This Montana Horseman Ran The Real Yellowstone Ranch. He Had It All.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- His name was Spike Van Cleve. Back in 1976 I spent weeks at his 21,000 acre ranch high in the mountains above Big Timber, Montana, going out with him each day and reflecting on the magnificent life that he and the people who came before him lived. Ranchers. Horsemen. Cowboys. Generations on the land.
But Spike was more than just a horseman & cowboy (he raised hundreds of cattle on his ranch as well as horses). He had a 6th sense and locals said he could whisper horses. He was a poet & an author (he wrote two books - 40 Years' Gatherings and A Day Late & A Dollar Short) and he spoke in a way that mesmerized me and I have never forgotten phrases like "I caught the tail end of the horse age" and “If I wasn't a man, I'd like to be a horse"… and so many others.
And he was what he would call a rugged individualist. A true American political conservative. Leave me alone - keep the government away - and I will do the right thing in the right way and live a good life and support my country. Those were his views and indeed he lived them. I saw those values and that lifestyle on the ranch and how he lived his life and how he treated the people around him.
His family before him taught him how to run a horse ranch and gather horses. They had peaceful relationships with the Indians who lived in the area in those early days - the mid 1800s. Although he had a good deal of metal in his body from all of the injuries, he got on a horse every day (especially Sam who is described in this video) and rode out from his small home to do some kind of work with horses and with cattle. That was easy in the summer when I made this film but was pure hell during the winter with the blinding wind and snow and below zero temperatures.
Spike Van Cleve loved horses and from what I could tell, they loved him.
Spike went to Harvard and graduated and went back to the ranch, drawn to its beauty and its challenges. His incredible wife stayed with him through thick and thin and he was a rough character as a young man and pretty ornery as an old one.
I made this documentary as a short subject to honor him and to express his philosophy towards life and towards his animals. It was nominated for an Academy award short subject back when I made it. Spike gave me an understanding of the life of a horse rancher and of life in Montana that I never forgot. Thank you Spike Van Cleve, and thank you Earl Scruggs and his sons Randy Scruggs and Gary Scruggs for creating the just perfect country western (with a bit of bluegrass) music track.
My short film won the 1st prize at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame that year and was nominated for an Academy award (it didn't win).
I have made many film & video portraits in my life and I would like to share them all with you. Please support my efforts by clicking the Super Thanks button below the video screen.
Thank you
David Hoffman filmmaker
He caught "The Tail End Of The Horse Age" I love that! What a perfect quote! You certianly deserved that 1st prize at The National Cowboy H.O.F.! And If it were up to me you would've won that Academy Award as well! This was a pure joy to watch, Thank You
David!✌
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@@riverraven7 Hi there Raven!🖑 Hope all is well on your home front this morning!🍻🌴🍺🌴✌
Mr. Hoffman you never miss. Certainly one of my favorite TH-cam channels ever.
Thank you.
David Hoffman filmmaker
I love the sound of this cowboy's voice and I love his wisdom. Amazing - he went to Harvard, then came back to the ranch! Thank you so much for uploading this. My grandfather was a S. Dakota homestead cattle rancher. No Harvard man, but amazingly self-educated on American history. Men like this are deep thinkers and fascinating to listen to.
Knowing we're seeing today and seeing the documentation of America that you've done we are good people who seem to be losing their way
America has always been a wonderful but complicated country, there's always been good people and certainly not so good people. While it's always been diverse it has also suffered slavery and genocide on behalf of the government and many of the inhabitants, and let's not forget the crippling poverty that has always and still does prevail around the country. But it is amazing that hundreds of millions of people have managed to come together under something larger than themselves, unfortunately it must be said that the thing they have come together under, while it had good founding principles, does not fully live up to what it's people believe in.
Loved this. Not every American can have the privilege of a life lived in open space as he described it, but I do believe what he said at the end; in the idea of America being the place of the free thinking individual living life on their own terms, and then revering that quality in others. I wish we could get back to seeing each other in such light. Mutual respect of each other and the natural world we share.
Them dudes was BUILT DIFFERENT‼️
NO FLUFF‼️ Just pure Muscle and Love of COUNTRY
It's all about RESPECT 😎🤝
"If I wasn't a man, I'd like to be a horse" resonated with me 100%!
