Meet the Hideout Ranch Staff

Craig Lawson

Craig is Head Wrangler at Hideout Ranch. He’s had more than twenty years of horse ownership and practical horsemanship which he enjoys sharing with guests and “greenhorns”. Craig knows the Chiricahuas almost blindfolded, having ridden them daily for decades, and is excited to explore the Peloncillos. He unerringly takes guests on the best trails to optimize their Hideout Ranch horseback riding adventure. The horses are his primary focus, but he is equally passionate about managing our growing herd of Black Angus beef cattle.

 

Tamara J Lawson

With horses in her blood, Tamara is both wrangler and instructor at Hideout Ranch. She enjoys working with the guests to hone their riding and horsemanship skills, and seeing them develop during their stay. Also a horse owner for over twenty years, she brings years of Eventing experience to the desert which she finds invaluable when schooling the ranch horses. The creative force behind Hideout Ranch, you see Tamara's designs all around and read her writing on the website. The Hideout Nugget, the ranch blog, is her special project. Tamara particularly loves taking those amazing photos of All Things Hideout and sharing them with people.

 

 

Lori Mortensen

Lori, our wrangler and trainer, is a native of nearby Cotton City, New Mexico, and attended New Mexico State University-Las Cruces. She studied Animal Science and worked at the NMSU Horse Farm. After training at a Western Pleasure/English Equitation barn in Sante Fe, and working as a veterinary technician in Tucson, Arizona, Lori joined us at Hideout Ranch. She has an easy, confident manner with the horses, and they respond to her with an enthusiasm and an affection that makes their round-pen sessions and rides out into the desert mutually enjoyable. Lori is a cowgirl – and no mistaking it. She is excited to be part of the round-up crew, spend time with guests on trails, and looks forward to sharing those cowboy dinners with everyone at Hideout Ranch.

 

Jerry and Jennifer Racicot

As Camp Cook, Jerry has the most important job. He and his wife (and lovely assistant) Jennifer took the notion of homesteading seriously, moving from Los Angeles to the valley two years ago. Jerry was an in-demand fashion photographer. Jennifer worked in retail fashion, dressing LA’s finest with her inimitable flair. But they gave it up to develop a farm growing and raising food in an authentic, sustainable, organic way. They know good food is essential to a good life. Fortunately for Hideout Ranch guests, they bring that philosophy to their campfire cooking. The best ingredients and the most savory recipes are guaranteed with Jerry and Jennifer preparing meals.

Allie and Josie

Allie and Josie became the Hideout Ranch Security Team in June, 2008. A ranch needs dogs, and losing longtime companions Dally and Cleat left an intolerable void. A mis of Australian Cattledog and Australian Shepherd, littermates Allie and Josie are spirited, active, fast, and well-disciplined by the cats. They know when a vehicle drives under the front cross-bar, keep the coyotes at bay, and are in training for cattle work. Oh... did we mention the girls are fast?