Working cattle on horseback. It's the style of the West, smelling of burnt hair and sweat. Metal is hot under calloused hands and our dirtied boots make small plumes of dust. The sun is relentless, as is the work. Everything needs to get done before dinnertime, when someone—a neighbor, grandmother, a son—will ring a bell and call everyone around a table for a feast. The horses will sport sweat stains on their backs and the salt, dried up in the aftermath, will last until someone grabs a stiff brush. If it's broke, any old piece of baling twine will do. And if the horse ain't broke, send him on a long drive over rough country with a good cowboy at the helm. Soft hands, supple mouth. A hat to shade your face. All of this, a portrait of our lifestyle.
Pictured: Grizzly Peak Cattle Company