Swappin Stories with the Traded Help (super size canvas)

It has been suggested by several people over the past years that I document the riders that appear in “Swappin’ Stories with the Traded Help”. I would like to thank the ones who suggested it and am sorry I did not think to do it in the first place. 

I will start from the beginning and share with you the reason I was there, in the first place. Through circumstances that could have only been put in place by God, I was at the Tongue River on October 2, 2013. Doors had opened that allowed me, through a message from special friends, to take part in an art show in Wichita Falls called Cowboy True. There I met many people who have, in different ways, helped to advance my art but one in particular was important to this story, Dan Shores. Mr. Shores has been a part of the Texas Ranch roundup for a long time and because I had had the opportunity to get to know him through the art show, he helped me work all of this out.

We had attended the Texas Ranch Roundup for several years with friends, but this year we had watched “TRR Mr Clyde” and his rider, Quentin Gass, win the Top Horse award. (Quentin had won the Top Hand Award the year before.) “Clyde” was amazing and after rolling around ideas with friends after the rodeo, I approached Mr. Shores with a proposal. I love watching the great ranch horses work at the rodeo and ask if he would approach the Rodeo committee and see if they would consider letting me donate a Top Horse drawing to the winning ranch. This would be a good trade as I would need to photograph the horse at his respective ranch later in the year and in doing so would also gather priceless material for other pieces of art. When they approved, I decided to give a framed print to the cowboy whose string he belonged to, as well. It’s a long story but I wanted to share what led up to the once in a lifetime opportunity I had that first year!

I arrived at the Tongue River on October 1st and stayed the night at headquarters. I was greeted by the Gass family. A kind German Shepherd kept me company on the porch that evening and slept by my door all night. Later I found out he was Mr Moorhouse’s trusty companion and since he was out on the wagon, the sheppard took it upon himself to watch over me. The next morning I was up and off to the wagon with Quentin at 4:30. We arrived to a warm greeting from Mr Moorhouse and coffee and a hearty breakfast, served by none other than Charlie Ferguson. After breakfast I took part, for the first time, in the ritual of waiting for my mount to be caught from the remuda. Mr Moorhouse showed me where to stand and what to do when Quentin brought my horse around. I was assigned “Bugsy” and had the good fortune of riding him on several other trips to the Tongue River. 

That morning the men gathered the Lower China pasture. I was posted with Ryder Gass riding drag and when we had made our way across the 4856 acre pasture, the men pushed the herd into the North Holding pasture. At that point, before we made our way back across for dinner at the wagon, the men gathered around near the gate to discuss the morning gather, where the strays may be held up and to tell a few stories. This was the scene of our picture.

The story up until now was to help you understand how grateful I was just to be there but what I have not shared is how fortunate it was that I was there that particular day. 2013 was the last year Tom Moorhouse managed the Tongue River before returning to his duties at the Moorhouse Ranch. Along with the opportunity to ride with Mr Moorhouse, there were a whole string of legends riding with us that day. Some of the 6666’s riders had joined us as well., therefore the title of our picture. I will now list the riders starting from the left.  

Jake Bruton (came from the 6666’s with Boots), Ryder Gass (Quentin’s oldest son), Quentin Gass, Mike Seago, Tom Moorhouse, Quentin Marburger, Ron Lewis, Bill “Cotton” Elliot, Boots O’Neil, Jim Kingston, and Tyler Weatherford. 

After the gathering, I rode back to the wagon with Mr Moorhouse and Mr O’Neil while they observed the rest of the crew gathering a few strays. We then enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Mr Ferguson and more visiting. In the afternoon,  we were joined by Maverick Morrow and the men gathered the upper China. That evening, Ronnie Gass and Roper came out to join us for yet another great meal on the wagon and to take me back to headquarters.

 As you can see, it was an incredible day. There were many stories told and much wisdom shared. Since then, I have been fortunate to have many more opportunities to visit the Tongue River but none will be quite like the day that I had the chance to ride with such legends as these. God has blessed me with the gift of visual storytelling and an early childhood on my grandparents ranch in Eastern Montana. As time has gone by and I have been led deeper into the traditions and life of the West Texas ranch families, I have realized how important it is to tell the story of the strong, independent and Godly men and women who still keep alive the traditions of this wonderful culture. 

Thank you for purchasing one of my prints of “Swappin’ Stories with the Traded Help”. I hope this adds to your enjoyment of the piece and that someday the people who read it will have a better appreciation of the life that I am trying, in my small way, to honor.