Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-03-23
PERILOUS WORK.
The Skillful Manner of Cutting
Out" Cattle on Ranches.
Feat Of Roping and Branding
as Performed by Cowboys.

I
the most picturesque and exciting part
ofthe cowboys work. The foreman OF
an outfit rides up to herd. aud
stations several OF his men to hold the
cattle In check, while two or thrco OF
the best, or ''top men," proceed to
work tho herd or cut out the desired
cattle. Tho mon who arc to cut out the
cattle commence TO move around IN the
heri. and after singling out an animal,
urge 1t slowly TO the bunch. Then Il Is
run Oft, without being givca chance
TO turn back, to ono side, whore IL IA
held by one or two riders; all tho other
animals cut out being driven to this
point Tho bunch thus formed Il
called the ''cut." AZ soon as all tho
cattle desired by this outfit arc cut out.
they move on to another bunch, taking
along their cut In this manner all
the cattle ars worked 10y tho different
outfits.
Tho work of cutting out cattle is an
exciting and dangerous ono to tho riler
The cow horse upon which he Is mounted
is generally we'll trained, and dodge,
the steps OF tho animal which he is
separating from the herd with great
| precision, until tho ''cut' IL reached.
The lodges often make IL difficult for
the rider 10 maintain his seat, and as
the horse Is nearly always going at a
rapid rate, his mancuvcrs would seem
almost incredible 10 ono unac quainted
with tho work. No matter how quick
or in what direction the 'crittcr' turns.
the COW horse and his rider arc always
at his heels and can turn him In any d O.
sired direction. A s'i yht touch OF the
rein across the neck IL sufficient to turn
the horse INSTANTLY, by pulling tho right
rein across tho neck the horse Is made
to turn to tho left instantly, and by
pulling the left tho horse turn, to the
right. The quickncss with which
COW horse turns cannot possibly bc con-
ccivcd by one who has not seen 1t done
An idea may bc gathered, however.
from tho fact that some horJci, going ut
full speed, can be stopped aud turned In
a'pacc as large as nm ordinary blanket
Very often In tho work OF cutting out
the horsc, while going at rapid rate,
steps Ia prairie dog hole or In some
other way stumblcs and falls. Riders
have been painfully aud even fatally ia
! jurcd In this way.
The cattle which are cut out on the
general round up are, for the most part,
tho cows with young calves. as the
calves all have TO DO branded and ear
marked. Some are stray cattle belong
ing on other ranges, which have drifted
away during the storms OF tn, previous
winter Tho strays are gathered by the
''repsD or representatives OF tho outfits
In the district 70 which the cattle belong.
and put In tha round up cavy (the herd
which is taken along with the round up).
AZ the end Of the round up tho "rcpsv
take the cattle belonging to their en-
ployers back 70 their proper range.
When the hcrds have all been work ed.
the cattle which arc not wanted arc
turned loose, not 60 tc molcstcd again
until the next round up. Each outfit
then proceeds q Lrand iis calves. II
there Is a corral hrndy tho cattle are
driven icto IL for tbi' purpose n no
corral Is at their disposal, the bdnch Is
held IN check by riders stationed around
the edge Of the herd. A IRE Is built.
the branding irons are put on, and
when they become sufficiently heated
the work commences.
One or two men, mounted on their
best roping horses, enter the inclosure
and commence TO rope tho calves. Zach
one Is caught by the bind legs, which Is
called bec.in9 As soon ~ the moose
tightens, the roper Winds tho rope
several timcs around the horn Of his
saddle, and drags the calf near the are.
There 10 - pouucgd upon BY az EN- Dioyo
who rolls it over TO have the right side
for branding uppermost Placing one
knee upon the calls neck he doubles up
one Of It's fore legs with hi, left hand,
au catches is noe IN his rizht. Then
tbs roper turns BIS horse to face the
cali, and the stesd, seemingly knowing
what y cxpccte Of hin, backs Oh,
drawing the rope tast aud holding tho
cali securely. In this position tho calf
T. branded and car marked
All this is done ia much less time
than il takes 10 tell Of it and the opera
iion j. repeated ui,i aii the calves are
branded end can ever aftcrward lie
identified Whcrcy,r iounJ.
The days work on the general round
up il ncarly finished when tho Circle
has been made tho cattle worked and
tho calves branded vtfy often this
work keeps al hands buy until nipht.
but sometimes Il !, Gnished early IN the
afternoon, and the rest Of The DAY 4 de.
voted to rest. Where cattle are very
numerous two circles arc made ia day.
one 10 the morning and one il the af.
ternoou. Golden Argosy.
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