The Beauty of the Big Hole Valley

Hello again friends! I am thrilled to introduce you to the baddest of bad cats. I’m talking about the only girl I know that can out rope most men when it comes to ranch roping. I’m talking about the girl who could make every good team roper look like a klutz in the branding pen.  I’m talking about the handiest of all hands. I’m talking about my dear friend, Justine Reynolds Munns. Justine grew up in the heart of my favorite place on God’s green earth, the Big Hole Valley in southwestern Montana. If you don't believe me that this is the most wonderful place on earth, look here: 

She grew up with cowboying and ranching running deep in her family, being the great niece of the late World Champion and Hall of Fame Cowboy, Benny Reynolds. Justine and I first met while we were going to college at the University of Montana Western in Dillon, Montana. We became instant friends. Justine is a humble, no nonsense type of person. She can outrope you just as fast as she can tell you to ‘get bent’, and that’s why I love her! 

During our college days, we rode and roped together quite a bit as Justine was training a sorrel mare named Jazzy. I begged and pleaded her to sell me the mare and she finally agreed. I immediately jumped at the opportunity to buy the mare that I had longed for. She was everything I hoped for. Justine made Jazzy the horse she is. Not me.  

Jazzy and I in 2012.

Justine has a way of training horses to do just about anything, and she isn't afraid to belly kick one either, another reason I admire her! She’s the toughest, hardest working girl I know.

 

Happy wedding day! Justine and I, along with our former college rodeo coach, Iola Else.

Mr. & Mrs. Caleb Munns ~ tied the knot in July of 2012

Justine's interview:
1) Tell us about a normal day working on the River Bend Ranch?
Justine: A normal day....it's hard to say what a normal day would be so I will tell you what a normal day during the summer time would be because summer time is my favorite season! Caleb runs horses in at 6:00am and we saddle our horses. Then we head over to the cook house and have breakfast. The rest of the the day we are riding through grass calves and heifers doctoring. I love being able to do this stuff with my husband!

2) What's the main quality you look for in a horse?
Justine:  A good mind! I like one with a ton of heart and willingness! I've been on some horses that were very physically able and put together perfectly but they just didn't want to work for you. And I've been on some that weren't put together as nice and maybe not so physically able but they would try their guts out for you. I would pick brains over beauty any day!
3) Tell us about the best horse you've ever rode?
Justine: Well....this is a tough one! I will start by saying I'm a mare rider! I truly believe mares have more heart. And they are strictly business all the time! Also, horses are like people, they are all different so it's hard for me to peg a best one! But right now my favorite horse is a bay mare I raised from a baby. Her mom still has colts for me. She's by a son of First Down Dash. This mare is bred only to run but she's still the cowiest horse I've ever rode! Since she's bred so hot I work really hard constantly to keep her quiet but that's my style of riding so we fit together really well! She has a fantastic mind. She loves to work. She wants to go 100mph all the time but I love the enthusiasm! I think it's safe to say she tries too hard a lot of times. I also have a young horse coming up that's by a son of Peptoboonsmal and she is by far the most physically capable horse I've ever ridden. She has a fantastic mind also!
4) What's the one piece of tack you can never be without?
Justine: This one's kinda tough too! I'll avoid the obvious such as a saddle. I really love to rope...I live to rope! So if it counts I'm gonna say a rope! Or I'd say my favorite snaffle because I know I could ride any one of my horses in it...if I didn't have anything else.
5) What's on your bucket list?
Justine: Going places for vacation is flattering but it's not really my thing. It would be cool to see the ocean one day but right now I can say if I never did, I wouldn't be too upset over it. Ever since I was young starting out roping I've always dreamed of being a fantastic heeler. I just think it would be so awesome to be able to hold my own against the best of the men out there. I want to get to the point where I can hold my own against the really great men out there as a whole! I mean as far as roping goes. That's the one thing I care most about and I constantly work very hard at.  
6) And finally, the handiest person you know is...
Justine:  There are a lot of people I look up to out there! And I can't pick one of them out so I will say my childhood hero, my great grandmother "Brownie". (She would be Benny's mom). I heard when I was really young how tough that lady was and how she could stick the rankest of horses! She was everything! A hell of a hand, a mother, and a wife! I still look up to her! I've always wanted to be just like her! Brownie passed way when I was 14, so fortunately I got to know her pretty well and I can still remember her really well.

And that, my friends, is Justine ~ isn't she a sweetheart?