She was a wreck.

She was covered in bite marks all over her body. When you ran your hand across her body it was covered with scabs everywhere. Her ear was bit off and suffered from frostbite. And all four hooves were separated from the coronet bands. The vet thought maybe it was from frostbite or infection.

The horses and mules didn’t take very well to having a foal around. As wonderful as these animals are, they get very competitive when there’s a new kid in town. The cool thing about this experience is that the mules actually circled Honey and Roxie and protected them from the rest of the herd. Too bad they didn’t start that a little earlier.

Roxie had a long course of treatments and TLC back at Love Lane, and we’re proud to say that she is now 3 years old and doing great. She’s had some minimal training and riding and passed her lessons with flying colors. She has an incredible disposition and is one of the friendliest, most respectful horses I know. If you walk down the driveway, she’ll run up to the fence and walk alongside you like a puppy dog!!

Roxie will be joining the string this summer and work her way into the herd as a Montana dude horse for the ranch. I know she’ll be one of our best in a short period of time!

A Happy Ending on Love Lane!

For those of you who know me and my horses, I can’t stand to see a horse laying flat out in the pasture. Many a time I’ve been known to run out there with my cell phone in hand and ready to press the button to call my vet, only to find that the horse stands up seconds before I get there! Well, thanks to Horse & Rider Magazine, I now have second thoughts before I run out there to disturb them! Here’s an article I read from the March 2010 Issue:

HORSES ‘N ZZZZZZ’s

“While we need about eight hours of sleep a night to be at our best, our equine counterparts sleep just three to four hours a day in short bits at a time. Plus, they spend most of that sleep time standing up. How do they do this? With an internal “stay apparatus” of tendons and ligaments that allows them to lock their front legs while relaxing one hind leg and rotating their hips, so they can snooze without keeling over.

But to get that quality REM sleep, horses must lie down-either stretched out flat on the ground or partially upright with their legs tucked underneath them. And, believe it or not, many researchers report that horses do, in fact, dream. In REM sleep, their eyes move rapidly back and forth, and sometimes they grunt, twitch their ears, and even move their feet. Makes you wonder what dreams those may be, doesn’t it?”

So, next time I see them laying flat out on the ground, I’ll think twice before I rush to wake them out of a deep sleep. RIGHT……….

On our way up to feed the horses today, we run into a herd of deer!

Well, typical Montana Easter and Spring Time in the Rockies. JT and I headed up to Raspberry Butte today to feed the horses. First we spot a Golden Eagle on a telephone pole, then we see two Sandhill Cranes along the drive, and as we turn the corner to head up to the ranch we spot this herd of deer.

First step is to drive the flatbed up to where the horses are hanging out.

We head up the hill and can see that these guys (and gals) are just about out of hay. We feed them about once every three days now, as the pasture has been grazed down. Next step is to get the bale off the truck.

Not such an easy task. The horses are hungry and need to stay clear while JT puts the chain around the 1500 lb bale of grass/alfalfa mix and I drive the truck forward!

Rolling the Bale out to form the feed line

Now we’re talking!! First bale rolled out. Second one will be easier now that everybody is being fed!

Now that the feed line is out there, everybody is jockeying for position:

Now McCrae is saying “am I missing something????”

McCrae hasn't quite figured out what's going on-but he soon learns!!

Now everybody is happy!!

Everybody is a happy camper.

And of course, now that the feeding is done, the storm starts to lift. Soon it will be blue sky again! Happy Easter to everyone,

debi and jt

 The Covered Wagon Ranch is proud to announce that we had two horses tie for Horse of the Year in 2009, Joseph and Deuce.  These two stars of the Montana Dude Ranch industry both provided excellent and flawless service on 47 days of the possible 95 work days of their season.  Please come and visit the Covered Wagon Ranch this summer, and when you do, tip your hat to these great Montana dude horses.

JOSEPH

Joseph is the patriarch of the Covered Wagon Ranch.  A true gentleman of 25 years, he has lived on the ranch (according to our records) for over 20 years.  His specialty is the younger, less experienced rider; but this year (because of his good size and wonderful temperament) he helped several adult riders enjoy their stay as well.

DEUCE

Deuce has been a favorite on the ranch since JT and Debi purchased him 3 years ago as a ranch trained gelding.  Currently 13 years young,  he gave many of our intermediate (and higher) level riders a great experience through the course of the summer.  His gentle and steady personality leads us to take him for granted sometimes, but this is the second year in a row in which he has been the star of our herd at the end of the season.

Please give a round of applause for these very hard working employees and trusted steed!