03/25/05 Roping pigs

Roping Pigs In an earlier article I talked about what a great tool a rope can be or how combined with a cowboy attitude can be trouble. I'm Jeff Keane, and today I have an example of just what I mean. At one time we raised pigs on the ranch along with the cattle and horses. Because Dad let his pigs run out on the ranch until it was time for the sows to have their litters, pig round ups were pretty eventful especially corralling them. At one hog gathering a young sow broke away at the gate and headed back to the pasture, Dad grabbed a rope, jumped on a horse bareback, and fueled by the cowboy attitude of just rope it was in hot pursuit. Dad roped the sow's hind feet, turned his horse, and pulled the porker into the corral with no more dally than a mane-hold. As a kid, I was impressed with Dad's horsemanship and strong right arm. The next pig penning had a different outcome. Another sow broke ranks at the gate and headed up a steep hill above the corrals. This time Dad had his good cow horse, Pat, saddled in the barn. He bailed on Pat, uncoiled his rope and halfway up the hill, Dad remembered what he forgothe didn't tighten Pat's cinch. The saddle slid back, flanked Pat, and Pat sent Dad in a tight roll down the hill. Mom ran for the hill and got there just as Dad fell off a cut-bank into her lap. He just laid there with each eye trying to coordinate with the other. I never figured out if Pat bucked because the cinch flanked him or the fact a good cow horse would have to chase a pig. I'm Jeff Keane.