For Lisa

I never thought about people not understanding the Artist Ride, so I will post something I wrote about it from another source. Here you go Lisa! 🙂

Chance and I loaded up and got to the bottom of the Cheyenne River breaks on Wednesday evening in time to unload horses and panels, set up a small holding pen and set up our range teepee’s, next door to my buddy, Karen Bonnie who is a wonderful artist from down in south west Colorado.

We were up at daylight and loaded the horses and drove up on the rim where we saddled up and rode up and down and around, all the while being photographed by artists. Some would ask you to strike a certain pose or ride into or over a certain spot. If they were individuals using you, when they got done taking your photo, they would walk up and give you a tip, usually from 5 bucks on up. If it was a group, they would pass the hat and give you the money. If there were several of you, all doing the same scene, you split it evenly amongst the models. We would change our outfits slightly when ever they quit taking photo’s.

When we got all done, Chance rode with the owner of the ranch’s daughter, who was moving 3 big longhorn steers and they dropped down in the breaks and picked up the longhorn cows and trailed them into the headquarters.
Every morning and evening (because the artists like that slanting light the best) we, or some of the other models would trail the horses down thru’ the camp and into and across the river, back and forth until you wanted to scream. As long as we were willing to do it, they would take picture of horse in water. There was usually someone riding or something, at the water. We also trailed the cattle to and in the river, back and forth.You name it and it happens at the water. All to make western paintings.

Towards dark, when the light is no good, you hang out with artists and models at the chuckwagon, or someones camp. People cook for themselves, drive the 18 miles over gravel roads into town, or eat at the catering van, which has a special every evening. Drink and visit, make music and tell tales. Usually get to bed around 10 and listen to the drunken hilarity going on. I woke in the night several nights to Indians singing and playing the drum. Sounded good to me as it wasn’t too loud.

Hope brought the boys down Friday after noon, so I took them up in front of me in turns and Gus made 25 bucks and then they put the saddle on Beav and lead him and Sam around. We finally wore them out and then they left as they had a wedding the next day and didn’t think the boys would sleep well in the small teepee they use.

On Saturday, Doug Hansen pulled in with a 4 up and a mud wagon. He needed an out rider so I went along to help. Had a blast and that man can really put them thru’ their paces, but the nigh wheeler was a bitch and would try and rear and fall across her mate, so I had a lead rope and when she tried it I yanked on her tough ol’ mule like face and dally’d and held her if need be. Once she got the kinks out I was just there to ride in and help in a wreck. At one time, while he was making a circle and starting to lope them up a slight hill, the nigh leader, Big (other one was named Rich) went to hoggin’ and trying to buck at a lope! Now that is something not many have gotten to see let a lone get pictures of!  My arm is still sore from yanking on her and then also some roping we did in the center of the campground with some cattle. I was throwing some fancy shots and not hitting and of course these dang pups who were there thought I was just a crazy old guy so I had to double hock a few the regular way to win their respect. It was fun and I got paid a little to do so.

Yup it was a blast, but man, am I wore out. Good to get back to work and rest up!