TX Ranch

2011-12-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS. AND OH WHO'S THAT GETTING ALL SLICKED UP? IS THAT HIP SHOT? I BELIEVE IT IS! HE'S MUST BE GETTING ALL DUDED UP FOR THE OCCASION! WHAT A JOLLY OL CHAP HE IS INDEED.

HO, HO, HO MERRY CHRISTMAS AND DO HAVE A HIP, HIP, HIPPY NEW YEAR!

Tizz the season to be jolly

2011-12-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

December is upon us once again. We woke to 4" of fresh snow this morning which looks a lot like Christmas!

All is well here at the TX Ranch. Hip, Sheena, Payton & Harley helped drive some cattle home today. About 60 head were already at Davis Creek. They had their fill digging through the snow for feed. They were happy to find their way home for the winter. Dez & Ryan hauled heifers to a farm near Lovell with beet tops, and beat tailings for feed. They will do real well gaining on that type of feed. As soon as the weather clears up Dez and Ryan will be driving around to the Will James Ranch and Shivley Ranch where Star lives. They'll be driving out the horses and also the rest of the cows which are still at Lone Wolf and in-between else where.

We all pregnancy tested cows last week and also in November. Sheena and I have been going with Hip or Dez and Ryan when possible. I'm helping Abbie and Sheena too when possible. This fall Abbie had a pretty bad spell of gout and wasn't able to walk. Thank goodness today she was doing much better. She tried some cherries and she took some anti inflammatory type pills. It did help her and she looks much better now. SO GLAD!!! :) :)

The Tillett family wishes to thank you so very much for such a great and fun 2011 season. It was a pleasure for our family to meet new friends and to see our dear friends who visit the ranch when it's possible or yearly. Hip, Loretta, Desiree, Ryan and Christine all enjoyed some great times in camp and in the saddle and working cattle together with everybody!

Our fond wishes for a Blessed, Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year!

From all at TX Ranch

TX sister's night out!

2011-06-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

Week end time out, a quick shot on a night out for sis's in their girly dud's!

Summer is here!

2011-06-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

Wow we've had a busy spring with few blog words in-between and it's already summer! It's been a rainy spring with all kinds of cattle work going on both in camp and at the home place that is why my post is long over due and please forgive me for that.

We're now almost ready to move camp to the Lone Wolf now that it's almost July. We normally drive the cattle out of the spring range country around the first of July. So once that happens Lone Wolf is where we are based to be as close to the cattle as possible for working, riding, etc. It's a nice move and the cattle are ready for greener range pasture as well as our selves. We'll begin our seasonal cattle work cattle drives, castration, ear tagging, vaccines, wrangling horses, late branding you name it the livestock seem to keep us busy spring, summer, fall or winter.

We're looking very much forward to the move and the scenic cow camp at Lone Wolf! We have some great guests and friends who will be with us this season helping us through our busy schedule with the livestock and all the trimmings that come with it. We're so very much looking forward to seeing and meeting each and every one it's something we truly enjoy and we feel so fortunate to meet and share our time in the saddle and working cattle together and down time in camp with the best folks out there!

Have a great summer, we'll keep in touch!

Happy trails!
Hip, Loretta, family and crew

TX Ranch: It's warming up!

2011-02-16T11:06:00.000-08:00

It's been warming up this week we're so we're all smiles and actually looking forward to spring time. Right now it's slushy everywhere at least for a few more days. This winter we had a lot of snow for our area which we needed so we can't complaining one bit. Hopefully before the calves start coming along we'll be pretty well dried up. If it keeps dry while calving it will surly help a great deal. No doubt March we'll have rain and snow but hopefully it will be short lived for the calves to help them with their first days we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Hip, Dez and Ryan have been feeding daily and things have gone well for the livestock which is good. We've had our normal cold weather equipment problems and break downs which is expensive and time consuming although likely to expect during winter. With the days getting longer, more sun light and warming up, etc. the whole picture makes life easier on everybody, everything and it's giving all of us a taste of spring fever to boot.

We're all looking forward to heading back into Dryhead soon and staying at our spring camp Deadman which also means cattle drives, working cattle/calves, roping, branding once again. We're sure looking forward to our guest season because we all have been so lucky and fortunate to meet the best folks out there! It has really helped us understand people from all walks of life, learning from them, their ways, cultures and sharing a piece of our lives combined it just can't get better then that! Deadman cabin is coming along to we have most of it complete but still the roof work and finishing touches both inside and out. The cold weather and road conditions brought the project to a halt when it became unsure if you could get to Deadman or make it out by the end of a day with wind or snow since it's quite a steep climb.

Me, well I'm hard at it with helping Hip and also working on 2011 bookings with Sheena our daughter helping too. No doubt always ranch business can't forget those nagging bills which pile up if you don't keep on top of them. It's good though I very much enjoy helping Mr. Hip and anyone else because it gives me a chance to get away from business and be with the livestock what ever is necessary and family, can't beat that! : -)

Just a little heads up, can't wait to see all our good dear friends and meet some great new friends too.

Happy 2011 trails!

2011-01-12T10:25:00.000-08:00

Another year behind us and still counting. Hip has been keeping us in line we've been extremely busy this past fall and winter. Mostly we're caught up with cattle work now so that's a good thing. Dez and Poncho have been riding in Dryhead too because we're still missing 25 head of cow/calf pairs. We're also missing some horses too although we're pretty sure they will show up eventually. It's been a much colder winter with much more snow this year too. We were hit with snow quite a while before Thanksgiving which normally happens directly after. I had a bucket of wash water I let set out overnight around November 15th trying to get my outside windows washed before it was to late. Good timing alright! I was able to turn my bucket upside down to dump it however it's still looks just like my bucket! Don't worry as well you know Mr. Hip keeps us thawed out!!! : - )

Cold weather plays a huge roll in a good day verses a bad day. It stresses cattle if it lasts very many consecutive days we feed much more to keep them warm. It also very much stresses equipment as well after all it's metal and diesel gels and in turn clogging filters, etc. Here on the ranch the cattle and horses are indeed our priority. Most everyday something breaks down which is necessary to feed. Other days everything breaks down and that keeps life interesting day and night. Hip usually figures something out and with those we purchase hay and beet tailing from too. By the end of the day what ever time it seems to be the cattle are feed. Fortunately many of our cows are on winter pasture. We keep the heifer calves, smaller steer calves, bulls, horses and younger cows "first calf heifers" home to feed through the late fall and winter months. Once March rolls around all the cattle are trucked and return home to Crooked Creek to calve out. We still have cold weather in March so we hope and pray for dryer weather conditions. It can be pretty darn cold although if it's dry you have a much greater chance saving a calf. First calf heifers are a different story heifers are the main bunch that need more baby sitting then anything. They don't always produce good milk along with the old mother cows either. A good mother with good milk is everything!!! We've been breeding for that in the bulls we purchase. Our herd is much better in that respect although with large numbers calving the combination of not such good mothers, birds, weather issues, feed conditions, sickness/scours/etc. is a sure thing and in turn spreads quickly. Every year the cattle teach us more. With years chalked up, everybody helping and learning combined and Hip's true grit that's what makes us who we are and still looking forward to learning more tomorrow.

