HANLEY, Sask. — Work and play are one in the same for the Gonnet family of Hanley.
“It’s a great way of life,” said Peter Gonnet, who had just returned home with his wife, Pam, daughter, Becky, and son-in-law, Rick Wiebe, from a weekend of riding, roping and chasing cows at a neighbour’s working cowboy competition.
“I always laugh. How many guys will go on their day off from a job and go out and do their job. We do that all the time.”
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Gonnet has managed the 20,000 acre Rudy Rosedale community pasture west of Hanley since 1988.
He and Pam raised their son, Dustin, and daughter, Becky, to work alongside them, teaching by example through the day-to-day routine of practical cowboy work.
Becky said their lifestyle has always been about family.
“During roundup, all four of us geared up and went out, year after year. During the evening, us kids didn’t stay in and watch TV and play video games. We went out and worked dogs with Mom and Dad. We just did everything as a family and that has helped us stay close, connected, and drawn us to still want to be here.”
Working for Agriculture Canada’s agri-environment services branch has been a good fit for a guy whose first love was horsemanship. So strong was his desire to work on horseback that he was riding for free for what was then the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration before he was 16, the minimum age for hire.
“It’s one of the last few jobs where you can earn a living cowboying,” Peter said.
“We don’t hay; we don’t have any tractor work. We basically earn our living on horseback.”
Married since 1980, the Gonnets grew up on mixed farms in small towns near Edmonton and have horsemanship in their blood. They were raised only 30 kilometres apart but didn’t meet until Peter was riding in a PFRA pasture where Pam’s father was a patron.
Their son, Dustin, and daughter-in-law, Marla, live near Cayley, Alta., while the Wiebes rent the PFRA home close to the Gonnets. Rick works alongside his father-in-law as pasture rider.
Gonnet said Wiebe is willing to learn and is trustworthy: two essentials he holds high.
Gonnet said his role as pasture manager is similar to running a large ranch without the headaches of ownership.
“I could never own a place this big myself. They let us manage these pastures. We have guidelines but I basically manage this pasture like it’s my own. I do the grazing plans, we do all the movement, our patrons decide what bulls they want to use and when to put them out. All the grazing decisions are basically mine.”
Gonnet’s grazing capacity has increased from 800 adults in 1988 to 1,300 adults this year, plus their calves. As well, five fields are resting this year.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and Gonnet is proud of his family’s stockmanship abilities.
Dustin is highly sought after in Alberta and beyond for his cutting horse training abilities.
“The thing with these type of guys is everything rolls into everything,” said Becky.
“My brother, Dad and Rick, they’re good at all these things because they have the stock sense. It’s all the same. It applies from Border Collies to working cows and horses.”
Added her husband: “The common bond is stockmanship, to be able to go out and watch someone else’s dog work really good and everyone can enjoy the feeling because everyone knows the work that went into getting that stock or that dog to listen to do that.”
Gonnet is internationally recognized for dog training and trialing. He has won the Canadian championship and has been reserve Canadian Border Collie champion, western Canadian driving and WCC nursery champion and nine-time Saskatchewan Stockdog Association open champion. He has also judged throughout North America, and this fall will be one of four judges at the 2011 National Sheepdog Finals in Carbondale, Colorado.
Gonnet uses his dogs every day for ranch work as well as for trials. He believes that the best trial dog must also be the best work dog.
Although winning competitions is rewarding, Gonnet finds more satisfaction in the day-to-day lifestyle.
“Even though it’s just Rick and I out there, we’re trying to figure out a better way to turn one around (horse) or work a cow to get the job done,” he said.
“The show world of cutting and working cow horses stems from practical cowboy work. I look at this job and it’s my nature that I want to be the very best cowboy and horseman. Even though nobody’s going to see us, but when that horse just works beautifully and we worked that cow just right to get a cow treated or moved, that’s very satisfying.”
Gonnet also has an unwavering trust in Pam’s ability to sort stock, although her experience didn’t come without it’s growing pains. Over the years she’s been bucked off horses and had her share of spills. She once broke her leg and back while baling off a runaway wagon.
“Pam’s been by my side since we were first married. She’s cowboyed right along her whole life. She’s been my right hand man.”
Added Pam: “It’s been a good life. Wouldn’t change it.”
