Kristy's 1st Ride & Upcoming Dinner Talk with Northern New Mexico Horseman's Association

This past Sunday Kristi had her first horseback ride up here at the ranch - Congratulations Kristi, you're doing great!!!





On Wednesday August 25th, 2010 Horses for Heroes - New Mexico, Inc. Cowboy UP! are proud to be invited to speak at the NNMHA monthly meeting at the Real Burger Restaurant on Old Las Vegas Highway. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. with the meeting and our presentation at 7 p.m.

The panel will include Director Rick Iannucci and lead members of our staff, Director of Training Christina Savitsky, instructors Nancy De Santis, Lori De Santis and our medic and Iraq veteran Sgt. Neal Riley US Army Special Forces as well as two of our newest program participants Lance Corporal Sterling Bucholz USMC and Sgt. Kristi La France US Army. Also from our advisory staff will be the Dept of Defense PTSD expert and author of the book "Warriors Guide to Insanity" Sgt. Andrew Brandi, USMC. They look forward to sharing their stories and insights into how horses have helped them heal. Join us for a great night of sharing with good food and good friends.
For more information about the Northern New Mexico Horseman's Association check out: www.nnmha.com

I'm Back In The Saddle

Horses For Heroes - New Mexico, Inc. ~ Cowboy Up!

While serving in Iraq, as a Machine Gunner with 2nd Battalion 1st Marines, I was severely wounded by an enemy sniper, when a bullet struck me in the head. I am very blessed to be alive and continue leading the life I am so fortunate to have. Returning home after combat has not been an easy task. As all combat veterans know. I am diagnosed with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Combat Trauma) and Traumatic Brain Injury. It seems as if I have been fighting a whole other battle in my head since returning home in 2005.

While attending a treatment program at the V.A. I met another combat veteran who asked me if I wanted to go ride horses at a ranch in Santa Fe the following weekend. He told me about this program called "Horses For Heroes - New Mexico Cowboy Up!" and that he had been, and really enjoyed it. I could not believe there was a program for us that would offer such an opportunity. Of course I agreed and we headed from the VA to Santa Fe the next Saturday.

Upon arriving we were greeted as if we were family. Returning home for the first time! Everyone sure made me feel welcomed. We started right away, being introduced to the horses and learning everything step by step. Before I knew it I was in the saddle! Talk about therapy, I was hooked! I was told that there is nothing better for the inside of a person than the outside of a horse, that is the truth. It is just you, the horse, and the instructor - Peace -. My experience that day truly opened my eyes. There really are people out there that do care and want to help.

I have been working with them every chance I get, learning more and more every time. The Horses For Heroes - New Mexico Cowboy Up! "Family" is a wonderful program and I would encourage all of the warriors returning home to come enjoy the same experience I have.

~Sterling Bucholz U.S.M.C./Ret.

Note about the photo above: If you look at the Night Vision Device mounting plate in the center of his helmet you will see the impact of the 7.62 sniper round, one of two that he was hit with creasing his head leaving him with titanium plates and earning him a Purple Heart and the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal for Bravery Under Fire for Continuing to Man His Machine Gun and Protecting His Unit.

Important Film

Last night The Lensic and National Geographic Entertainment Presented RESTREPO - it was a Well Done and Important film. There was a post show with Director Tim Hetherington and Major Dan Kearney, and we were honored to visit with them at a private reception. Please see it!

In order for it to show in more theaters please call up your local theaters and ask them to book it. Then chat it up with friends, family, local community groups and get them to go. The better the film does, the more theaters it'll show in! Find out more about where RESTREPO is showing by finding them on Facebook.

RESTREPO is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, “Restrepo”, named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. The only goal is to make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 90-minute deployment. This is war, full stop. The conclusions are up to you.

See The Trailer

Directors Statement
The war in Afghanistan has become highly politicized, but soldiers rarely take part in that discussion. Our intention was to capture the experience of combat, boredom and fear through the eyes of the soldiers themselves. Their lives were our lives: we did not sit down with their families, we did not interview Afghans, we did not explore geopolitical debates. Soldiers are living and fighting and dying at remote outposts in Afghanistan in conditions that few Americans back home can imagine. Their experiences are important to understand, regardless of one’s political beliefs. Beliefs are a way to avoid looking at reality. This is reality.

~Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger

Galisteo Rodeo

Photo courtesy of Cowboy Up! participant and photographer Keith Coronel.

Following another great session with our combat warriors, Johnny, Sterling and Keith we headed out to the Galisteo Rodeo where we were guests of Amy Sena Rogers. Amy and her family have been producing what is probably the best little rodeo in the USA for 39 years. One of our staff Carl Hawkins of Hawkins Chuckwagon fame provided a delicious smoked brisket for sandwiches while Nancy De Santis made her grandma's redcabbage coleslaw. Rick, daughter Cris and Teal Hawkins tended the grill with hot-dogs and we didn't run out of sweet tea until the end of the day. Several of the contestants stopped by to say hello to our group which included the Director of the New Mexico Wounded Warrior Project, Terri Kreuger and her husband Dave, Cowboy Up! instructors Wes Studi and his wife his wife Mora, Mike Housholder, Thomas Wingate, Kenny Tomlinson and Brenda Niekirk. Silver and Saddle maker extraorinaire Clint Mortenson and Amanda Lange,Bonanza Creek Ranch Manager Steve Price and Jacinda Witt and fresh off of the Cowboys and Aliens set, lead wrangler Ed Pickard. From the Governors Rodeo Council Debbie & Bobby Borrego stopped by to see who was screaming their lungs out for daughter Shania as she competed in both breakaway roping and barrel racing...well, it was us! With the US and Military Order of the Purple Heart flags flying above our tent we all agreed that the highlight of the day was when 4 young "mutton busters", spurs, chaps and all, walked up to our combat warriors and one by one stretched a hand out and said " thank you for your service. sir".


Photo courtesy of our good friend, photographer and author of "Making a Hand", Gene Peach. Thanks for stopping by!

Moon

Ivan, is one of our earlier Horses for Heroes- participants who since we got him horseback has worked with us on spring brandings, fall gathers and who Cowboy'd UP! even getting his own horse. In fact Ivan's motivation and love of ranching and the cowboy way inspired in many ways what would take us from simple horse therapy to what has become our Cowboy UP! program.
Moon seen here in this picture has made full circle and is now here as our newest program horse generously donated by Ivan who is now working with champion cutting horses while he attends university.
Veterans helping veterans is a characteristic of what we do. It is the cowboy way! Thanks Ivan!