We hope that all of our dear friends who have visited the ranch have had a wonderful Christmas and New Year season. We appreciate each and everyone for helping the TX Ranch family keep our way of life.

Thank you very much and Happy 2011 trails!

Sept. 2010 what a year !

2010-09-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

The 2010 season has been good to all of us although we've had a few hurdles cross our paths this year. We have been so fortunate to share some quality time in the saddle with folks from US and around the globe. We have met a lot of wonderful new guests this season and so many dear friends have return to the ranch as well. It has been a supper good year just for that reason alone and we thank you so much for that!

A little unfortunate news for this summer. This spring the Dead Man camp cabin and bunk house burned down to the ground while we were driving cattle into the spring range from Crooked Creek. Soon we will be rebuilding the Dead Man cabin again this fall. During late May Mr. Ryan "Poncho" had a horse buck and run off with him when he was roping in the herd. He almost got the horse under control during the whole ordeal when his horse hit some wire and took off once again. Poncho eventually came off and in turn broke his wrist and had to have pins put in and wear a splint to stabilize his injury. He was unable to ride for about six weeks. Late June he began riding once again. Around mid June Miss Dez had a horse accident too her horse ran off with her and fell at the end. When her horse went down she hit the saddle horn with her shoulder which made it pop out of the shoulder joint. When she actually hit the ground though it popped it back into the joint however at the same time she broke her shoulder ball joint. Dez is just now riding once again during our fall cattle drives. Healing from a dislocated shoulder is a very lengthy process if you what to avoid it happening again. Then on the last day of June Hip came off his horse because a bull was on the fight because it had been bitten by a rattle snake which caused it to have a fever in turn causing him to feel flighty, this can be common when livestock have a fever so look out maybe humans too!!! Hip was looking out for everyone and keeping the bull away from his riders. He as with Poncho and Dez were astride young inexperience horses that only we ride until they are completely finished broke experienced saddle horses which a person can hop on and go at anytime. We do not use these horses for guests. Anyway when Hip had everyone out of the way riding off he was still with the bull and tried to then kicked his horse and get the heck out of Dodge. His horse didn't take off and bulked instead. Hip was watching the bull when the bull then hit his horse. The horse spooked immediately spun and took off in a fast run. Hip came off and fell hard on his back. He got up and told the riders to carry on with the cattle to Dead Man and let someone know to come pick him up. Dez and I were at Dead Man when we found out and drove toward the canyon to pick him up. He had already walked two thirds of the way thinking it would help him. We got him to camp and he laid down thinking he didn't have any broken bones and that time would surly help get him down the road to recovery. I didn't want to go home of course but Hip made me because of the daily work at the home place. Three days later Hip drove himself home and I took him to the Billings E.R. He broke and compressed his back vertebra and the wings were broken off three vertebra above his break. He rested for a month and then back in the saddle the first of August. A bit soon alright "I tried" but he's Hip and I guess with that being enough of that. We all helped out as much as we could to keep things running as smooth as possible. Sara, our irregator went into camp to help ride and a local cowboy Justin came in to help us as well. Sheena our daughter took over the irrigation and I babysat her babies Payton and Harley. It was fun trying to tackle my job with a seven month old baby and a two year old. Wow I forgot how good I really have it just packing myself around I'll never complain again! It's now September and everyone is almost healed and doing well and glad to be back in the saddle or back to norm. We can't believe our guest season is almost over because we're already beginning to drive our first herd of cattle cow/calf pairs home to Crooked Creek once again, where did the season go???

We can't complain one bit our health is good and our guests have been good to us this year too. Our guests have given us all a lot of great wonderful rides and fond memories this season. We're gearing up getting ready for our 2011 season as we speak. Things are moving along quickly our first spring drive is fully booked already so we're excited and very much looking forward to the 2011 season!

Here's wishing you a great season & happy trails!

TX Winter!

2010-01-30T14:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas and New Year's have already come and gone wow where in the heck did all that the time go, better keep looken! Hip and gang have been feeding cattle and horses daily which means a lot of hungry mouths to feed manually and with equipment and our feed truck. We do have a good percent of cattle on winter pasture during the months which makes it much easier on Hip, and everyone and for sure less stress on the cattle too. Before the cattle left Crooked Creek Hip had loads of cattle work to take care of with sorting, pregnancy testing, feeding, hauling, etc. We're lucky, it's been a good winter although we have had a few real cold, cold snaps but they fortunately haven't lasted to long, if they did it would be very hard on all livestock and of course equipment too. We already have February and March around the corner so all and all we sure can't complain. In March however the cattle will be driven and/or trucked back to Crooked Creek and then the long days begin with feeding, calving, calf bottles, doctoring, etc. No never a dull moment, we learn something new everyday, can't get better then that!

Dez, is at the Center Ranch riding for Ken McNabb through the next couple of months. Ken, will be a contestant in "Road to the Horse" this year which is quite a thrill for all of us and of course for Mr. Ken and his family. Desiree, will most likely go and watch Ken during the whole ordeal which I believe is in Tenn. We sure wish Ken well he's a great friend and contributor to our ranch horses and horses through out the USA. Ken McNabb will be having his horse sale again this season in June and Desiree will be helping Ken with his sale too. She will also have a horse or two in Ken's sale. We miss Dez, especially her dad "Hip" Dez seems to be his right hand man these days.

Poncho is helping us though the winter with riding and feeding here on Crooked Creek and down by the river Poncho of course is a big help for Hip and all of as too. He enjoys riding colts which is a big plus especially keeping our ranch colts going he also has a couple young colts going of his own.

Tim & Sam are helping feed hay and beet pulp at Crooked Creek, our corrals, and also down by the river it all keeps everyone busy and the cattle happy. They too have been helping work the ranch cattle through the winter months along with their own which they run in common with us year round.

Me, I have been taking care of guest bookings with our daughter Sheena this year. Adverts, business, taxes, helping Hip when ever necessary and also taking care of our ranch horses has kept me busy. We have several pretty good mares that will be foaling this season. We'll soon have some nice little ranch prospects this spring, our first foals will arrive in late March. We also have a few from 2007 and 08. The 07 colts will be started with riding this summer. Can't wait to see how they progress. During the spring and summer after their born I usually work and gentle them as much as possible getting them us to pressure, leading, working with their legs and that's about it because there are a few of them to get though. Spring is busy with the foals and mares because we also need to recover the mares as well. After that I haul them to Dryhead and turn them loose so that they can learn the range country, getting around, placing their feet, grazing, etc. during the summer months through November.

