We cowboys move cattle all the time. We do it for many reasons, but none have to do with making the cattle happy. Now don’t get us wrong. We like happy cattle because that keeps them healthier with more meat on their bones. But the fact is, cattle don’t care to move except on their own, at their own pace, in the direction they choose. And most times, this isn’t what we want.

We have to move cattle because a pasture has been plum grazed out. Or the well isn’t pumping enough water. Or the weather is turning mighty bad, and we want them in a more sheltered place. Or we want them closer to the ranch since it’s easier to feed them hay or the stuff we do to fatten them up. Or we want to combine them with another herd that has a good bull (you know what I’m talking about). There are more reasons, but you get the idea.

Moving cattle is fairly easy unless some of the cattle don’t choose to go where you point them, and then you will find that they all want to go where you don’t want them. And of course some will wander off for whatever reason, and get trapped in the most outlandish places. So you and your horse learn to move them slowly, but also to move quickly when these cattle start getting into trouble which can happen too easily and before you know it.

If you join us to lend a hand, and you haven’t done much of this before, we will teach you all we can about it. But you will make some mistakes at the beginning – we all do – so please don’t mind none if we take over what you were supposed to do till the problem is solved. Now we’ll seldom shout at you if you screw up badly, but that is possible. None of it is personal. Remember we are cowboys and don’t know much of that psychology stuff when dealing with each other.

But we’ll have fun, and you’ll learn a lot just listening to us and seeing how it is done. And we’ll appreciate your help.