Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Cresting over a steep hill, the early morning sun spotlighted dozens of black cows sprinkled among rolling green pastures framed by the peaks of Iles and Three Points Mountains. Nearly 40 cowboys and cowgirls prepared for the most important work of the year: branding day.
Some of the hardest workers in this group were a champion horse and rider who never really take a day off.
“They are such a good team,” said Megan Smith, herd manager at Yellow Jacket Ranch near Meeker, Colorado. “I think they wake up at [level] 10 and they're ready to go.”
Megan is referring to her husband, Patrick, and their five-year-old quarter horse, Frankie Moon. This winter, Patrick and Frankie Moon won first place in ski joring events in Estes Park, Grand Lake, and Leadville. The latter is considered the “Grand Daddy Of 'Em All,” and Patrick and Frankie Moon’s victory there solidified them as stars of the esoteric sport.
Read more at rmpbs.org/news
Produced by Polina Sarana and Amanda Horvath
Cresting over a steep hill, the early morning sun spotlighted dozens of black cows sprinkled among rolling green pastures framed by the peaks of Iles and Three Points Mountains. Nearly 40 cowboys and cowgirls prepared for the most important work of the year: branding day.
Some of the hardest workers in this group were a champion horse and rider who never really take a day off.
“They are such a good team,” said Megan Smith, herd manager at Yellow Jacket Ranch near Meeker, Colorado. “I think they wake up at [level] 10 and they're ready to go.”
Megan is referring to her husband, Patrick, and their five-year-old quarter horse, Frankie Moon. This winter, Patrick and Frankie Moon won first place in ski joring events in Estes Park, Grand Lake, and Leadville. The latter is considered the “Grand Daddy Of 'Em All,” and Patrick and Frankie Moon’s victory there solidified them as stars of the esoteric sport.
Read more at rmpbs.org/news
Produced by Polina Sarana and Amanda Horvath
