Interesting picture of the Buffalo Roundup.

My good friend, Ron Tietsort, sent me this interesting picture of him attempting to turn a small herd of Buffalo back that had broken from the herd at the annual Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park. The picture was taken by staff photographer Elisha Page/Argus Leader and appeared in some National Magazines. Ron is the head Law Enforcement Officer in the Park and was our Boss for many years. Mighty fine fellow!...... Click on the picture and enlarge it so you can get full benefit of the position Ron and his horse are in. I don't know what was going through his mind as this group of Wild Buffalo were heading straight for him full bore, but knowing Ron as I do, it was probably something like "Oh Lord, my trust is in you"! Great picture and exciting to say the least!

Another thing that interests me in that picture is the Saddle on his horse. Take a close look. That is my SADDLE!! In Sunday's Blog, I mentioned that when I was younger I followed the Rodeo Circuit. I was awarded that fine saddle back in 1953 when I won the All-Around Championship at the Rodeo in Ardmore, South Dakota. On both stirrup fenders it has carved in the leather "All Around Champion Cowboy, Ardmore, SD. 1953" My Dad used the saddle on the Ranch for years, then my middle son Patrick used it on his Ranch for a few more years until he became a Federal Agent. Then about 6-7 years ago, I loaned it to Ron, as he was short a saddle in the Park where Ms Pat and I worked for several summers. Ron loves the saddle and had some of the leather replaced on a couple "D" rings. It is a well built, strong saddle, I saw it last summer and it still looks GREAT,,,,,,WOW, after 55 years and still going. I hope you enjoy it Ron, nice to see someone get some use out of it. Especially YOU my friend!

I remember the day I won that saddle. I had a long drive back to the Ranch after the Rodeo and I got there in the middle of the night. Needless to say, it had a been a LONG 3 day weekend and I was "dog" tired! My folks didn't know of my big win. I was too tired to wake them up, so I took my NEW SADDLE and placed it in the middle of the kitchen table and promptly went to BED!. I knew they would see it immediately when they got up around 6am. Now,,,let me say my Mother was not the type that you messed up her Kitchen! But I hoped she wouldn't be too MAD. She wasn't!!!LOL

Back here at the Ranch, North Ranch RV Park in Congress, AZ that is, it's warming up and we're enjoying it..... 53* when I got up at 4am this morning......it made it to 83 yesterday!! Beautiful!!!

It's a GREAT WEEK!!!!!

God Bless.......

Mike

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