Chevy & #RanchHorseBreezy’s Great Buffalo Adventure, Part 2: Orientation Day

I woke up Thursday morning feeling excited. Today was the Buffalo Roundup Riders Orientation Day!

As I sat drinking my coffee, watching a mama bighorn sheep and her baby run around, I thought about how blessed I was to be here today. I also thought about all of the work that Breezy and I have done over the past few years to make this possible.

Big Horn Sheep Camp Neighbors

These toys have been a visual reminder of my dream of being a Roundup Rider

It wasn’t that long ago that every ride was filled with nervous “what ifs” and feeling afraid in the saddle. It was like a switch had been flipped in my brain after my first son was born. All I could think about was all of the ways that I could get hurt riding. I was tense, and micromanaged my horses, never giving them a loose rein, and controlling their every step. Riding certainly wasn’t fun!

It was in late 2015 that I started learning about positive psychology and sports psychology, and using mental skills to start rebuilding confidence. The next year I started riding Breezy (he was three) and really put those skills to work. In 2017 I learned about the Buffalo Roundup, and started applying. This was also when I bought at a Tractor Supply the cowgirl on a bay horse and bison Schleich toys that have since sat on my bookshelf. I am a big believer in vision boards and the power of having a visual, daily reminder of your goals. For me, these little toys were that visual reminder of my big goal-to be a roundup rider for the Custer State Park Annual Buffalo Roundup!

As I finished my coffee, I took a deep breath. I was excited, but also starting to feel nervous. Those what if thoughts kept creeping in. What if Breezy spooked at the buffalo? I put a stop to those negative thoughts, and instead shifted to positive affirmations. Breezy is fit and ready. I am a confident, gritty rider. We are ready for this!

I cleaned up after breakfast and packed up the trailer. My goal was to pull out of camp at 11am, so I had plenty of time to get to the Buffalo Corrals before Orientation. One drawback to the Featherlite Inn is that everything needs packed up and anything fragile put in the nose of the trailer before hauling. So my camp stove, coffee maker, table, chairs, lights, etc. all needed packed up and put into their totes.

After camp was packed up, I put on Breezy’s Easy Boots as he finished his morning hay, then saddled up. At 10:45am I led him to the trailer...and he just stood there, refusing to step up and get in! I am sure after the long haul out here he was thinking, “Seriously? You think I’m going to get in there after I just spent a whole day in there and traveled 700 miles? No thanks crazy lady!”

I grabbed my flag and was doing some groundwork with him behind the trailer when my neighbors from two camp sites down came by. It took just a few minutes of me in the trailer and my neighbor waving the flag to remind Breezy that he did actually know how to trailer load, and he jumped in. I’ll admit, it was embarrassing to have the horse that didn’t want to load!

After that slight delay, we were on the road! And like much of the gravel roads in Custer State Park, they are narrow with lots of curves! This trip has done wonders for pushing me outside of my comfort zone, and most of those experiences were behind the wheel!

We made it to the Buffalo Corrals, and parked alongside other trailers. I unloaded Breezy and tied him to the trailer, then walked up to the corrals to check in. The vet was there checking paperwork and doing health inspections, so I walked back to the trailer to get Breezy. After his paperwork was checked to verify he matched his health certificate, his teeth inspected, and his temperature taken, we were given the ok to participate in the Roundup. I took him back to the trailer, then again walked back to the corrals. Lunch was buffalo burgers, so I joined my camp neighbors, Shane and CJ, that helped me load Breezy, and my campsite neighbor Beau (who is from Australia!) and in line met one of the Roundup Team leaders, Ron, and his wife, Jen. It was really neat listening to everyone’s stories as we enjoyed lunch in the sunshine. Then it was time for Orientation!

All of us Roundup Riders received our packets and filled out the remaining paperwork, including an Emergency Contact card that we were instructed to keep on our person during today’s orientation ride and tomorrow for the roundup. We were split into three teams-Red, White and Blue, and along with out team arm bands, we received our Roundup Rider Name Patches. I was assigned to Blue team, which is led by Ron, who I had met at lunch.

Then us Roundup Riders were given a personal pep talk from the Governor of South Dakota! She is a cowgirl herself that rides in the Roundup. After her pep talk, the Park staff went over the plan for the roundup, complete with a map and talking through where each team would be riding. They also talked about what to look for and expect from the Buffalo. Basically, if they start looking over their shoulder at you, pay attention. If they starting making a deep “woof” sound, its a warning. If their tail flips up over their back, get out of the way!