Oh to have lived that beautiful and simple life he lived! Still hoping, still dreaming...I won't ever stop!
Thank you for this wonderful docu David!
Good God David. (Sniff) That was beautiful. What's incredible is I'm only 34 and know nothing of this man's world, yet I watch this and get the sense of home.
The way he said he'd fired a man who fed himself before his horse. I know that value through and through. Laughed hard at the image of Sam peering over the hill, wondering if he was in trouble. I've been there too. Thank you for showing Spike's whispering ways, the caring ways, the reality of human and horse friendship.
Damn, that really takes me back. As a boy I got to meet men like this. Jimmy Goss and Bernie Bounds and Pete Aguilar. R.D. Champion and Wendell Chino and the like.....the last of a passing age. Understood the land and animals, as well as being poets and musicians and philosophers. Thanks for a journey back to boyhood.
Let me join this man in life. His voice is just wonderful, his calm thoughtfulness.
The music brings it all together. Wouldn't be the same without this Amazing soundtrack 👏👏👏
It's incredible. I still find it kind of hard to wrap my head around the fact that you're the man behind the camera, and now you're here 40 some years later keeping in touch with your fans! Granted, I'm a new fan who's 60 years younger, but THANK YOU.
Beautiful story, a beautiful man, and beautiful cinematography. It's a real-life Yellowstone.
Every time I watch one of your pieces I feel so thankful to all the work you did. You’re kind of my hero. Another moment in time I never would’ve experienced without your help, captured beautifully
Thank you Jeffrey for that kind comment.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Such a sweet story, such a sweet man. I wish every man was like him. I’m sure he is in heaven now, with his beloved wife and dear horses. 🥰🙏❤️🐈
This is pure nostalgia & absolute gold ✨️
WOW - What a life , very few get to live like that
"If God had meant a man to walk he'd have given him four feet." Beautiful. Only a true horse lover could have said that.
What a man. Wish I could have found one like him.
This warms my heart every time I see this… it’s like a brand new day🥰 Thank
You David
You could feel the pureness and strength of this man's soul. Being on the land and working with horses is the dream. Thank you for sharing this!
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you Mr. Hoffman!
Thankyou my friend for taking us along with this fine fellow and his beautiful horses! Not to mention the scenery and music😍💖🐎💖😍 and what a wonderful voice!
"For me to describe space, is a real hard thing, because I have always known it."
Preachin to the choir my man - Neil Degrasse Tyson
Montana is breathtaking country.
As someone born in the 21st century these always make me so happy! Thank you so much David!
Such a nice film to watch. Really cool to remember how things use to be in United States.
Thankyou, I am a homeschool Dad for my kids & they will Love thisi Doc 😊
Great idea!
Starting to really miss these old cowboys. Thank you for the video.
I've seen this before enjoyed then as I do now, the passion and love that Spike Van Cleve had on life and the land of his ancestors is pure joy! 😊
So simple, I felt some sadness and loss. "Simple Man", by Lynyrd Skynyrd was admittedly the song that came to mind. Too late, but it's good to see such wholeness in a man (yes, images of the old Marlboro Man entered the ol' coconut), not of Hollywood. Thank you for this meaningful 10 minutes; it was somehow important. I really enjoy your work, and have been a subscriber for awhile; just haven't, to my recollection, commented, and therefore said, "Thanks." Be well.
Eric: Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Thank you for making this and sharing it. He has a graceful and soothing way of speaking. Reminds me of my dear father, who was from Montana.
What a amazing way to have lived. Excellent use of space.
Sir, you lived through the best of the rancher's era. One that ranchers younger will never know.
Thanks for sharing.
I absolutely love this video and can watch many like it all day. It’s beautiful to see someone enjoying their passion for creation and nature. Thanks for sharing.❤❤
Valisha: Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
I am flooded with memories. The influence of the Northern Plains is still with me.
I grew up in Colorado,in Black Forest.
When I was in College in Denver,had a fellow student from New York City.
He had never seen or been in country,seen a forest,mountains.
Only reference was Central park.
I took him up into the mountains,far into the rockies,where there's nothing human.
He got out of the car when we stopped finally and walked into the trees,into the forest.
He said,looking around,I just never knew,I just,never knew it could be so beautiful.
I told him,you know,you're a mile and a half above where you came from,so sit down a bit.
Lot less air where we were,I brought him up there gently and slowly,because of hypoxia possiblities.
And where we were you could look down front this Glen we were in,see the plains below us for 3 days walk.
We stayed into the night there,so he could see the universe above and around us,he hadn't seen that either.
He got something that day,few people who are city folk their whole life,nothing wrong with that,but miss out on.
Now mind you I love civilization,but I'm always in the country.
What's really about being free,the land,and communing with nature,not conquering it.
You will only find your real roots with the trees,the mountains,the river,the animals.
My friend debated with himself whether he was returning home after his schooling.
I believe he stayed,and to this day,he went to his seal roots that day on the mountain.
I saw it happen,I lived it myself for a time,my roots are there....
I'd like to tell you what a fine story you tell here. It's tough to explain, exactly, but I'm going to give it a try.
You're talking about the connection one can feel, like it's just plain born into you, to the country. The earth, the trees, the clouds on up into the stars above which create the curtains of the very heavens themselves.
And you're talking about a person getting to see and experience those things for the first time, just like it had been a birth into a new world but with the consciousness of an adult.
You're talking about these things in such a way that it is causing me, over here, an extra element of amazement as I hear your story. What it causes me to take a look at is the other direction, which I wouldn't have purposely taken a look at tonight, had I not heard your beautiful story.
I'm talking about a person, living and breathing, connecting fully with the nature of this great country, experiencing in the same way - for the first time, with an experienced knowledgeable guide - the magnificence of the city. The seat of civilization. The overwhelming magnitude of human effort, constant motion and activity, the coordination of whole industries, each capable of wildness of a great beast.
Your story of the natural earth gave a contrast to the wonder of human endeavor and achievement that I might not have seen as I have tonight. Sheer beauty to contemplate all of it together, here in America.
I met a New York Videographer awhile back. He told he how went to Aspen Colorado in the early 60s. The assignment was videos of cowboys hauling Christmas trees in the snow.
Aka the original Marlboro Man! It was an exciting moment to hear him tell the story! This video is a reminder of that one!!
Thank you for sharing this great video. Such a kind, smart, gentle man.
This is life.
Its sure as hell isn't 50 hrs a week in an office and another 20 on the road. In traffic. 🙂
Wonderful and epic! I can see my it was nominated for awards!
Beautiful piece of work about beautiful subjects in a beautiful place. Oh for just one day of his life.
Hard to be unhappy when every way you look theres a beautiful veiw
Wonderful man. Beautiful story! Thank you.
Can you feel the crystalline goodness in this man's heart?
I do, and I can't feel it anymore when I look in to people this days.
@paolastrange9903 .. BE that person you admire the most .. don't allow a bygone era to pass away just because others may have forgotten their value in this world.🕊
do u see that in yourself?
if you dont love people thats on you it says nothing of the times
@@CallistoNTG Well...your comment says a lot about "the times", and it actually proves my point!
do you think that cowboy would ever say something so pointlessly polemical like that?
Are you trying to defend modernity?
That's laughable!🤣😂
reject modernity, embrace tradition
Amazing.
What an incredible video. Thank you for sharing!
That’s a true Montanan right there. We love the mountains and most importantly we love nature and what it brings to life. Nature is the key to our heart.
Another universe altogether. 🥜
Looks like actual paradise, damn.
This was wonderful.
Thanks!
Ah Porcupine. There you are again with your consistent support. It helps elevate my day for sure. Thank you.
David Hoffman filmmaker
David that was wonderful to watch. Thank you!
An artist named Dave Stamey portrays an amazing picture of old Montana with his music.
So many wise words spoken by this cowboy, great video … 👍🏻👈🏻
Thank you. Love your stuff.
Lol,I went to school with a kid named Clive Van Cleve in Great falls Montana. Musta been a relation.
