Spring Newsletter 2010 The snow has started to melt and we are seeing the signs that spring is nearly upon us! We are shaking off the last remnants of winter and calving has been underway for the last month. Spring is looking busy and starts out with a bang here at The Hideout. Our “Branding Week”, the week of April 11th, has attracted more than a few guests and the week is almost at max capacity. A couple of other special event happening is our "Special Spring Pricing Week" on May 23rd and our “Single’s Week” starting May 30th, keep reading for more details!
Did You Know? The tallest horse on record was a Shire named “Samson”. He was 21.2 hands (7 feet, 2 inches) tall. He was born in 1846 in Toddington Mills, England.
		Name That Horse Congratulations to Veronique Delhaye! Peter & Marijn’s young colt who now goes by the name “Zingara”, which means ‘Gypsy’. When we first announced the “Horse with No Name” contest in the winter newsletter, we made a little mistake by writing “colt”; it was not until later that we were informed this particular horse is actually a filly! Ooops! Luckily, this did not matter too much with the naming process as most of you sent in names that crossed both sides of the male/female fence. Veronique will receive a $10 certificate to be used in the Hideout gift shop on her next visit.
Bloggin’, Tweetin’, and Facebookin’ – You Can Never Have Enough Hideout Our last newsletter we were proud to announce that The Hideout had its own Facebook Fan Page, and thanks to all our fans who are making us look good! Well, Peter went to the annual Dude Rancher’s Association meeting and came back with ideas coming out of his ears (literally!). So, The Hideout would like to announce our Twitter Page and the link to our Blog Page. You can get to all of our pages directly from www.thehideout.com, just scroll to the bottom and click the link you are looking for. Stop by to see what we are doing, check-out pictures, or drop us a line. The office girls will be updating on a regular basis, and you never know who might drop by the Blog page to make a guest appearance.
		A Change in the Mountains This year the Upper Hideout will be taking a break from its normal guest visits on Tuesday nights. Here at The Hideout, we are constantly working on improving our grounds, buildings, activities and vacation ideas for our guests. The “powers-that-be” have decided that the Upper Hideout needs some work, and since we just couldn’t convince Marco and JR to snowshoe up the mountain, and live in an igloo, to work over the winter, the Upper Hideout will be closed this summer.
While this means that we won’t be able to take guests for overnight trips this summer, we are working on offering other outings such as an evening filled with rodeo excitement in Cody. If you have any questions please do drop the girls in the office an email.
Did You Know? The oldest horse on record is "Old Billy," an English barge horse. He was 62 years old when he died, living from 1760 to 1822.
Puppy Love Valentine’s Day came a little early this year as ‘puppy love’ was in the air in January at The Hideout. This time it was our bookkeeper, Linda, who was shot by canine cupid and handed a new little bundle of ‘fluff’. Linda became the surprised new parent of a puppy when, while filling her truck up with gas, a lady walked up to her holding a tiny bundle. With tears in her eyes, the lady held the bundle out to Linda and said “my husband won’t let me keep him; I need to find a home for him right now.” Linda just couldn’t say no, and so “Keeper,” a Red Heeler Cross found a loving home and Linda has found a friend for life. We think it’s a win-win situation!
Turning Your Taste-buds “On” As the weather is getting warmer, it is nearly time to fire up the BBQ and we have just the recipe for you! This recipe is direct from Trapper Creek Lodge’s magnificent Chef Robb. Impress your friends with this savory sauce, over grilled chicken, shrimp kebabs, or grilled fish. Make the meal even more scrumptious and pair it with a side of dirty rice. (O, don’t forget the glass of Caymus Cabernet!) Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons minced onion 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 tablespoons cider vinegar 1/2 cup whole-grain mustard 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 3/4 cup peach jam or preserves 1 tablespoon bourbon 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the vinegar and boil until almost completely reduced and the mixture looks like wet sand, about 4 minutes. Whisk in both mustards and the jam or preserves. Simmer, whisking, until jam melts, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the bourbon and salt.
		Introducing…The Hideout Referral Program Over the years, we have found that many of our guests find us via referrals from friends. With this in mind we thought that we should give credit where it is due and so, The Hideout Referral Program was born. Participation in the Hideout Referral Program begins the moment a guest that you refer to The Hideout books a package stay with us. It's that easy! We know that you love The Hideout! – We have seen that it is your passion and excitement will get others intrigued and this is our way of saying, Thanks!
For every booking friend, you will earn a ‘brand’ on your Hideout Referral Brand Card (located and managed in the Hideout office). After 4 ‘brands’ - You Receive 1 Complimentary Bottle of Bubbly on your next trip After 7 ‘brands’ - You Receive a private dinner for 2 at Trapper Creek Lodge during one evening of your next trip After 10 ‘brands’ - You Receive a Complimentary 6night Cowboy Adventure Package for 1 Adult *Some Rules and Restrictions apply. For a complete listing of rules and/or to start your Hideout Referral Brand Card, please contact the office (The Hideout Referral Program runs from 4/1/10 through 1/1/15).
Going On A Field Trip… With winter fever starting to set in, Peter, Stewart, Ben, Natalie, Ramon & Marisella decided that it was time to take a staff field trip. They jumped in the van and headed off to Laramie for a movie premier viewing. Many of you may have seen Cowboy Ethics – What Wall street Can Learn From The West books in our gift store, featuring the “Cowboy Codes”. The Hideout received an invitation from Jim Owens, the author, for our team to come and see his latest project, a documentary called “Cowboy Ethics – Alive and well in Wyoming” on its premier night in Laramie. It was an incredible experience and, after the movie, the team was able to meet the man himself. Following some very interesting discussion, we may have the opportunity to offer a unique week for Team Building or Leadership Businesses, where Jim Owens would come and spend the week with guests, riding with them by day, and speaking in the evenings. Stay tuned for more information or contact the office for more details.
Did You Know? The record for the highest jump made by a horse, is held by a horse named “Huaso” who jumped 8 feet, 1 and 1/4 inches on February 5th, 1949 in Vina del Mar, Chile. He was ridden by Captain Alberto Larraguibel.
A Glass of Wine and a Branding Iron Alright, so we are not going to give you wine before you handle a branding iron. However, it has just been announced that we have two very special events happening on the same week! Guests will get to participate in one of the oldest traditions on the ranch. At the beginning of the week, guests will learn some stockmanship techniques and will then put this into practice with the morning roundup, followed by a large cookout lunch. Then the branding and vaccinating will begin in the afternoon.
During our Guest Branding week from April 11-17th we will be hosting a very special 6 course wine dinner. We will have a winemaker from Central California during this week, who will help our gourmet chefs prepare the best pairings for the wine. Each wine and each course will be described by the winemaker. On the menu is: Ceveche Shrimp Stuffed Roma Tomatoes with a Cilantro Vinaigrette, Caesar Salad with Poached Quail Egg in a Gran Queso Ring, Pineapple Raspberry Sorbet, Baseball Sirloin with a Portabella Cap & Cranberry Stilton, Elk Tenderloin with a White Crane Zinfandel Blackberry Sauce, Peach Pistachio Torte There are only a couple of spots left during this week, and it is not too late to book in. Call us today at 1-800-354-8637 or email info@thehideout.com.
Did You Know? The record for the longest jump over water is held by a horse named “Something” who jumped 27 feet, 6 and 3/4 inches on April 25, 1975 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was ridden by Andre Ferreira.
Ramon and the Extreme Mustang Makeover We were not sure if anyone picked up on our little hint in the previous newsletter, but yes, Ramon has joined the Hideout team. Many of you have seen Ramon out on the range as he has worked for the Flitner ranch for many years. We are very happy to have him as a part of our Hideout team and we are doubly excited to announce that Ramon has been chosen to compete in the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge, held in Fort Collins, Colorado in June. Of hundreds of entries only forty-five trainers were chosen.
The chosen trainers are given a wild mustang and have 90 days before the competition show, where they will be required to demonstrate excellence in western pleasure riding, cattle work, equitation, and overall progress of the mustang. This is an amazing opportunity, and next year we hope to have more of our trainers competing. Congratulations Ramon, we are rooting for ya!
		Single’s Week The Hideout has an adventure filled week planned for Single travelers the week of May 30th – June 5th. We know that sometimes it can be hard to travel by yourself, when there are couples and families around. Join us for single’s week where you can enjoy elegant lodging, great horseback riding, gourmet meals, cattle drives, and a trip to Cody to enjoy the famous Cody Night Rodeo. For more information or to reserve your spot please email info@thehideout.com.
Do You Know The Answers? The Hideout, like Wyoming, is rich in its history and heritage. We know that our guests have a special passion for both the ranch and the area, but do you know the answers to these two questions? If you think you have the brains, submit the answers to both questions, along with your name and email, via email to info@thehideout.com. Submission with both answers correct will have their name drawn randomly out of a hat for the chance to win a $10 gift certificate for use in Hideout gift shop on their next trip. Submission will be accepted through April 30, the winner will be contacted via email and we will post the answers in our summer newsletter. Question 1: The Hideout was built in 1992 by David and Paula, but when did the first Flitner set foot in the Shell Valley and what was his name? Question 2: After what horse was the bronco on the Wyoming license plate named for?
Everyone here at The Hideout is excited to see that winter is ending and spring and summer are on the way. We are all looking forward to a great season as we get to catch up with old friends and make new ones. The weeks are filling up fast so don’t forget to email the girls in the office (Natalie: info@thehideout.com or AJ: office@thehideout.com) and book your 2010 vacation. On Behalf of The Hideout Crew, Happy Trails and We Look Forward to Seeing You Soon!