19Kb

One of the draft mares on Hinton's ranch had twin colts, shown in this 1955 photo. Both colts were sorrel with a blaze face as was their dam, Peggy, and like most colts born on the ranch as soon as they were old enough they were sold. The black draft mare in this photo is Pet, who often was teamed with Peggy when there was work to be done on the ranch. Peggy was gentle enough that my older sister and I were allowed to ride on her back while Grandma and Grandpa were feeding cattle in the winter time. While our grandfolks pitched timothy hay from the stack onto the hay wagon, we'd lay under the wagon, secretly counting each cuss word uttered during their conversation. This was dual purpose, of course. There was often snow on the ground and it was warmer underneath the wagon out of the weather, the chilling wind or blowing snow. And though the cuss words were mild (mostly damns and hells) the "who cussed the most contest" was great fun! We'd giggle with each superlative, counting on our fingers and toes, waiting with each visible frosty breath for the "big one", the two-point word. Seldom were we were disappointed; sooner or later it would slip out: "son-of-a-bitch."

30Kb

Spotted Fever, pictured here with my Grandpa Johnny, had a reputation with rodeo cowboys and was seldom ridden a full eight seconds. My grandfolks who ran mustangs (wild horses) in the Owyhee Breaks, gentled and broke to ride most caught. Those were sold either at auction, to someone who knew the Hintons dealt in horses, or to governments and government cavalries. Mustangs that couldn't be broke and were tough buckers were used in the bucking string, and made top rodeo stock.

21Kb

One of the mustangs caught in the Breaks was Toppsy, a little white mare given to us three grandkids to ride. This photo demonstrates her gentleness and patience. Although when passing the crabapple tree at the lower end of the corral she generally attempted to scrape us off on the tree truck, she was pretty well kid-broke. My one bum knee really wasn't her fault. The kid in the middle, my cousin Lon, bailed off knocking me to the ground underneath the mare. She accidentally stepped on me when my sister Connie, in the lead, turned to see what had happened. Though my cousin was a year younger than I, since I was the smallest (and not the toughest) I always got stuck riding "rumble seat".

15Kb

My Grandma Lula pets Bambi, one of her saddle horses, in this mid 1950s photo. Up the slope from the ranch house and through the barbed wire gate was this knoll, where we placed a couple blocks of rock salt, and in the winter pitched some hay for the horses. Even in spring and summer, when grazing on the range, the horses would often gather at the salt lick. We kids while playing horses, however, were fierce competition. I only licked the "clean" areas -- where the horses or cattle had already licked off all the dirt. :-) Pretty smart, huh?

12Kb

Ricky, our collie dog, kept coyotes from eating all the chickens, killed rattle snakes, and even scared off a cougar or two in his time. In this 1953 photo of us, I (the one with no front teeth) was six years old and Ricky was so old he'd stopped telling his age. Ricky loved to shake hands. Problem was, once he found a sap who would shake his hand...er, I mean paw...he wouldn't quit. Guess who was one of his biggest saps? Little ol' salt-licker, me!

return to On The Ranch
   Photos Page 2

Old West Photos Page 1

Top of Page