Thanks for sharing 💕💕💕 it must have been beautiful times, as a man 😎
I think it was probably beautiful times for some women too. He loved and honored his wife. She looked quite happy. Though I know this wasn't always the case. But sometimes it was♥️
Love this
I loved this video!
You are lucky.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Read his 2 books "40 yrs Gatherins" & A day Late & A Dollar Short".Glad this was documented, he really loved the land & his horses.Sad, its all gone now, read where the ranch was sold.
No, the dude ranch was sold, the real ranch is running better than ever, and still in the family. I would know, I was raised on it.
😄 again, thank you for sharing this good sir.
A video about a "stillen im lande" man. The quiet-peaceful-free ones in the land, they who entered into the secret of a life hidden in God.
I think I got your first thumbs up brother
You know what this soundtrack reminds me of? I couldn't put my finger on it when I first saw this video but now I remember... The Sandlot (1993) !!! The opening scene 🎉🥳
u rock David ‼️.. thank you
That one got me, great video and I’m sure an awesome experience. Really sums up the video with a great quote at the end 🌝👍
Fantastic 💪🏽😊🙏🏻❤️
Well done
Very nice . There are many things we can learn from this
Great episode brotha appreciate your talent 💯💯💯💯
I think I've seen this one before Mr hoffman he lives in Montana as a cowboy on his ranch. This video is 1970s. Thanks for sharing and posting. Take Care David.🎥🎞️
Mid 70s😉👍😁
Enjoyed this!
I've watched this before David.
It's a treasure to see again.
As a side note, I watched a video yesterday that was originally posted a few years ago.
According to the OP, it wasn't popular at the time. He reposted it recently, and it went viral, so to speak.
Thank you for sharing that. That has happened to me as well and I do not understand it.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@David Hoffman I'm sure I don't either.
I've also heard of people reposting videos with different titles having a positive effect. Key words, maybe?
Army brat, sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I had been raised on a farm.
"A man that is completely satisfied has no ambition, but then i must be unambitious son of god, i am completely satisfied" jesus, hope i had be reincarnated by this late sir, he is completely and heavenly true about describing that sentences which i am living now.....thank you so much for this video.
Thank you Tyler for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
That small type of hat he is wearing was brought by Cubans to Montana when they were used to work the ranches. The vaqueros and the vaquero hat.
Real smooth editing.
fire
Very well said. I grew up similar myself.
Wow he went to Harvard!
This is the meaning of America… For hundreds of years, this is the reason why so many from around the world have gravitated towards America; “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.
In addition to America’s open skies and prairies, this cowboy spirit even existed in the big cities… but instead of a Stetson, some years back, the “city slickers” wore Fedoras… These days, maybe a baseball cap if anything at all.
Nevertheless, hopefully the spirit carries the same definition. However, somewhere along the way the meaning of the United States of America has been changing but not for the better.
I pray for the American Cowboy spirit never to ride off into the sunset and eternally continue to be in “G-d’s pocket”.
Thank you, David Hoffman for introducing an American treasure in Spike Van Cleve, “A True Authentic American Cowboy".
May the true “American Cowboy” meaning always exist. Thank you for your time,
Fred C.
👍🏼❤️👍🏼🙏🤠🇺🇸
I like it 🤍✌️🫶🫒🫂♾️
Great Film! Is the soundtrack available anywhere?
Unfortunately it is not
David Hoffman filmmaker
Hey which soundtrack was used in this film❓
I like this TUNE 🎶
Brings the whole story together the right way🙏
Original music done for the film. Please read the description.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker where can i find it as a standalone track? I'd like to add it to my playlist. very soothing tune David
It does not exist anywhere but a version of it does exist from Ara on his album NightArk.
David Hoffman Filmmaker
Sigh ... 🕊
That part of Yellowstone they didnt cover
remember? when the world was still normal? when people didnt fight over what gender they feel like today?
'Merica! 🇺🇸🐎
I think a lot of Spike and to compare anything about him to John Dutton or any of the rest of that Yellowstone garbage is spitting on everything he was.
Sounded like a based Libertarian to me.
Ron Paul espouses the same ideas, don't lie, cheat, steal or take other people's stuff.
#NoVictimNoCrime
Thanks for sharing this.. really enjoyed it.
Love this