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Designed by Will Sanders TimeMaster antique clocks |
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OLD GREER COUNTY WESTERN HERITAGE ASSN. June NR. 5 2010
Cow people are getting blamed for everything these days. Global warming, coronary heart disease, an obesity epidemic, and now, making cattle wild and adding to their stress level. Talk about stress, it’s almost more than a cowboy can stand. Cows ain’t dogs!! They aren’t born loving humans. Calves have a natural skittishness around buckaroos and, perhaps, for good reason. They may contribute to the bovine’s unpredictable nature but, be assured, cattle come into this world wild. But be of good cheer all you riders of the range, help is on the way. There are books, seminars, and DVD’s by people with a string of letters before and after their name who will teach us poor ignorant punchers how to pen and handle cows. The favorite topic of these “livestock handling specialists” is the “flight zone” (As in fight or flight). To the uninitiated, this is an imaginary line around an animal that, when entered by a predator (i.e. cowboy), causes it to head for the tules. This zone can be different sizes for different bovines. I’ve known some whose flight zone was about a quarter mile. It can be pretty stressful trying to turn them on a slow horse. Another term the “experts”like to use is “pressure point”. These are found to the side and rear of the animal. When a cowboy enters the “flight zone”at a “pressure point” the animal will go the other direction. These people are educated (?) and get good money for this information. They emphasize that the head is not a “pressure point”. On that I must agree. If a cow is looking you straight in the eye, it normally means trouble and lots of stress for the lookee. These “handling professionals” also recommend good working facilities. I think Preifert and Powder River (manufactures of cattle working chutes and panel) pay them to suggest that because working pens can be expensive. Consequently, most cow people just make do. I’ve worked in all kinds. From top of the line to chicken wire tied to steel posts plus a farmer-made head gate attached to bois d’ace post with baling wire at the end of a chute held together with the same. I saw a bull leave with just such a head gate still attached. The stress level was up around 10 that day. I’m considering holding some seminars of my own. For cowboy stress. But that probably wouldn’t work because the only way to stop the stress is to quit. Then who would those “educated experts” blame everything on!!! From all I hear the Wild West Days was a big success. Congratulations to the Mangum Chamber of Commerce, Mangum Main Street, the Mangum Mounties and everyone who helped put the celebration together. I also want to thank all the association members who helped with the chuck wagon breakfast. Everyone I spoke to said they enjoyed it. The association will sponsor a Youth Rodeo, Aug 7 and a Ranch Rodeo, Aug 27 & 28. These will be held in Mangum, Okla. For more information contact Eric Houck 580-782-2685 for the Youth Rodeo and Dennis Tebow 580-339-2591for the Ranch Rodeo. The association’s next meeting will be Monday, July 19, @ 6:30 pm. This meeting will be held in conjunction with a hamburger cookout at Kathy & Dennis Tebow’s house at 1521 Glenn Ave in Mangum, Ok. All members and those considering membership are invited. This will give everyone an opportunity to meet and visit. Please call 479-466-2979 to let us know if you will attend so we can have food for everyone. For any information concerning the associations meetings or events contact us at: 580-782-9230; 580-782-2685; 580-782-2891; 580-683-4271 or greercowesternheritage.com or P.O. Box 277 Mangum, Ok. 73554.
By: Curtis Bell |
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