Abbie, is doing well she loves to go with Hip in the truck to visit, keep going and keep well. She is good company for all of us we truly enjoy her and love her stories.

Payton and Harley are happy, well and of course spoiled rotten. Hip, Dez and I just can't seem to get enough of our new little ones they are so much fun. Payton and Harley are growing like weeds which is to quickly for me I like them to stay adorable, lovable babies! No doubt I'm sure we'll think their our babies forever, poor things!

Soon our 2010 guest season will be upon us. We can't wait, we're very much looking forward to our seeing our dear friends again and meeting new friends too!

Thanks for your time & happy 2010 trails!

FALL TIME TX UPDATE

2009-11-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

SHEENA AND NICK HAD ANOTHER BABY GIRL ON SEPTEMBER 24TH. HER NAMED IS "HARLEY LYNN", LYNN IS AFTER HER SISTER DEZ MIDDLE NAME. SHEENA IS MUCH MORE BUSY NOW WITH HER TWO DAUGHTERS ESPECIALLY FEEDING, DIAPERS, TENDING TO, WORK AND ALL. IT'S FUN TO HAVE A BABY THAT WE CAN LOVE, HOLD AND CUDDLE. HARLEY IS SLEEPING NOW PRETTY MUCH THROUGH THE ENTIRE NIGHT WHICH HELPS SHEENA GET CAUGHT UP ON HER SLEEP. HARLEY IS A BEAUTIFUL BABY WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING HER GROW UP. SHEENA IS HELPING WITH THE GUEST BOOKINGS THIS SEASON ALONG WITH MY HELP AT HER SIDE. ONCE SHE LEARNS THE ROPES SHE'LL TAKE ON MORE SUCH AS ADVERT, INTERNET, ETC. ME, I'M HELPING SHEEN AND DOING THE RANCH ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS AND HELPING WITH RANCHING, RIDING, CATTLE , HORSES AS MUCH AS I CAN FIT IN BECAUSE I LOVE IT.

PAYTON AT FIRST WAS A BIT JEALOUS OF HARLEY BUT SHE CAME AROUND AND LIKES HER SISTER, SHE'S LEARNING TO BE CAREFUL WITH HER AND SHE LIKES TO SHOW HARLEY OFF TO EVERYONE NOW. WE ENJOYED PAYTON SO MUCH DURING THE PAST SUMMER AND FALL. HER AGE IS A LOT OF FUN WE LOVE PLAYING FUN LITTLE GAMES AND READING STORIES TO HER. SHE LOVES TO BE HELD AND LOOK AT THE BOOKS. HER FIRST HALLOWEEN WAS SLOW AT FIRST BUT IN NO TIME A REAL THRILLER. PAYTON DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE MUCH AT FIRST BUT WHEN SHE STARTED OBSERVING/TAKING IN ALL THE OTHER TRICK OR TREAT'ERS, THE DECORATIONS, THE DOOR FRONT TREATS OH MY GOSH IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE SHE WAS ALL EXCITED ABOUT IT AND WANTED MORE, MORE, MORE. HIP AND I ENJOYED THE WHOLE PICTURE AND FAMILY TOGETHER. SHEENA AND NICK WE'RE TAKING TURNS WITH PAYTON AS HIP AND I WERE TOO.

DEZ, HAS BEEN HELPING WITH CATTLE WORK AND RANCH RIDING QUITE A BIT. YESTERDAY AND TODAY DEZ & RYAN "PONCHO" ARE RIDING AT LONE WOLF AND SURROUNDING COUNTRY TO DRIVE EVERYTHING OVER TO THE ROBINSON PLACE. THAT WAY THEY'LL ONLY BE ABOUT A DAY OR SO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE HOME PLACE. TOMORROW I HOPE TO JOIN THEM AS YOU CAN SEE I'M CATCHING UP ON MUCH NEEDED BLOG UPDATE TODAY. DEZ AND RYAN ARE ALSO WORKING AND RIDING NEW YEARLING COLTS AND OLDER COLTS THIS FALL. THEY BOUGHT SOME NICE AQHA YEARLINGS THEY ARE WORKING WITH TOO. THEY ARE ALSO WORKING OUR RANCH AQHA YEARLINGS, TWO & THREE YEAR OLD'S WHEN THEY RIDE ON THE MOUNTAIN "FOREST", DRYHEAD OR AT THE HOME PLACE CORRALS. WE HAVE A ROUND PEN NOW WHICH HELPS A GREAT DEAL. THE COLTS ARE COMING ALONG WELL. THEY HAVE NICE DISPOSITIONS YET SEEM TO BE FAST, EASY LEARNERS AS WE ARE CHANGING OVER TO KEEPING ONLY OUR BEST MARES. DEZ PURCHASED A VERY NICE MARE OF HER OWN LAST WINTER WHEN PRICES BECAME MUCH MORE REASONABLE DUE TO ECONOMY. WE ALSO BOUGHT A VERY NICE MARE
TOGETHER OTHERWISE WE WERE UNABLE TO AFFORD HER. SHE IS A MARE BY "JAZZABELL QUIXOTE". BOTH PARENT'S ARE IN THE AQHA BOOK OF LEGENDS. WE WISH TO BREED HER AS WELL AS IS POSSIBLE. THIS SEASON SHE'LL HAVE A FOAL OUT OF "PEPTOBOONSMAL" AND "MISS DUAL DOC" ALSO THE MOTHER TO DUAL REY. HE IS IN THE TOP CUTTING OVER ALL CATEGORY FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. WE'RE WORKING ON NEXT SEASONS BREEDING AT THE MOMENT AND WISH TO HAVE HER BOOKED BY THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DO THE SAME WITH A HAND FULL OF MARES OUT OF A MARE WHOM WE LOVE HER COLTS THAT "GEORGE PSCHEIDT" GAVE ME IN 1995 ALSO DEZ'S GOOD MARE. WE'RE GETTING THERE SLOW BUT SURE WE HOPE TO HAVE A FEW BETTER YET, KEEN, FUN COWY HORSES FOR THE RANCH TO CHOOSE FROM.

