The making of a top hand

1. Don’t be disappointed when people don’t say “Thank you”. Sometimes payback is 20 or 30 years in coming.

2. Top hand --- can accept criticism gracefully from somebody who doesn’t know what they are talking about.

3. Can get the cattle across the paved road on the first try.

4. If someone has a good cowboy up story, don’t try to top it with your own story.

5. Know all the places a cow can hide while calving.

6. Practice, practice, practice is what makes a top hand.

7. If a person comes to the ranch on business, will he come to you and ask “Are you one of the owners?”

8. If you see a cow on November 1 with her backbone showing from her shoulder to her hip bone, she will need extra care to get through the winter.

9. Some people have more accidents than others, try to figure out why.

10. A horse in the trailer deserves a longer stopping distance.

11. The top hand knows what is the best time to check each pasture.

12. Know how to get the neighbors to share keeping up the fences.

13. Knows how to keep a cow herd calving every 365 days.

14. Knows how to get cattle moved out of a electric fence pasture.

15. There will always be a good place for a good man on a good horse. You can go places and do good things you can’t do on a four-wheeler. Four wheelers have no brains

16. You may not be the best, but your goal should be “to get better.”

17. Knows what time of the year a cow will eat different kinds of grass and weeds.

18. Knows when it is dangerous to be out because of lightning.

19. need a line

20. Before you invest money in a bull you need to see his mother.

21. Recognize the potential in a skinny cow or horse or person.