Out on the Dude String Trail

I've had many jobs in my life; waitress, landscaper/mower, security gate watch, and more, but my time at the Lozier's Box R Dude Ranch is one that tops the list of fun, patience, and learning. At the time, Irv Lozier had some dudes out riding with our family as we pushed cows across the Mesa "Cow Camp" tank to Hennik Draw. He told me, "You know, I think you'd do good with us," and planted the seed of curiosity in a then, 14-year-old Haley.

The next summer, with hardship license in hand, I came to the Box R as a Wrangler who also helped cook and clean. Those first few weeks were a learning curve to know all the horses, the trails, and a stick shift. The latter would probably be one of the harder lessons. Irv sent me to a friend of his who had an extra trailer we could borrow. He sent me off in a two-door manual with directions to go get the trailer and bring it back in one piece. Getting there was no problem as I had a little experience with a manual, but the way back proved to be a test of patience. I am so incredibly glad no one was around to watch my drive home. On the road to the ranch, there is a spot where you make a horseshoe-shaped turn that goes down and up the hill on the other side. I killed the truck going up the hill on the other side and had to back up the other side which included a few turns as well. I did this a few, or more, times and finally figured out how to get through this "death trap" I was sure I would never get out of. I do know, that I wasn't going to walk back to the ranch for help. Maybe that was because of fear of letting down my new employer or the hard-headed side coming out. I pulled into the ranch and Irv waved at me from the hitching post. He then checked out the tru

ck and trailer and noted that the drive back must have gone well, but I'm sure by the look on my face he could tell that I had some trouble but nothing that marked the borrowed trailer.

It was lessons like that, and plenty more on horseback, that made my time there so memorable. I've ridden all my life but taking on a new horse every week with varying degrees of bad behavior was good for my patience and horsemanship. I found out that I lead with my square Murdock head like a lawn dart and that a good challenge was fun. He took in two strawberry roan horses from the Flying A during my second summer there. The other wrangler I worked with and I just picked one since they looked and acted identical, but I believe I got the short end of the stick. That morning we trailered past Sand Draw near the Big Sandy Speedway road to help gather some cattle in June. As we left the trailer the dudes took out on a trot going past us with no regard for what was happening around them. The horse I was on took it personally and gave me a ride I can still remember to this day. I was told I did well until the horse tried to rear over backward and I got off at the highest point. I lay on the ground, winded and a little dazed with ripped jeans, broken chaps, and a crushed hat. The other Wrangler with me, Pat Zoller, had to slap me on the back and blow in my face to get me to breathe and then told me to get back on and he would be my pick-up man. I was mad but also not really interested in having a rematch. He rode close as I got back on and took off on a trot with luckily no buck left in him. I rode that horse the rest of the day

without problem, but was always ready for his next outburst.

Other lessons included how to handle the Dudes and our busy work schedule. It was always fun to meet new people each week and a challenge to help them learn to ride safely. We would start with introductions and match the horse to the rider and get their saddles adjusted. It took most of the day to do but the guests loved the process as it lead to them living out their cowboy dreams later on in the week. Our days would then consist of wrangling early in the morning, catching and saddling the horses, going in for breakfast, and then getting on the road to help local ranches move their cattle. Once we were done helping we would head back to eat lunch, take a nap and go on a

trail ride in the afternoon but the day wasn't over at dinner. If you were lucky enough to have multiple job titles as I did, you would help make dinner, serve, do dishes, and then let the horses out. We were usually done by 10 or 11 pm just to get up again at 3 am the next morning to start again. I would go home on my day off and end up doing laundry and sleeping most of the day For a fifteen-year-old, it was a good summer of learning.

One morning we trailered out to help move cattle and Irv left me and another Wrangler with 15 dudes. He drove the 80's suburban and I took the trailer with the horses tied head to tail to get them all in. We had multiple days like that and by the end of the week, a few guests noted that they were surprised that a fifteen-year-old girl could drive a truck and trailer. This is normal in our world, but totally unheard of in theirs. I came out $500 richer in tips at the end of the week for my good deeds. Other times, I was tipped in wisdom on riding a horse I just got bucked off on or that my navigation was bad when looking for a trail. "You just got off center, " or "Is this all part of the experience? I believe we are lost" were just some of the comments I heard each week.

I wish more kids had the opportunity to have a few summers like that. No cell service and immersed in the new country, horses, and people. Working hard each day, but also having the time of your life. Take time to enjoy the land around you and learn new skills; even the ones like learning how to shoot pool at the GRB. Irv and Robin took a chance on a kid and it gave me some of the best memories I still smile about. I still talk to the various people I worked with and know they have some good memories like I do.

I miss Irv and think of him often. I also wonder what the ranch would look like now if he was still alive and the people the Box R would have touched. I'm sure it would be filled with many more stories of mishaps, funny times, words of wisdom, and a love of the country.