HIP HAS BEEN IRRIGATING AND TODAY SHUTTING DOWN THE DITCHES/HEAD GATES. HE HAS ALSO BEEN STACKING HAY AND BEET PULP THAT HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND HAULED TO CROOKED CREEK "HOME PLACE". HE IS ALSO FEEDING SOME OLD COWS AND CALVES WE HAVE IN THE CORRALS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CATTLE, SORTING, ETC. AND WE SOLD CALVES A WEEK AND HALF AGO. BEEF PRICES THIS SEASON WERE DOWN WITH ECONOMY, 1990'S PRICES. AFTER WEANING CALVES, LAST WEEK WE DROVE THE COWS BACK TO DRYHEAD HOPEFULLY FOR ANOTHER MONTH, IT COSTS ABOUT $1,000 EACH DAY TO FEED THE CATTLE HAY AND WE HAVE EXTRA PASTURE AT ROBINSON PLACE ABOVE DEADMAN CAMP SO WE NEED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT AS LONG AS THE WEATHER HOLDS OUT. ONCE SNOW HITS THEM IN THE BUTTS THEY WILL BE HARD TO KEEP IN DRYHEAD AND THEY'LL START PULLING OUT ON THEIR OWN. WE DON'T WANT THAT SO WE'LL GO IN AFTER THEM AND DRIVE THEM HOME.

BOOKINGS ARE COMING ALONG WELL SO FAR WE HAVE SOME WEEKS SPREAD OUT HERE AND THERE GETTING PRETTY VERY CLOSE TO FILLING ALREADY! WE'RE ALL LOOKING VERY MUCH FORWARD TO OUR 2010 SEASON AND SEEING A LOT OF OUR GOOD AND DEAR FRIENDS.

THANKSGIVING IS AROUND THE CORNER FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE OVER THIS YEAR, ABBIE, DEZ, PONCHO, SHEEN, NICK, PAYTON & HARLEY, MY SISTER TRISHA, HUBBY JEFF AND SON BLAZE ALSO TIM, SAM. IT WILL BE FUN WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BIG FEAST, SOUNDS LIKE I BETTER GET MY HINNY TO WORK. JAMIE OLIVER SITE HAS SOME GREAT RECIPES, VIDEOS AND INFO ABOUT THE TX RANCH IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT A COUPLE VIDEOS http://www.jamieoliver.com/jamies-america/wyoming/behind-the-scenes ALSO AT TOP OF PAGE CLICK "ABOUT JAMIE" FOR MORE TX INFO. THE TX WILL BE USING SOME OF JAMIES THANKSGIVING RECIPES THIS SEASON FOR THE BIG THANKSGIVING FEAST YUM, YUM, YUMMMMMMMMMMMM CAN'T WAIT!

ENJOY THE REST OF 2009! WE'LL KEEP IN TOUCH AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

THE HUNGRY TX'ENS

A few photos of Jamie Oliver during his stay at the TX Ranch!

2009-10-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

2009-10-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

"Already" we're now gathering and driving home our last cow/calf pair herd for the season we just can't believe it, where has this season gone! We have been fortunate to have met some absolutely wonderful people and see once again many very dear friends returning to the ranch yearly or when it's possible to do so. It sounds like Hip, Dez, Christine, Poncho and Kathryn enjoyed all our guests and friends though out the spring, summer and fall. They had a great time working cattle and covering many a mile horse back with some of the best people in the world.

This season we enjoyed getting to know Kathryn better during her stay at the ranch while working. She's a great gal, she worked hard and she did a very good job, she's a good little rider too. Before we knew it in August she was off for her first year of college at Harvard, Good Luck Kathryn!

Dez, will continue to work for the ranch this fall. Hip really relies on Dez she is his right hand and then some. Dez will return working for Ken McNabb this winter. Dez, really enjoyed working with horses and for Ken last year. It was great for her to get away for a while and get to know new friends and family at the Diamond Ranch also Ken's family, employees and friends too. This year a huge arena has been complete at the ranch. Dez, is really excited and she's looking forward to learning and continue riding skills astride some new horses this winter and spring. Dez did well with her horses, showing them in Ken's sale last June.

Christine is a jewel we absolutely think the world of her. She has helped us a couple years now cooking. Christine's a great cook! she is a very hard worker, she knows the country and she's a good little rider too.

Poncho is a nice guy. He did a great job working for us this year too. He's really learned a lot, he's more comfortable and experienced with livestock and horses and he's turning into a good, reliable cowboy!

It's been a busy season we're so glad and thankful it has been a busy year. This year we had a few weeks that were down a bit due to the economy but most weeks were mostly filled up or full. Were already gearing up for the next 2010 season and we're very excited about it! We're very thankful we have a couple weeks almost filled and one fully booked now. It sure helps the ranch during our spring and summer season.

Sheena, is beginning to help me with bookings. She is learning, lot's to learn! and she's doing a good job so far. Sheena & Nick just had another new baby girl "Harley Lynn" she is a beautiful baby girl 6'8 ounces and 18 1/4" long. Her big sister "Payton Dawn" is going though the "big sis with drawls" at the present "poor thing"! It shouldn't take long Payton will get all of attention from her auntie Dez, nana & papa Hip real soon. During Harley's birth I was a lucky nana to have Payton for four days. Sheena is the best mother she sure hates to have Payton leave her.

Abbie, is doing well, she is such a trooper keeping busy as she loves and wouldn't have in any other way. She walks everyday and she raised a garden with veggies and flowers which kept her busy. Abbie, loves her flowers and raises some fantastic color variations in her garden! Our family really enjoys visiting with her because she is one true character you just can't replace.

Hipster, is looking at calf prices now and anticipating the fall calf sales at the moment. He is looking forward to some home time, company with friends and family and of course working all the cattle and getting them ready and organized for the winter months. This is a whole separate picture. Lots of sorting, pregnancy testing all cows, separating cows, heifers, bulls, calves, old cows and horses. We'll be driving cattle or hauling to winter pastures and separate left over non sell able smaller calves to a pasture or feed lot to feed and watched closely. We have to prepare all our equipment and winterized it mechanically ready for cold weather months. Once the feed is gone on the home place Hip will begin feeding daily though the winter. It's a big chore with about 1700 to possibly 1800 large animal mouths to feed this year. As our good friend Emil Doerr said "It Keeps Life Interesting". With that being said I'll leave with a little something to think about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loretta, well you can see what I'm up too! I do wish to thank each and everyone for your help concerning the ranch. We had a excellent season. Your visits are a wonderful help and we truly appreciate it. We're gearing up for our next 2010 season! We already have a full week and a couple getting close, so far, so good! Our family, friends and crew are already getting excited for the following 2010 season!

Have a great fall, till we meet again, keep warm and safe,

Hip, Loretta, Dez, Sheena, Abbie and the gang!

September 19, 2009

2009-09-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Hopefully this should get you to a page on Jamie Oliver's site with TV shows, video clips, etc. Look for Wyoming or TX Ranch if you would like to watch some of Jamie's ranch video clips. After watching the video's underneath the photo at the bottom you can add a comment about the TX Ranch or what ever your fancy! Interesting enough a lot of times our horses pick up nic names after meeting folks though out the years. This year during Jamie's visit we nic named his horse "Oliver" Jamie was smiling ear to ear! Well to Hip's surprise since then we have come to learn that in "Jamie's American Road Trip Cook Book" he too named a recipe after Hip! ; - )

http://www.bing.com/search?q=jamie+oliver+at+TX+ranch&FORM=MSNH90&mkt=en-gb

Have fun and a good day,

Hip & Loretta

2009-09-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

London, UK friends!

Next Tuesday night the Wyoming episode of "Jamie Oliver's American Road Trip" will begin at 9:00 p.m. London time! This is a change we just heard about.

Don't miss out, hope you enjoy!

TX Summer 09

2009-08-26T11:33:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

It's been a very good summer riding for cattle, branding, doctoring and meeting some of the best people out there and seeing our good friends once again too! We've kept real busy with all our guests helping us along the way during our summer weeks. During August we catch up with late branding, continue with any calves found that need to be castrated, doctoring, etc. We also ride our spring country checking for strays on Deadman and the Robinson Place. We drive the strays back to their neighboring pastures a mile or two away. Any of our cattle found will be driven back to Hanks or the Lone Wolf. This ride is a good long, scenic ride which takes up a full day. Our main cattle work is keeping pretty well caught up although no dote there is always something else we can find on the to do list. We're vaccinating to prepare for weaning right now. The calves will have this booster shot to help them along during the weaning process. Late September we'll look forward to our cattle drives. These weeks we'll be gathering cattle and cutting out cow/calf pairs most likely cows with the largest calves are cut and separated for the drive. After a few days of riding and locating cattle and calves we'll have a size able herd cut out for the drive. The drive is about 55 miles to Crooked Creek. This trail goes through gorgeous and very versatile changes of scenery. If we wean at Dead Man it will be a bit shorter drive although it makes for a absolutely beautiful scenic ride back to Lone Wolf camp. Either way we'll know with in the next couple weeks after Hip thinks it over.

Our daughter Sheena is helping me with our guest ranch bookings now. So far things are going well. She's a lucky girl I think because she has someone to help her out with the computer procedures. Looking back when I learned I didn't have anyone to show me. We choose to use the computer and Internet since I bought my first computer anyway. My mother in-law Abbie had never used a computer before however neither had I! Abbie, Hip's mother is our foundation along with her husband, Hip's father Lloyd Tillett. Anyway I remember those days very well and have learned so'ooo much since then. Many of our guests have helped me along the way too and I couldn't have done it with out them. Now I can help Sheena and very much enjoy our time together and watching Payton our grand daughter. This will free me up to help the ranch hopefully with feeding, hauling livestock and especially during spring time when foaling, gentling and halter breaking the colts also re-exposing ranch mares. We're getting some very nice registered Q.H. babies that will become two year old next spring. Dez our wrangler and Hip will start riding them. It will be fun to see how much the halter breaking and gentling them helps during the breaking process, keep our fingers crossed we'll see! Sheena, seems to be enjoying helping the ranch too. Now that she has Payton she can be with Payton and help the ranch combined.

We have truly enjoyed each and everyone who have visited and still yet visiting the ranch this season. It is hard to believe our 2009 guest season will come to a close after Oct. 10th. Where has the time gone??? it's flow by already! In case your interested our 2010 dates are available!

Thank you for your time, we'll keep you posted!

Loretta

2009-07-16T12:42:00.000-07:00

FINALLY!

It's about time gosh it's been so'oo long I'm sure you all about gave up on me!

We've been having a real good summer so far this season. It's been busy with a lot of wonderful guests that Hip & I, Dez, Christine and Poncho have had the opportunity to meet and get to know this year. It's been so great seeing many of our good guest friends from previous years too. We feel so lucky to spend and share time with all of you!

The first week of June we were also fortunate to meet Jamie Oliver with his work crew and film crew. We truly enjoyed them all. Jamie, is making a film, a six part series for his new cook book "Jamie's American Road Trip". The TX Ranch is with in his six part series and Cody, WY too. It will air in UK, BBC, etc. this Sept. through Oct. and later in the US channel 4 next spring. Jamie started his first day at our home on Crooked Creek with Hip's mother Abbie and myself. Abbie and I were making apple pies and cinnamon rolls. Jamie popped in that morning and pitched right in starting another apple pie and finishing off a batch of cinnamon rolls. What t treat everything turned out tasty and delightful. Afterwards we decided to head off to Deadman camp and bring the cinnamon and apple pies into camp for everyone there. When we found them they were holding a large herd of cattle and just started to brand calves. Jamie, was so excited he began helping everybody throw calves right away. With everyone involved and working together it turned out to be such a good time we'll always remember it. Afterwards we needed to take care of castrating a few calves. Jamie got right in there too watching squeamishly along with our eager group experience "Rocky Mountain Oysters"first hand! Hip and Jamie cooked them that same evening along with the rest of a very fine meal prepared by Jamie. The next day Hip and Jamie rode up to the Robinson Place and camped out with steaks cooked on sticks over the camp fire and on a rock that evening. Hip mentioned how fantastic it was and truly enjoyed watching Jamie do what he does best! They sleep under the stars waking to a big blue sky and cooking breakfast over the fire the next morning. It was time to get to work before the cattle moved out of the country so they saddled up, gathered cattle at the Robinson Place and drove them down to Deadman camp together. They rode, gathered and branded that day and cooked up a storm. It was quite an experience for all of us to see first hand how Jamie and his team work so well together. They have been with each other for 10/12 years which speaks for it's self. With our crew, guest friends, Jamie and his entire crew we feel so fortunate to have met and shared some exciting, excellent and fun times together with some of the finest people out there.

Spring and summer keep every one of us busy with all the cattle and horse working activities and irrigating combined both in Dryhead and back at the home place. Sam and Tim are taking care of the bum calves this spring and summer which seriously helps a great deal. Nick is taking care of the irrigation which helps a great deal and will give the cattle some good grazing when they are driven to Crooked Creek this fall during our cattle drives. Me, it's difficult to get into Dryhead like I use to with taking care of ranch business, adverts, guest referrals and bookings, gentling foals, covering mares, feeding horses, etc. it keeps life interesting all right. No complaint's I truly enjoy and love all of it. I simply wish there was a remedy for catching up! Abbie, Hip's mother is doing well. She went on a road trip this spring with Gail and her sister Doris from CA. They visited Ab and Doris's sister Donna from Missola and her daughter Margaret from CA. They had a great trip and returned home with a lot of fun artifacts, rocks, food, goodies, etc. Abbie is taking care of her garden now and her new little home that Hip, Bill Coleman, Tim and Sam helped rebuild. You may not have known this, Abbie's previous home burn down June 2007. Abbie has a very good son and some absolutely wonderful friends!

Off the beaten path Hip and I, Dez, Christine, Poncho and Kathryn, were thrilled to be invited to go boating a week ago Sunday on Damion and Annie Jordan's boat with Lyle and Debbie Procter and all of us together. We had the time of our lives, what a thrill it was for all of us. It was so good to get away and spend the day around the water on a boat. They took us tubing which every one loved, water skiing and boarding in the Big Horn Canyon. Damion was a great driver he took such good care of all of us rookies. Dez, was to funny she really went all out trying everything. She crashed quite a few times so we had plenty of good laughs. Dez no doubt took full advantage of every minute of the day. Christine did everything too and water skiing to boot also Poncho tried everything and wreaked a few times too. It was funny to see him in shorts Poncho was white as can be even more them I am! At the end of the day however both Dez and Poncho looked a bit like a couple lobsters. Kathryn was cute and quite good at tubing, etc. she is more fortunate to have a bit more practice then us rookies. We all had so much fun together with Damion, Annie, Lyle and Debbie thank you so much for July 5th!

I'll add some Jamie and July 5th shots as soon as I can.

We'll try and keep up and talk to you soon!

2009-03-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

A week later March 31st we now have over 400 calves on the ground and counting! So far the weather has held it's own. We started with excellent spring like warm weather however it has turned cold with a few passing storms. Luckily we lost only one calf each time it turned cold and that was mainly with-in our heifer herd. The mothers are okay we're glad the mothers survived at least. It never gets easier losing a calf however you need to keep trying and go forward to the next cow or calf you can save. When that happens it makes your day!

Desiree, on the other hand was up to her hip in storm at Douglas, WY last week. They had well over three feet. Hip says Desiree got her PHD alright! "Piled Hip Deep" what ever Hip?????????

We'll keep you posted!

2009-03-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Nancy Finn, enjoys making a few sample items in her spare but talented time. If your interested look her up! http://peppermintannie.etsy.com/

Happy Spring! Today is the first day of Spring and we now have a lot of new little black calves on the ground. Well over 125 as of today! Hip is pretty proud of our heifers they are calving especially well for their size. With a bit of up breeding and attention the mother cows seem to be getting better and better mother slowly but surly as the years go by.

Hip and I are busy and doing well. Calving is keeping us busy also feeding especially for Hip, Tim and Sam. Lot's to do so I'll keep it short this time.

Hip, Desiree, Poncho, Christine and I are all looking forward and getting excited for our 2009 guest season which begins mid April! Our first three cattle drives we will drive in cow/calf pairs as many as possible that can make the long trip. It all depends on the calves size, age and the mother cows age, etc. as well.

Desiree, is still at the Powder Horn Ranch near Douglas, WY. Last weekend she went to Tenn. to watch the "Road to the Horse" finals with Ken McNabb and his family. Dez and friends learned a lot. They enjoyed the entire event and their short but sweet stay. Dez, is pretty excited with what she is learning over there with her showing horses, sliding stops, etc. This is really good for her.

Sheena, is a wonderful momma she loves her daughter Payton so'ooo much. Nobody can get enough of her. Payton is really starting to excel with her communications skills. Hip and I couldn't believe how much she had changed and progressed in just a few days since we previously saw her. She went with us to her great cousin's birthday party last night and what a entertaining time we all had chatting back and forth with her.

This season we'll be having a very special guest from England visit the ranch also the Wyoming area along with his staff "Mr. Jamie Olivier" himself will be here also known as "The Naked Chef". It has been very nice speaking with his staff Pamela and Holly who will be part of Jamie's group. They will be filming during the week and also cooking! I'm sure we'll all enjoy the most fantastic meal ever!

We'll keep you posted, Happy Spring!

2009-03-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

Our Payton sitter Dally : - )

2009-03-06T16:10:00.000-08:00

March already and spring is around the corner!

It's March already also our calving month so this month will keep life awful interesting during most day light hours especially for Hip, Tim and Sam. All of them have been feeding and taking good care of the cattle this winter and doctoring, pregnancy testing, etc. when necessary. The weather is warming up with spring around the corner. We hope it will be a fairly warm month for the mother cows during their calving season it surly helps both cow and calf 100%. We've sold some cows to help eliviate calving problems, poor mothers, udder problems or just plain old cows, weak cows, or cows that no long produced sufficient milk, etc. This should help some what, no doubt there will always be those that will have problems, need help, death from calving and bummed calves. It never gets easier but unfortunatly a fact of life.

Dez, came home last week end for a Billings horses sale. We purchase one nice horse and told each other "since she and I were partners" that this one was it for how ever long that lasts! It is both Dez and my weakness that's for sure. If the horse market prices come up again we have a few to sell as well. Dez left for Douglas, WY after the sale with a couple friends that work just under Ken McNabb. Dez is truly enjoying her time there because she's learning a lot more about showing horses. One of the gals next in line when Ken is away is quite good with show procedures, training and

collecting show horses. Dez and her friend share the same interests. It sounds like the horses they're working with in Douglas are coming along well. They are working them on just about everything that could possibly

come there way. They'll be bomb proof and capable for arena, work or trail how ever the horse is qualified. I think it will be a sale offering some real good horses.

Me "Loretta" well I have finally finished all the ranch tax work which is a big relief for me. I could go on but it doesn't sound interesting enough to even write about. Now I'm able to move on to the next desk project fun, fun, fun! Thank goodness for the weanling colts in our home corral. When I have a chance as much as possible I enjoy working with them. They're rewarding and that basically make my day! Most of them are gentle their use to me and they lead fairly okay. There are a few others that are use to me but they still need some hands on. I have ten horse colts so I just haven't quite got around to each one individually since we weaned the Dry Head colts late in January and one just last month. Six horse colts are finished and ready to be turned out. That will ease things up in the corral for me.

Sheena, is busy with Payton our darling little Grand Girl!!! we just love every minute with her! She made the entire winter and our Christmas a true joy this season. Hip enjoyed the home time with Payton this winter. They got to be pretty special buddies Hip just loves to tease Payton and she loves every minute of it. Above is another picture of Payton for you and our new pup Dally that my sister brought to us late last summer. Hopefully I can get both their photo's up. Right now Payton and Dally are a like everything they find goes straight into their mouths. Payton enjoys Dally and Dally loves to have Payton around. Dally enjoys cleaning Payton's face and ears on occasion. Thank goodness Payton is now smart enough to turn her head and crawl at a high spead in the opposite direction. Together after spending some quality floor time exploring everything in sight they end up exhausted and ready for some down time together, what a life! they're pretty cute.

From all at TX Ranch, thanks for your time and please take good care!

Hip's little prize! and Annie Jordan's, TX branding youtube link.

2009-02-25T16:49:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Here is Hip's little grand prize. Hip and Payton just can't get enough of each other. The whole Tillett family is all wraped up in our new little cowgirl!

Also check out this great youtube! Thanks so much Annie you did a good job, Hip and I sure enjoyed watching it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1E37qVopvg&feature=channel_page

Hip & Loretta

2009-02-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Yesterday Hip took Shiner with him to feed. Well Hip let Shiner out of the pickup and Shiner decided to have his own hay day with all his buddies. Dez lives down by the corrals where everyone normaly meets in the morning. Shiner was delighted here comes Rosie, Sissy and Bull over to meet him. Oh were they all ever strutting around to out do each other. The dog gone fun started right away!!!!!!!!!!! It didn't take long till we heard the dogs barking to beat heck. Then all of a sudden they were all yelping!!!!!!!!! Whelp it sounded like the fun came to an abrupt halt. Next thing we know Shiner, Rosie, Sissy and Bull all strolled in to the corrals with their tails tucked between their legs and don't forget their tails are all cropped!!!!!!!!! Their noses were all stuffed with porcupine quills. Shiner was worst and I mean bad all the way up to his ears. Smart little Rosie was the only one with enough previous sence to spectate the whole bloody afair. Believe me I've pulled a few quills out of her before, I'm glad she learned by it. Actually Rosie is feeling pretty proud of herself. You should have seen her while listening to all her buddies last night. It took three of us me, Nick and Poncho to hold Mr. Shiner boy down!!!!!!!!! and Dez pulled the quills. Shiner has been resting peacefully ever since last night. Our vet Jane is out of town till this Saturday. Jane will be at the ranch Sunday to bangs vaccinate & test all our heifers. Shiner will be on her patient list along with the heifers : -( It's to bad Jane wasen't here last night sure would have been handy.

Rosie will have a lot to bark about with everyone this summer!!! : -)

2009-02-02T17:49:00.000-08:00

Hi all!
February already, we're that much closer to spring and a busy birthday month for both of our daughters Desiree and Sheena. If I'm not mistaken I believe I heard them say they didn't want anything this year, only a job! : - ) is that right???
We rode last month for all the ranch saddle horses and mares that were still in Dryhead. Mostly Desiree and Poncho rode in Dryhead to find them where they were left on Deadman and down by the Big Horn River. It turned out they were pretty well spread out due to some kind stray folks with gate issues. Desiree has found most of them now except seven young registered mares. We drove the horses slowly home to the winter home feed grounds on Crooked Creek. We'll now be able to keep an eye on them, feed them and some TLC when necessary. Dez,
Poncho and I drove all the horses in the corral and cut and weaned all the colts. The colts are now in a small set of corrals up where Hip and I live. Normally you hear a lot of noise after weaning colts but these little guys with all the instant feed and water setting right in front of them, well they sure dug in. Since the colts have been a our home for over a week now I have been out to talk and walk around them
everyday to let them get use to me. Today they didn't leave when I walked around them. Its amazing how quickly they can come around.
It was nice to go into Dryhead in January even in the snow and cold. If the days aren't windy its not that hard to keep warm. One more little item when riding Dryhead we also found a few more cows, calves and a bull our numbers are getting closer. Today Hip drove over by the Lone Wolf to one of our neighbors to pick up a heifer and a bull over there. Of course this time of year Hip drove around to Bridger, Edgar, Pryor and Randal Braten's place. Its funny how long it really takes to find everything in Dryhead, pretty big country out there!
Feeding is taking up quite a bit of the day although we have several hundred cows out on winter pasture which helps a great deal. They will all come back to Crooked Creek in March because that's when we begin calving. Once that happens it will take up every day light hour and then some. We'll get everything feasibly ready and set up. Everybody will be helping each other out, I'm pretty much on call at that time.
We are going to miss Desiree because she is leaving in two days to help Ken McNabb. Ken expected Dez to be there sooner however
it took a month longer to finish their facility. Dez will be helping Ken for a couple months to get horses ready for his horse sale next June. It sounds like there will be some nice bomb proof horses also horses that are comfortable with picking a path in open country, water gaps, roping, working cattle, etc., all round good horses. Dez plans to sell a couple of her own horses in the sale too. Hip and I plan to attend the sale next June.
We are all enjoying the winter season. Its nice to have some home family time although we are all truly looking forward to our "2009"
guest season along with warm sunny weather, riding, working cattle and cattle drives once again, can't wait.

We'll see you soon! Hip & Loretta

2009-01-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

Greetings to all!

It's been a month already gosh I can't believe it. First of all Hip and I hope each and everyone of you had a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Today is New Year's Day so I'm catching up on the month of December. This season due to our economy with the increasing hay prices and dropping cattle prices it was necessary to drive our cattle back into Dryhead where we had extra pasture for as long as it was possible during November and December. The cattle tried to come home on their own a few times when wind and snowy weather would hit them in the butt. The fore casted weather still looked fairly promising so Dez and Poncho drove them back. Finally just before Christmas everyone went into Dryhead and drove the cows, bulls, etc. home for the winter. Earlier we hauled all the calves that were to small to sell to a river pasture near Lovell, WY. It had a lot of good feed on it so the little guys are doing real well. Hip, Tim and I sorted all the cattle to get them ready for pregnancy tested. Last week we ran well over 1100 head of cows through the chute and tested them. Tim, ran the chute and took care of worming them. Tim, after running the chute for a couple days well he didn't get saddle sore! We have a reliable neighbor who takes care of our preg. testing. He tests and marks them so that we know which ones are pregnant and open. We will cut the open cattle separate and sell them unless they have a young calf of a good reason for being open. Dez kept the alley way loaded for the chute. Bill Colman with a friend kept the cattle coming and loading before the alley way. Me I counted everything and brands too. Hip feed alone for the days it took until we finished testing the cattle. It looks like we will have a very busy spring alright with lots of new born calves! Hip has been hauling all of our heifers since then to the river pasture. The feed there will help first time calf
heifers quite a bit health wise and especially during cold, windy weather. Dez, has been riding again the last three days checking most of Dryhead for any missed TX cattle also for our neighbors cattle too. This way
everybody's cattle can winter at their home places rather then weather the storm in range country. It's extremely busy since the cattle came home because at the moment we have about 1700 cows to feed everyday. It keeps Hip and Tim busy and life pretty interesting! Of course during winter we have to watch the cattle for any weight loss and sickness to help prevent them from loosing their calves, etc. Hip is really good at watching the cattle daily when he feeds them. He has developed a keen eye for it through out the years. Soon we will be cutting out two big groups of cattle around 250 to take them to a couple winter pastures we lease. This will help them winter better by grazing "cleaner feed" and lessen the feeding load for everyone on Crooked Creek.

Concerning myself, I had to have appendix surgery a week before Christmas so danged if it didn't slow me down a bit. Please forgive me I didn't get my entire Christmas list taken care of this season. No doubt I'm back on my feet again and it feels so good to be getting back to norm daily. Dez, and I will be soon be gathering our registered mares in Dryhead and wean all their colts. When we wean them I'll keep them here at my house and work with them a bit and gentle them too. This way when it comes time to break them in the next couple or three years it will surly help them and their riders, Ye Haw!!!!!

