Paul I would agree with you. If I were making chaps for myself I have often used a heavy oil tan. Particularly on shotguns. Bout all I've ever used and it works great. However, while doing all my research looking for this hide, while I couldn't find the hide for sale I did find built chaps for sale out of boarhide. They always brought a premium, seemed like about $100 more on average for the same chap in boarhide vs cowhide. Something to think on. The ranch these guys work on stretches from the valley of the San Joaquin up into the foothills of the Sierra, the Tehachapi's and the Tejon mountains. They can get some nasty hot summertime temps. The kind that makes Dave stay home in his mountains. They say these things in boarhide stays cooler. I'm not putting it to the test. Too hot down there for this old guy.
I did find the boarhide. Maverick carries it. I knew it was out there as I kept finding all these makers using it just couldn't find it for sale.
Ken, Paul hit it right on absolutely every point with protection being the biggest one. Also its just dirty, muddy, bloody, digested grass guacamole etc. And a lot going on all at once. There were 5 groups of ropers (4 or 5 in each group assigned by the boss). Each group did three drafts of 20 calves each and then ya swapped ropers and rotated into the ground crew. Started roping around 8:30 and done by lunch. Sometimes we had four calves at the fire at once.
From left to right: the young lady is gonna administer a dose of Ensure up the nostril, Brandon (the boss), is restraining the front of the calf by keeping his knee on the neck and pulling back on the left front leg, a young lady behind Brandon (ya can just make out her black ball cap) is ear tagging the calf, Mrs Carter is putting on the iron and the guy in the smoke is castrating the calf. The rear heels are held by a roper horseback. Plus there are three injections either already given or coming and this calf is done. Next.
So from this, my son coming out with the first calf of the day, he's riding Down Town Mr Brown, (he always gives interesting names to his dogs and horses).
To this:
To this:
And this Nichole giving some shots to a little one:
And then another one coming in. 1 to 2 minutes per calf. Pretty busy.
Not everyone wears their leggings while doing groundwork and their jeans are usually the worst for it. My son doesn't:
Or:
:thumbup:
