American Old West: Kail Mantle rounds up horses during the Montana Horses' Annual Horse Drive outside Three Forks, Montana on May 4A Montana family has closed a chapter of American history after embarking on their last annual horse drive.
Photographer Jim Urquhart followed the Mantle family last weekend as husband and wife team Kail and Renee rounded up 300 horses and drove them 35 miles from their winter range to the Mantle ranch over the course of three days.
Extraordinary photos capture the event that has captivated thousands for the last 11 years and has been one of the few enduring traditions of the American Old West.
Kail Mantle and his wife Renee began the tradition in 2001, and decided along the way to let people be a part of the event, a lucky few helping to drive the herd from the ranch in Willow Creek through Main Street in Three Forks.
Wrangler: Nate Cummins jumps into a corral full of horses during Montana Horses' annual horse drive outside Three Forks on May 5
Making a splash: Wrangler Shad Boardman rides his horse across a riverThere, people crowd the streets in hopes of catching the horses galloping through.
After arriving at the Mantle Ranch, the horses were picked up by leasing clients at national parks and dude ranches.
The Mantles have chosen to raise cattle after several years of struggling in a market where horses are no longer as profitable, Mr Urquhart writes in a blog documenting the horse drive.
Round 'em up: Wranglers work to control horses during the second day of the horse driveDoreen Lee, a wrangler from Cameron, Montana, taking part in her fourth drive noted that the types of drives like the one spearheaded for over a decade by the couple is becoming 'more a piece of history than contemporary knowledge', the photographer explains.
She told him: 'Some day people will talk about how it was done and I can say I did it... I am so blessed to be part of it.'
Leading the herd: Wranglers saddle up next to wild horses on day three of the drive
Cowboy culture: Kail Mantle herds horses in a corral on day one
Team work: Renee Mantle sorts a herd of horses in a corral on day twoThe Mantles have chosen to raise cattle after several years of struggling in a market where horses are no longer as profitable, Mr Urquhart writes in a blog documenting the horse drive.
Doreen Lee, a wrangler from Cameron, Montana, taking part in her fourth drive noted that the types of drives like the one spearheaded for over a decade by the couple is becoming 'more a piece of history than contemporary knowledge', the photographer explains.
She told him: 'Some day people will talk about how it was done and I can say I did it... I am so blessed to be part of it.'
Dressed for the Wild West: Wrangler Lori Young readies her horse on day one
On the trail: Wranglers travel up a train rail line on day three
Campfire: Wranglers gather at camp on May 3But the spring drive is not without its risks.
Dr Al Carr, a wrangler on the drive for 10 years, Mr Urquhart writes, has been in charge of taking care of injured wranglers along the way - most minor injuries and broken bones with no fatalities, he says.
Dr Carr reflected on the final drive as it was coming to a close. 'The old west is disappearing right before our eyes,' he said, adding, 'It’s a goodness that defies imagination.'
source: dailymail
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