LEARN THE
   

Here's a guide to the lingo:

Remuda:
The string of loose saddle horses.  When we head to the High Country, we trail our extra saddle horses along for the trail rides from the High Country Cow Camp.  At the end of the week, we trail them back to the Ranch Headquarters.  This activity is a blast, but it is not for everyone.  Check out High Country Rides if you want a faster paced trip that covers a lot of country.

Roundup:
The process of gathering cattle out of 2000-acre pastures and putting them through gates to fresh pastures.  Some roundups take place in the vicinity of the Ranch Headquarters, others in country that requires a one-to-two hour ride to get to the cattle before the roundup starts.

Backriding:
Although we try to get pastures clean the first time through, we usually miss cattle and have to backride the next day to look for them and bring them into the main herd.

Runbacks:
Calves who get separated from their mothers run back to where they last nursed.   These "runbacks" are picked up when we backride.  Horsebackers try to prevent runbacks by keeping a close eye on the calves and turning them back into the herd before they get around us.  A runback is a very undesirable event.  When you get here, we will discuss what to do if a calf starts to run back.  This must be handled properly.  Otherwise, calves can be "laned" -- pushed further from the herd instead of back into it.

Mothering up:
Periodically during a roundup or cattle drive, we hold up to let the cattle and calves mix. When the mothers and calves find each other, they are said to have "mothered up."  This is a critical activity to prevent runbacks.

Cattle Drive:
Trailing the cattle one or more days after the roundup across miles of open range to reach new pastures.  Again, the country and lengths of rides varies as we progress through the summer to fresh range.

Heifers:
1-year-old animals that will join the main herd when they turn 2-years old.

Cattle:
Cows and calves that graze in the lower country near the ranch and in the high country. A "cow-calf pair" counts as one when counting the number of head of cattle in a herd.

Pastures:
Cattle grazing areas.  At the ranch, this covers over 66,000 acres.

The Country:
Thousands of acres ranging from sagebrush-covered foothills to grassy slopes and evergreen woods, gradual inclines and expansive views. See photos on this site, including the Activities page.

Orientation:
The Sunday afternoon and Monday morning introduction to the ranch and your horses. During this time we adjust tack and try out our mounts.

What to Expect of the Weather:
In May the weather varies annually, from shirt sleeve-type warm weather to blizzardy cold spells. If experiencing the elements appeals to you, May trips are the ticket. October to May are the months for people who are willing to "cowboy up" during the day if necessary and cozy up to the fireplace at night. In June, July and August weather is warm during the day and cool at night. In July we may ride in the morning, take a siesta during the mid-afternoon heat and ride in the cool of the late afternoon and evening.   This is the season to ride in the High Country.  September weather resembles May in it's unpredictability, but this is usually my favorite month -- warm and nice.

Dude Ranch:
What we are not!

Rustic:
What we are! A working horse and cattle ranch with cabin and teepee accommodations for people wanting time in the saddle.

For more information on HorseWorks Wyoming, contact us at: