There is never a dull moment at the Shepherd's Lamb ranch! It takes the cooperation and hard work of our whole family and our animals in each season of the ranching year to run our business successfully.

Photography by Lara Manzanares unless otherwise captioned. If you would like to publish or use these photos or are interested in ordering prints, please contact Lara at lara.manz@gmail.com.

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Hector the shepherd, Peanut the horse, and a few of the guard dogs trail the sheep through Tierra Amarilla as they make their way down the mountain from summer pasture in the fall.

Hector the shepherd, Peanut the horse, and a few of the guard dogs trail the sheep through Tierra Amarilla as they make their way down the mountain from summer pasture in the fall.

A ewe looks back briefly before running to catch up with the rest of the flock, which has moved just beyond the ridge. Canjilon, NM

A ewe looks back briefly before running to catch up with the rest of the flock, which has moved just beyond the ridge. Canjilon, NM

Antonio cleans muddy tire chains in the creek after struggling to reach the top of the mountain and deliver groceries to the sheep camp.

Antonio cleans muddy tire chains in the creek after struggling to reach the top of the mountain and deliver groceries to the sheep camp.

Antonio helps a sheep stand upright after shearing her fleece at Tierra Wools Handweaving Workshop's annual Spring Harvest Festival.

Antonio helps a sheep stand upright after shearing her fleece at Tierra Wools Handweaving Workshop's annual Spring Harvest Festival.

A close-up of the wool of one of our sheep. This amazing coat keeps the sheep warm and dry and blocks debris and UV rays from reaching her sensitive skin.

A close-up of the wool of one of our sheep. This amazing coat keeps the sheep warm and dry and blocks debris and UV rays from reaching her sensitive skin.

Molly, Sophia, and Nathaniel remove debris from a freshly shorn fleece (a process called "skirting") as a member of the shearing crew prepares the next fleece.

Molly, Sophia, and Nathaniel remove debris from a freshly shorn fleece (a process called "skirting") as a member of the shearing crew prepares the next fleece.

Antonio and son Agustín load freshly packed bales of wool onto the trailer after shearing is over.  Photo by Molly Manzanares

Antonio and son Agustín load freshly packed bales of wool onto the trailer after shearing is over. Photo by Molly Manzanares

Spring Lambing is the most intense season of the year. The entire flock (around 800 ewes) gives birth within six weeks. Here, Antonio carries a newborn lamb to the corral to be reunited with its mother.

Spring Lambing is the most intense season of the year. The entire flock (around 800 ewes) gives birth within six weeks. Here, Antonio carries a newborn lamb to the corral to be reunited with its mother.

New lambs face their first life challenge: getting across the ditch! This usually isn't too much of a problem for them – lambs can run and jump like track stars within hours of being born.

New lambs face their first life challenge: getting across the ditch! This usually isn't too much of a problem for them – lambs can run and jump like track stars within hours of being born.

(L-R) Greg Martin, Baldo LaSalle, Antonio, and Michael Combs follow the sheep out of the lambing pen after a rough day on the range near Tres Piedras, just west of Taos.

(L-R) Greg Martin, Baldo LaSalle, Antonio, and Michael Combs follow the sheep out of the lambing pen after a rough day on the range near Tres Piedras, just west of Taos.

Home on the Range: One of our older sheep camps lives amongst the sagebrush near Tres Piedras during Lambing Season.

Home on the Range: One of our older sheep camps lives amongst the sagebrush near Tres Piedras during Lambing Season.

Baldo, Juanito, and horse Peanut do their best to corral a group of spry little lambs.

Baldo, Juanito, and horse Peanut do their best to corral a group of spry little lambs.

Molly washes Antonio’s hands as they break for lunch out on the range.

Molly washes Antonio’s hands as they break for lunch out on the range.

The trailer door latches shut. One task is finished, the next five still waiting to be done.

The trailer door latches shut. One task is finished, the next five still waiting to be done.

Molly, her mare Jimmie, and dogs Sammie and Bert trail the sheep through the Carson National Forest at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet.

Molly, her mare Jimmie, and dogs Sammie and Bert trail the sheep through the Carson National Forest at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet.

Antonio, Molly, horses Tomato and Jimmie, and dog Sammie survey the flock during a warm spring afternoon on the ranch.

Antonio, Molly, horses Tomato and Jimmie, and dog Sammie survey the flock during a warm spring afternoon on the ranch.

(L-R) Luisa Manzanares, Toni Broaddus, Molly, and Lara Manzanares pose for a photo during lunch on the fall trail drive.  Photo by Antonio Manzanares

(L-R) Luisa Manzanares, Toni Broaddus, Molly, and Lara Manzanares pose for a photo during lunch on the fall trail drive. Photo by Antonio Manzanares

Toni Broaddus (Molly's sister) and horse Shorty guide the flock through the ranch gates.

Toni Broaddus (Molly's sister) and horse Shorty guide the flock through the ranch gates.

Shepherd Domingo and Antonio trail the sheep down the highway by foot just outside the ranch.

Shepherd Domingo and Antonio trail the sheep down the highway by foot just outside the ranch.

Molly, shown here with dog Bert and horse Jimmie, has spotted and rescued a sick lamb who cannot keep up with the others.

Molly, shown here with dog Bert and horse Jimmie, has spotted and rescued a sick lamb who cannot keep up with the others.

Molly's rescue gets a luxurious ride to the corral, where he will have a chance to recuperate.

Molly's rescue gets a luxurious ride to the corral, where he will have a chance to recuperate.

Heather and Molly work on a weaving at Tierra Wools Handweaving Workshop as Heather's daughter naps nearby. The weavers at Tierra Wools have designed and woven tapestries and striped weavings using the flock's yarn since 1984.

Heather and Molly work on a weaving at Tierra Wools Handweaving Workshop as Heather's daughter naps nearby. The weavers at Tierra Wools have designed and woven tapestries and striped weavings using the flock's yarn since 1984.

Molly's tapestry weaving patiently awaits her return at Tierra Wools Handweaving Workshop. 

Molly's tapestry weaving patiently awaits her return at Tierra Wools Handweaving Workshop. 

Molly and Antonio chat with a customer at the Santa Fe Farmers Market. Shepherd's Lamb has been a weekly vendor at the Farmers Market for over 15 years.

Molly and Antonio chat with a customer at the Santa Fe Farmers Market. Shepherd's Lamb has been a weekly vendor at the Farmers Market for over 15 years.

Molly, Hector, horses Jimmie and Peanut, and the dogs make their way down the hill toward the flock during the annual fall sheep drive.

Molly, Hector, horses Jimmie and Peanut, and the dogs make their way down the hill toward the flock during the annual fall sheep drive.

Toni Broaddus and horse Shorty lead a semi truck through the flock during the annual fall sheep drive.

Toni Broaddus and horse Shorty lead a semi truck through the flock during the annual fall sheep drive.

Raquel Manzanares feeds the sheep. During winter months, the sheep's daily meal consists of dry bales of hay harvested from the ranch's fields each fall.

Raquel Manzanares feeds the sheep. During winter months, the sheep's daily meal consists of dry bales of hay harvested from the ranch's fields each fall.

A guard dog pup looks up from his breakfast. We use Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, or Komondor guard dogs to guard our flock from predators.

A guard dog pup looks up from his breakfast. We use Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, or Komondor guard dogs to guard our flock from predators.

(L-R) Molly, Sammie, and Antonio take a quick nap after lunch during the fall sheep drive through the Carson National Forest.

(L-R) Molly, Sammie, and Antonio take a quick nap after lunch during the fall sheep drive through the Carson National Forest.

During a quiet afternoon, Roy, one of our border collie sheepdogs, decides to take a brief vacation from ranch life. This note from Molly says: "Gone to look for Roy. Be back soon."

During a quiet afternoon, Roy, one of our border collie sheepdogs, decides to take a brief vacation from ranch life. This note from Molly says: "Gone to look for Roy. Be back soon."

| Photography by Lara Manzanares |