Hauling these huge hay bales is just the end of a hot dusty job. First the hay must be cut, then baled then stacked.

Then you wait until the snows hit & you go out in 30 - 50 below zero temperatures to feed the hay to the cattle.

These bales average a weight of 1500 pounds apiece!

Riding the herd making sure all is well is a regular occurance, & is needed often. That's the only way you can be so near the cattle and really look them over.

That's another of the ranchers & I (I'm on the left) riding herd in the photo above.

It may have been the middle of May in that photo...but in Northern Montana, it's still pretty cold! Try it when winter gets here!

Cattle get sick and they must be doctored. This can range from foot-rot to pneumonia.

We doctor cattle on horseback, just like in the old days.

That's Ritz above, standing & holding that critter waiting to be doctored.

Notice Ritz looking directly at the critter's mama. She could decide to charge him at any moment!

Yes there are times when you are doctoring a calf & mama decides she doesn't like it & rams you in the back! That's like being hit by a car going 30 miles an hour!

It is a dangerous job on many occasions!