Fall Cow-tivities

We look forward to this day every year.  Maybe its because we love to work cows, or maybe we love to get outside on warm fall days, or maybe it is just because we have a tremendously silly sense of humor, but we all enjoy the day we wean the calves using what we call the "easy-weaners".   First, we round up our herd, then separate the cows from their young.Next, we load the calves in the trailer and take them to our neighbor's house down the road. There, we run each calf through the squeeze chute and insert a really silly looking yellow tag in [...]

Fall Cow-tivities2013-10-29T16:43:00+00:00

Large and In-Charge

Drowsy Water Ranch is home to a few big mamas. They run the joint this time of year. They're noisy, stinky, and demanding. And they eat a lot. Yeah, you're probably thinking to yourself, "What a bunch of cows!" and, while we are usually very nice, politially correct folks, I have to agree.Really. They are.Cows.No, really, they are a bunch of cows. This time of year is when they really have the run of the ranch. We watch them cautiously and vigilantly because they've been pregnant a long time and they are starting to birth the next generation of Drowsy Water Ranch Angus.We check [...]

Large and In-Charge2012-04-12T22:00:00+00:00

Bringing home them doggies

It's that time of year again. The guests have all gone home, the nights are getting colder and the leaves are changing. And, the cows are headed home. Every fall, Randy Sue spends a week or so finding her cows on the open range and bringing them back to Drowsy Water. With luck, the whole herd comes home looking healthy after a summer eating green mountain grasses. Lucky for me, I was invited to help on one big round-up day. I've done one a time or two, and I have to say that there is something in my soul that just sings when I [...]

Bringing home them doggies2011-09-21T21:04:00+00:00

Three Years on the Ranch

Believe it or not, we are getting ready to celebrate the third birthday of our little cowgirl. What a life this girl has growing up on a Colorado dude ranch; she gets horses, cows, chickens, ducks, and dogs, room to run and grow, and extended family close to teach her and love her. She has taken to the life beautifully. She loves the horses--Patches, Bobby Sox and Apple are her favorites; she hollers and blows her whistle at the deer and elk milling in the sagebrush just off our deck ("HEEEEEEYYYYY YOOOOUUUU ELKKKK GEEETT OUUTTA HEEEERE!), and she watches the birds at the feeders [...]

Three Years on the Ranch2011-04-22T19:05:00+00:00

Ranch in Winter

While a lot of the country starts to think about spring, we still worry about winter up here in the Rockies. Here are a few shots of Drowsy Water Ranch in the winter.

Ranch in Winter2011-02-22T22:18:00+00:00

Bobby Sox Love

One of our horses received some extra special lovin' last week. And if there was ever a horse that needed and deserved a few extra X's and O's, it's this guy, Bobby Sox. Bobby Sox is not exactly our best-looking steed, nor is he our fastest mount but you'll have a hard time finding a rock, bush, stump, plastic sack, cow, bird or dog that can spook this dude. He is what we call "bomb-proof" in the horse industry. He is friendly and easy-going and he takes great care of his riders.One such rider just couldn't stand to be away from him until next [...]

Bobby Sox Love2011-01-06T22:13:00+00:00

Easy Weaners in Action

Okay, more on the easy-weaner today. Easy-weaner, easy-weaner, easy-weaner!!Sorry, that is just sooo hilarious. But now that it's out of my system, let me tell you how we do this. We wean the babies every fall because they have to move on from Mama. When they do, they better be okay with just hay and grain, because there won't be any milk served. Once we sell them, they are off to their next location, the feed lot. So in order to get them free from mama's teet, you can simply separate the cow and calf leaving the cow to wonder what happened to her [...]

Easy Weaners in Action2010-10-15T17:00:00+00:00

Baby Cows and a Stinker

So, I had this blog about us weaning the baby cows all ready to go. We used these things we call easy-weaners. Not weiner, you sick-o, I said weaner. The whole contraption is a perfect example of the sense of humor most ranchers have to have. You see, you put these big yellow tags in the baby cows' nostrils and then they can't nurse because the tag gets in the way of their mouth. It's kind of hilarious and it's much nicer than just ripping the babies from their mothers' udders unexpectedly leaving them to bawl and moo for days on end. With the [...]

Baby Cows and a Stinker2010-10-14T20:51:00+00:00

From the eyes of a DWR guest, Part 2

The Wittmann family vacationed with us during our June 20th week this year. They did just about all you can do while at Drowsy Water Ranch, and I think it's fair to say they had a hoot of a time while here! Here's their week in photos. Yee-haw!First things first: you usually have a little bit of a drive to get to us. But don't worry, you'll get great views along the way. Here's a view from Berthoud Pass.When you get here, we show you around the ranch, show you where you'll be staying for the week, and, if needed, get you fit up [...]

From the eyes of a DWR guest, Part 22010-07-12T16:09:00+00:00

A Real Ranch Easter Egg Hunt

Maybe it's because we have a little cowgirl running around. Or maybe I have a minor case of cabin-hermit fever. Or maybe I just have way too much time on my hands. Whatever it is, I am having a blast hiding Easter Eggs this year. What a place to hide eggs, too. This Colorado Dude Ranch has endless hiding spots. See if you can guess each spot!Oh, and yes, it is snowing. April 1st and still snowing. Hmmph.A horse feed box.In the pasture with the cows. The DWR sign post.In with the chicks. I hope their eggs aren't this color when they start laying.In [...]

A Real Ranch Easter Egg Hunt2010-04-01T20:13:00+00:00