Ridin’ to the Gate

Cowboys often must ride through different sections and pastures of a ranch to gather cattle on their way to bringing the herd into the branding pens. Usually there is a cowboy who goes ahead of the herd opening any of the several gates cattle must go through. Part of his job is that after he gets each gate opened, he must ride far enough away, as the cattle are approaching, so that he won’t spook them going into the pen.  This seems like a small thing, but if the cattle are spooked, it will take lots more time and effort to gather them up again into the pen.