We were also instructed to double check all of our tack, especially our latigos and stirrup leathers. Bob, a wise old cowboy who has been part of these roundups for over 40 years recommended that today isn’t the day to be changing bits. We were warned that our horses might not act as they normally do, and that there was no shame in backing out if after today’s orientation ride we didn’t think that we could complete the roundup.

“Once those buffalo get running, you’ll find out pretty quick if you are cowboy or cowgirl enough!” cowboy Bob quipped.

After that, we were sent off to get our horses and join our team leaders for our orientation ride. I double checked my tack, thinking of all of the warning advice we had been given. They definitely wanted all of us riders to be aware of all the possibilities! I stepped into the saddle, and Breezy and I trotted off to the blue team meeting spot behind the cook tent. Each team had about 20 riders, and each volunteer rider was paired with a “core” rider, who was an experienced roundup rider. I was paired with Jen, team leader Ron’s wife. Then we were off! We trotted up the hill, through a patch of trees, and then we got our first glimpse of Buffalo!

My official Buffalo Roundup Rider Name Badge and Blue Team Bandana!

First glimpse of buffalo

Just crossed the creek to a view of a big herd of buffalo!

Yes, I wore my Super Puncher shirt for Orientation!

There was a line of cars on the Wildlife Loop, looking at a group of Buffalo that were grazing alongside the road. We rode up, and I realized I had tensed up and was holding my breath. I made myself take a slow breath out, and Breezy flicked his ears back at me, then back to the buffalo. He just kept on walking, flat footed across the road. It was like he was saying, “Chill lady, they are just big fluffy cows!”

We crossed the road, then a creek. On the other side of the creek there was a huge herd of buffalo!

We slowed by the herd to give all of our horses a chance to see and smell the buffalo. All of the horses on our team handled it great-no spooking, no balking.

We then rode up a steep hill, which flattened out at the top (aptly named Hay Flats!). We paused for a break, and Ron talked us through the plan, as our team would start at the top of hay flats the next morning, with the Red and White Teams lined out below us. We rode through the planned path, following a ridge line, then down a hill, crossing a gravel road, and then down to where it flattened out at the Prairie Dog town just in front of the South viewing area. From there, we would push the buffalo across a creek, then up a slight hill and across a road. Then we would push them to a gate, and get the buffalo into a really large pasture just below the North Viewing area. After the herd was in the pasture and the gate was shut, all of us riders would make a big line behind the herd, and push them to the buffalo corrals.

The terrain along this planned route had steep hills to navigate up and down, lots of rocks, most of which were hidden by grass, prairie dog holes, some downed trees to cross, a really steep bank to a narrow creek (that Breezy decided was easier to just jump instead of get his feet wet), and some gravel and paved road crossings. Basically, this wasn’t a ride for the faint of heart-and that was before adding in running buffalo!

All of our team handled the route great. We really had an awesome group of horses and riders. After the orientation ride, I felt much more confident in my ability (and Breezy’s) to complete the Roundup on Friday. When we got back to the Buffalo Corrals, we were instructed to be saddled and ready at 8am behind the cook tent, ready to ride out!

It was a little after 5pm when Breezy and I pulled back into our campsite. I think Breezy was happy to chill in his pen, while I set up camp and warmed up supper.

I was having trouble getting cell service to call home, so after supper I hopped on Breezy bareback and rode out to higher ground in search of service. I finally found some up by the camp sites higher up on the hill, and called home to say good night to the boys and tell Zeb about my day.

Once I got back to my camp, my new neighbors (4 Sheriff’s Posse members from Colorado, two of which were in the Roundup, and the other two had ridden in the Roundup a few years ago) had a campfire going and invited me over. I brought my chair (and set it 6 feet away) and listened to their exciting stories and advice from those that had previously ridden in the Roundup. The best were the stories told by Scott, who in addition to being a Sherriff’s Posse member was also a cowboy poet and master packer who had run horse camps for kids and adults. My sides hurt laughing at some of his (mis)adventures!

I knew tomorrow was going to be a big day, so I made sure to get to bed early. I set three alarms to make sure I didn’t oversleep, and drifted off to sleep, with visions of a thundering herd of buffalo in my head.