Dec 23, 2012

December

December 1st, 2012 

 Matt Moody spent the day gathering and branding at Wade Ranch with friends, while we recovered form our Cowboy Christmas, hope to make it next time with y' all ~ thanks for the invite!





Photos by Matt's wife Shawna. While Matt rode and branded we were busy with friends who came to town for our Dinner & Dance ~ it was nice to get a chance to visit and share the progress on the bunkhouse!

Special Operations Warrior Foundation Member Tom Quinn, Christine and Rick visiting. When Tom was here last we had not even broken ground yet.



"Ranger" makes his way through the great room


Cracker Barrel porch rockers courtesy of our good friends from Franklin, TN.

Yeah, were ready for some serious "porch time". 

Later that day our Border Patrol family came by to catch up! Husband Patrick Reilly helps his wife Nicle saddle up Duke for a little exercise.


Hollywood, Kevin Reilly, Patrick & Nicole reilly, Duke and Lauren Reilley. Tuscon Sector Border Patrol crew taking a break.

 December 9th, 2012
 First snow...



December 10th, 2012

First snowfall for our bunkhouse.     Photo by: Cris Iannucci

Springer Correctional Facility Site for the 2013 Cowboy Up! Program for Honorably Discharged Incarcerated Veterans. This is an unfunded inititive where our Cowboy Up! veterans will be working with the NM Dept of Corrections, NM Dept of Agriculture & NMSU, NM Dept of Veterans Services and NM Livestock Board. 

Springer "Bunkhouse" where our prisoner/veterans will be housed.

One of the corrals where our program horses will stay. 
December 12th, 2012

Lunchtime!

Subsurface trenching our septic system!

Brian Johnson and his crew working on getting steps and ramp set.

While Abe and the Subsurface crew trench the infiltrators

December 14th, 2012

Looks like more snow!


December 15th, 2012

Rick and Alroy in their Jack Gully chaps!




Alroy and Rick working the horses and doing what they do best.. 
Above photos taken by Darilyn Jackson

 Later that evening... Laguna Christmas Party!

Just a little thank you for John and all he does in offering great opportunities 
to gather and work cattle.

Brian and Chris singing Christmas carols along with our friends before dinner!

December 17th, 2012




December 20th, 2012
Our visit to Canon City Colorado Wild Horse Inmate Program.

Head Program Cowboy Brian Hardin explaining the corral system.

First Gentleman Chuck Franco speaks to an inmate about his experience in the program. Our Cowboy UP! Springer program will be different in that we will be  using New Mexico Livestock Boards  unwanted and abandoned horses and our inmates will all be honorably discharged veterans specially selected to work with us and the horses.

Staff Instructor working in the covered arena with a Mustang 
(it was about 10 degrees here by the way).

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Peace and Joy in the New Year!!!


Dec 5, 2012

Thank You All!!!

For an Outstanding Cowboy Christmas!
We sure hope you had a great time, meeting new friends, old friends 
and enjoyed dancing the night away!!!

Thank you to Kim & The Caballeros
R.W. Hampton for an evening of great music!



To see more photos by Gene Peach of this year's Cowboy Christmas please Click Here

You do not need a Facebook account to view the album
(just click "close" on the sign-in box if it appears)

Nov 27, 2012

Some Unique Cowboy Christmas Silent Auction Items ~ 3 more days ~ hope to see ya there!!


A one of a kind silent auction item this year is a display knife made by Santa Fe craftsman Dick Kimberly. With steel from the World Trade Center this knife is cut out from one of the steel blanks that was used to make commemorative knives for the US Navy SEAL TEAM on the Osama Bin Laden Raid. Kimberly has fashioned copper fittings from the Revolutionary War ship Constitution “Old Ironsides” along with a hand finished Maple handle to create a truly amazing piece of history.


If that isn’t enough, try out a custom creased cowboy hat and hat band from the Hatsmith in Santa Fe. 


Or bid on some handcrafted items sent in from talented artisians living and working the ranches of Oregon.

There will also be pair of US Border Patrol spurs and buckles...


..or bid on dinner for 4 at the home of Ambassador Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson.  
The true story of her life in the CIA “Fair Game” was a bestseller and a major motion picture.


Busy November

November 5th, 2012

Matt S. gets back in the saddle with four-legged instructor Jack.

Some nice stretches to relax are part of the program!

November 8th, 2012

Chris and Doc in the air on their way back home from a three week detour in Texas, 
courtesy of Samaritan Aviation,

Samaritan Aviation piolot Rick Weaver flies while...

...we await anxiously.

On Santa Fe ground and Doc is ready to get home!

A huge thank you to Rick before getting Chris loaded for his drive home.

Executive Director of Horses For Heroes - NM, Inc. takes a peaceful moment to pray and give thanks for the safe flight and the time and dedication of these men!

Cowboy Up! Medic, Neal Riley, Rick Iannucci, Rick Weaver, and co-pilot Dave.
Words cannot express the gratitude of you all putting this flight together and getting Chris back home!
Many, many thanks!

Chris loaded... check, Doc loaded... check, wheelchair loaded... check!

November 9th, 2012

Cowboy Up! veteran Matt M. working out on Bonanza Creek with Rick on this early crisp morning.

Later that day Moody joins Fellow veteran Brian Johnson in building a much needed deck for Chris.

They work well into the night to get 'er done!

November 10th, 2012

Things don't slow down on the ranch... time to add more panels to the horse paddock.

November 11th, 2012

No better way to spend Veterans Day weekend than out on the range!

Cowboy Up! veterans out early in the morning getting a head count on Bonanza Creek.

Double check...

Count's good!


November 12th, 2012
Welcome to our newest four-legged instructor, Duke!

Many thanks to Carol, Matt Hannah & Drea for bring him to us!

November 15th, 2012
This means more expansion!

More room for the horses!



November 16th, 2012

Duke's first Veteran session.

Nice job you two!

November 17th, 2012

Time to move cows.

There's one group!

Program Partner Henry McKinley, an almost 84 years young and Korean War Veteran.

Holding the herd.

Movin' on!

November 18th, 2012

Horses For Heroes - NM, Inc. was proud to be the Grand Marshal of
this year's Christmas de Caballos Parade!  
Parade organizer, Melanie Scholer said the military veterans should be recognized for their sacrifice and the parade is a way to do that.  "As we scale things down and these soldiers come home we need to take care of them."  

Cowboy Up! veterans filled two wagons lead by two teams of horses while they collected toys along the way for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

Colorful horse and rider lead the way!

That's the second wagon full of our veterans!

Blue Star Mom and Cowboy Up! volunteer Trish makes a festive day even happier!

Collecting toys for tots.

Women Veterans of NM President, Pat Gaston, USLR, LTC (Ret).





There were so many toys collected this year they needed to rent a truck ~ there
should be some happy children this season!

Thanks all for coming out!

November 24th, 2012

Cowboy Up! Co-Director, Nancy De Santis working with BoJack.

While Oz takes time to make sure Stilz and Duke have some fun in the large arena.

Then we get down to business...

Learning to dally...

...and pulling the skid steer.  Job well done!