Mountain Cattle, New Ground, and a Big Lesson
#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk
This week I had the opportunity to move cattle on horseback in the mountains. This was a task I was looking forward to, and I am very glad I was able to participate and learn through is experience. This was my first time ever riding in the mountains and my second time moving cattle on horseback, so I was a little nervous, but mostly excited. At first my host was not planning on having me ride this trip because as he said, “this is our toughest and longest ride we do.” He didn’t want my first ride up in the mountains to be a bad experience, but I asked if there is any chance I could ride and he said if you think you can handle it, then you can come along, but he was sure to remind me of how long and difficult it can be. This didn’t matter to me; I was just excited to try something new and put any abilities and knowledge I already had to the test.
When we stopped to unload the horses, I looked at the terrain around me and realized I was out of my element. This is when the nerves set in, but reminding myself that this will be an amazing opportunity to get better and prepare me for other rides kept me focused and confident in myself. After riding I quickly became more comfortable and was given many valuable pointers throughout the ride. My host gave me tips on staying active while riding through rough terrain to keep yourself balanced. He also was able to teach me some skills and tools to move livestock in a more uncontrolled environment like up on the mountain, teaching me about pace as well as pressure and release points to move cattle. When we got to the canyon we had to move the cows through, I was feeling very comfortable and the steep drop into the canyon was not an area of concern, but instead just another piece of ground to cross to complete the task at hand.
The one very important lesson I learned from the ride through Mill Canyon is to always ask, the worst thing someone can say is no. This is a very simple concept, and we have all been told this many times in our lives, but applying this idea when opportunities arise is often a completely different story. For me, it has always been difficult, I overthink what reaction someone might give after I ask the question and as a result, I don’t speak up. This experience has given me the reminder that good things come to those who are vocal about what they want to learn and what they want to be a part of. It’s safe to say the ride through Mill Canyon has equipped me with new skills and experiences that I will use elsewhere in my future, and all this came because I simply asked and advocated for myself. Remembering this positive experience that came to me because I asked will be a great reminder throughout my carrier in agriculture as more of these situations present themselves.
| Submitted by: Jonah Verhoef Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team |
