I don't know why Sheridan writes unrealistic story lines. Owning a ranch doesn't necessarily make you knowledgeable if you aren't involved in the actual work, and I don't know what kind of ranch he grew up on. I just know what I saw on Yellowstone just wasn't believable enough to go on watching. I'd love to see a realistic ranch series.
Trust me. We've worked for absentee owners who didn't understand what's going on at all. Show horse people don't necessarily have a clue. I say this from actual experience from being around cutting horse people in real ranch situations on a ranch we were managing. And hanging out at the Four Sixes isn't going to do it either unless you're riding out with the crew.
The first episodes I watched involved ridiculous story lines. It's been a while since I watched them, but here's what I saw to the best of my memory: Cattle were claimed because they strayed on another's property. Doesn't happen. You can't keep a dog that strays onto your property, much less valuable cattle. There are laws governing this and local law enforcement would be all over it (sheriffs, brand inspectors, etc.)
Water was claimed that didn't belong to someone. Again, laws govern this very precisely. Water is the difference between success and failure in agriculture in the west. I did take a college level course on Law and Ranching, so I do know of what I speak, plus 20 years in the ranching world in several states.
Someone went out and just caught a mustang he wanted. Again, laws govern this. You can't just go and get a wild horse, EVEN IF IT'S RUNNING ON YOUR PROPERTY. Wild horses belong either to the federal government or state government. Gathering one yourself is stealing from government and they don't have a sense of humor about it. I live in Nevada, where there are tens of thousands of mustangs, and I am aware of the laws governing them. You're not allowed to bother them at all, much less catch and break them.
In one scene, two men supposedly pull a calf, and then the calf jumps up and runs away. Please. Calves are shaky and tottery for hours after birth even it isn't even a traumatic birth like having to be pulled. That can delay recovery. For a calf to jump up and run away like depicted, it would have to be at least a day, maybe several days old. The calf in the scene was at least a few weeks old.
Not only did I work on ranches when younger, I have also worked for ranching publications, including a state ranching newspaper and a nationally circulated ranching magazine. So if you want to debate any of the above points, I'd be glad to give you my experience and facts supporting my opinions.
I think it's fine if you enjoy the show, just be aware it is fiction, not reality.
Then there's the Outer Range series, which shows a rancher who swears like a sailor in front of his wife and smaller child--not typical, and the family apparently raises worn-out roping steers. No wonder they aren't making any money. And if someone is claiming your land, you go to court, not to war.
Hollywood always gets it wrong, but there could be many stories that would be interesting that have actually happened or could potentially happen. Like movies in general, I guess. There are many great books out there that would make outstanding movies, but we get zombies, vampires, superheroes, gore, and onscreen sex.
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