In January Desiree will go to Douglas near Casper, WY to work with Ken McNabb. Ken has horses he is getting ready for his sale next June. He asked if Dez would help him with not only riding but driving, roping, cutting and finishing a cow horse. Dez, has learned from past colts and she's now good at working with a horses mouth, getting them to pick a path, etc. We will surly miss her on the ranch but Hip and I think it will be a great experience for her too.

Once again we all wish you a most Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year! Keep well, safe and take care.

Nov. 30th

2008-11-30T15:44:00.000-08:00

Hi,

We all had a nice Thanksgiving with Tim, Sam all of our family and my sister Trish her husband Jeff and their son Blaze who is home from college. My sister Trish and family moved to Greybull, WY this past summer. It's great to have them close by.

Just a quick note since my last message. Because hay prices are high this season we have decided to go to plan "B" this year. We have all the calves weaned plus all the larger calves sold too. Calf prices this season were down which helped us with our plan "B" change. Most of what remained on Crooked Creek "home place" were the cows. This season Hip decided to drive the cows back to the Robinson Place. We have quite a bit of excess feed there and it will surly save on hay this winter. We drove the cows back about a week and a half ago. Ken McNabb along with his family and some friends and also my brother in-law Jeff came to help out. Today Hip and Tim drove over to the Robinson Place and Deadman to check on how the cows are doing. We have also taken the small weaned calves that were to small to sell to pasture on the Shoshone River. It has very good
feed and the calves will do real well there plus they will be easy to keep an eye on and feed when necessary.

Earlier Dez, Sara drove all the horses from Lone Wolf down to the river below Deadman I went with them and helped too. We also got all the cattle off Lone Wolf as well. This past week Dez gathered the mares on the Big Horn River and drove them to Deadman corrals. Sam, Dez and Hip helped trailer them to the corrals at the home place on Crooked Creek. Yesterday Tim, Dez, Hip and I took three trailer loads of the grade mares to the B.L.S. horse sale. We have quite a few good registered Q.H. mares now so we need to cut the horse herd down to a more manageable and affordable size. We picked out and saved a few of our good reliable grade mares that threw good reliable off spring for our saddle horses. We'll also have some real nice breed Q.H.'s as well which will be fun and good for the herd too. This is what I have been working on the past few years with Dez's help too. During spring and summer I gental and halter break the colts so it will help make it easier to break them later on when their two and three year olds. We have quite a few foals due next spring so I'm sure it will keep life pretty awful interesting on top of calving as well. Looking forward to it!

Please keep well, I'll talk to you soon!

2008-11-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

New TX.....YouTube link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d5nb6D6B6Q

Have fun!!!

2008-11-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

TX Ranch update, 11-18-08

Yup still busy! We've sold our calves the price could have been better but were all together on that issue. Hip, Sam and I tried to go to the sale in Torrington, WY to help the price if possible. We were in Wind River Canyon and hit a four point buck. It ruined our radiator but the grill hardly
any damage, couldn't believe it. We had to turn around and babysit the radiator all the way home so the suburban wouldn't over heat and burn up our engine. Starting off we were dipping water from the Wind River Canyon with what ever we had plastic bottles and plastic bags to boot! Sometimes we weren't sure if we would make it to the next town in time for a refill.

Yesterday we weaned the smaller calves which weren't ready to sell. Hip had a bit of bad luck while trying to feed cattle too. First the loader ran out of diesel. Then the feed truck with a full load of beet pulp had two flat tires. Can't get mad that sure as heck doesn't help but that's why we use the term "keeps life interesting" on a regular basis.

Today Dez is going to Deadman hauling hay over to feed horses in Deadman corrals. She is also riding Davis Creek for strays. This time of year every body's cattle move south. Deadman and Davis Creek are the last stop with feed in Dryhead. Earlier Des, Sara and I drove all the horses down to the Big Horn Canyon. Dez is going to ride Deadman for some mares and colts we're still missing too. They got away from us during our earlier ride because it got dark on us running them from Dryhead Ranch to Deadman corrals. One nasty stud with some mares was sure enough our culprit. At the end of the month we'll be selling some mares and colts in the Billings sales ring. We'll be hauling them to Billings the day after Thanksgiving. Me I have been able to ride quite a bit this fall which is great. Pretty soon Dez and I will ride the Robinson Place to drive all our registered mares and colts down to Deadman for weaning too. We have also driven most all of our remaining cattle in Dryhead from Lone Wolf to the Robinson Place. Hip, Tim and Sam gathered all Deadman to drive them to Robinson Place and cut out strays earlier too. There is plenty of feed up there so we'll leave cattle and horses there as long as possible to save buying feed. If we have another snow storm though, that white stuff hitting em in the butts will sure as heck make driving em easy! : - )

From all the gang we wish you well, have a great season and for some Happy Thanksgiving!

Busy at the TX Ranch

2008-11-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Just a heads up to let everyone know what we have been up to here at the TX Ranch. Dez and I have been riding Lone Wolf for all the ranch horses. We've driven most of them down to Dead Man down by the Big Horn river area however we're still missing some. Dez and I also rode Lone Wolf for cattle a few days ago and drove them down to Dead Man from Lone Wolf. Hip, Tim and Sam in turn rode Dead Man to gather everything we drove down and cut out all the strays. We had about 250 to 350 strays on Dead Man, what a mess! The early October snow storm gave the cattle a taste of winter and that's all it took. The last couple days Hip, Dez and Sam rode Dead Man and drove all the strays out towards Layout Creek. After that they drove the rest of our cattle up to the Robinson Place where they'll stay until winter hits again. Tim and I hauled cattle (our strays) from the Will James Place the last couple days. The cow/calf pairs we drove out earlier this fall during our cattle drive weeks are here at the home place. We haven't sold the calves yet but it won't be long until we do. After sale day we'll get busy moving cattle to winter pasture, hauling more hay, beet pulp, etc.

Keep well,
Loretta

TX Photo's

2008-10-30T18:56:00.001-07:00

Typical TX Ranch day, scenery and branding.

Loretta

TX Ranch Staff

2008-10-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hip Tillett has been with the TX Ranch his entire life. He is an honest, trustworthy cowboy, as well as quite the character! Hip knows cattle and horses in and out. He has always enjoyed guests and working alongside them. He aims to please and loves to tease, so don't be shy!

Loretta Tillett, back at the home place. "I'm here to help anyone with their questions or emails anytime!" When time permits, Loretta loves to come out to camp and enjoy our guests, the cowboy living, riding and cattle activities. "The guest ranch business has been handed down to me by my mother-in-law, someone I truly respect, Abbie Tillett."

Desiree Tillett; Hip and Loretta's daughter. She helps with everything from wrangling horses to starting and finishing colts, to working cattle alongside the guests. She's a good little roper and here to help with any and all activities. She enjoys guests, good conversation and riding with everyone.