Dec 31, 2014

Happy New Year Alll!


Dec 23, 2014

Merry Christmas All!!!


Dec 21, 2014

Best Christmas Gift!

December 18th, 2014

Welcome home Roper! We were tickled when the call came in from Henry's family telling us they were bringing Roper back home and hoped we would add him as permanent staff to our Cowboy Up! program... uhhh... YEAH!  Roper had actually been Henry's wife Peg's horse, but when Peg stopped riding (at 85) Roper was Henry's go-to horse for moving cattle, roping and he could also put any novice on him when he would take a beginner out on the ranch.  What a blessing it is to have him home!

Bianca exercises Roper out in the arena...

...and from her smile she loves having him on staff!





Dec 16, 2014

Welcome Brigadier General Jack Fox


At our Christmas Social with the Veterans Task Force we welcomed Brig. Gen. Jack Fox, the new Cabinet Secretary NM Department of Veteran's Services. He replaces our dear friend Col. Tim Hale.

Left: New Mexico Department of Public Safety and Cowboy Up! Chaplain Jose Villegas, Brig. Gen. Jack Fox, with Horses For Heroes - NM Executive Director Rick Iannucci wishing Gen. Fox well!

Col. Quentin Collins NMANG Chaplain with some cheerful Christmas anecdotes.
Rev. Rick Rinde ( Cowboy Up participant and former US Army EOD Afghanistan)  and Rick Iannucci reviewing our year in review. Col. Quentin Collins is on the left.
***

On December 16th, 2014 we were honored to attend the Los Alamos Rotary Club meeting where we were presented a generous contribution from folks who care about veterans. Rotarian Victor Medina pictured end right raised money through his restaurant you can read the story here.
From left, State Farm's Abe Dispennette, LANL's CPO Executive Director Kurt Steinhaus, HFH Cowboy Up! participant Paul Duran, HFHNM, Inc. Executive Director Rick Iannucci, Rotary Immediate Past President James Nesmith and Rotary President Troy Hughes, and Victor Medina.

From the LA Daily Post

Ripple Effect Enhances Donations To Horses For Heroes by Carol A. Clark

 To raise money for the Horses For Heroes program near Santa Fe, Rotarian Victor Medina placed a jar on the front counter at his Manhattan Project Restaurant several weeks ago in downtown Los Alamos.
He discovered someone had removed all of the $5, $10 and $20 bills and left the $1 bills. He published a plea through the Los Alamos Daily Post to the culprit to return the money, which to date has not happened. Horses For Heroes assists in the healing of veterans who have suffered trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and shock.
After reading the story, State Farm Agency owner and miltary veteran Abe Dispennette contacted Medina and contributed $200 to the program. During its Dec. 16 meeting, the Los Alamos Rotary Club also contributed $500 to the Horses For Heroes program. Community Programs Office Executive Director Kurt Steinhaus heard about the story and benefits of the program and attended the meeting to present a contribution match on behalf of Los Alamos National Laboratory and Director Charlie McMillan.
Horses For Heroes Executive Director Rick Iannucci, together with program graduate Paul Duran, accepted the donations saying the program continues to work miracles in the lives of returning veterans such as Duran because of the generosity of organizations and individuals like those in Los Alamos.

***

After completing his archeological dig and before heading out to NMSU to begin work on his  Masters Degree , Paul spent time out at the ranch getting all the saddle time he could:
Rick and Hollywood, Paul and T4 on a brisk December day.

***
On a much warmer day Paul instructs his cousin, an Air force veteran. 

Paul takes him through how to halter groom, and some round pen work.

Lunch break and a bit of review of the days session.

After  a great lunch it's time to ride!
Paul illustrates rein control ~ great instructing Paul!

***

December 4th, 2014
New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association is heavily involved in many activities to promote and protect the livestock industry in NM and across the West. NMCGA provides numerous learning opportunities, including the Cattlemen's College of which we participate in annually with scholarships provided by NMCGA and Caren Cowan Exec. Director

Left to Right: Cowboy Up! member Rick Rinde (USA), Executive Director Rick Iannucci, Cowboy Up! crew member Paul Duran (USMC), Program Partners Mimi and Tom Sidwell of JX Ranch, and Cowboy Up! Instructor Alroy Billiman (USA).

Nov 26, 2014

Thanksgiving


Nov 17, 2014

Horse Medicine




 Houdini and Eric

This is a shot of Eric Yorty (US Army), one of our Cowboy Up! Graduates and Instructors taken by Film Maker James Anaquad Kleinert who's film Horse Medicine just premiered at the Napa Valley Film Festival of which Horses For Heroes - NM Cowboy Up! was featured. 

We were honored to have James out here to meet, live with, and film our veterans in action and to see some of the our horses help to heal our veterans.


"Horse Medicine explores the profound human and horse relationship from ancient myth to modern science. This inspirational documentary film reconnects our hearts with the power of the horse and majesty of Mother Earth."
~ James Anaquad Kleinert Films

Nov 12, 2014

Bonanza Creek

November 12th, 2014

Steve called from Bonanza Creek bright and early for some help to move cattle afoot through the alley and into the chute for a health check.  The frigid temperatures of 19 degrees did not stop Our Veteran's Sarah (US Army) and Dillon (US Air Force), as well as Bianca and myself. Sometimes the best cowboy for the job is a cowgirl!

We all had to move the cattle into the first pen...

... then into the 2nd pen where Jacinda and Dillon moved them...

...to the first corridor just behind me. From here Sarah and I moved them up...
...the alley where Bianca moved them up into the actual chute 
where Steve and Joe did their health check on each calf.
The last batch - all hands on deck!
L to R: Sarah, Nancy and Jacinda.

 Moo!
 And the very last push into the chute.

Thank you to Dillon for taking these photos in between her own working of 
the cattle, and yes, it was that cold!

Nov 11, 2014

Veterans Day


Let us all take a moment and be grateful.
Blessings to all.

~~~~~~~

Yesterday, November 10th, 2014
We were honored to be invited down to Sandia National Labs for their special Veterans Day Ceremony. We had a table to present our program and met some wonderful people.

Dillon, US Air Force, proudly representing our programs of which she participates.

The guest speaker of the day was Navajo Code Talker Dr. Roy Hawthorne ~ a wonderful talk indeed!

Cowboy Up! participant Col. Chris Schiano, minus his
cowboy boots and hat, greets Dr. Hawthorne.

Smiles abound! Dr. Hawthorne and Dillon.
Happy to have participated in the honoring of our Nation's Heroes!

Nov 8, 2014

November at Bonanza Creek and Staple Cross

November 8th, 2014

A beautiful day to work cattle, that's for sure!
 Joe looks on while Steve and Jacinda move the herd up.

 With a smooth move into the pens, Steve and Joe close the gates
in order to get the momma's sorted.

 Bianca and Hollywood guard the opening so the cows keep in their pen.

 Steve and Joe work afoot sorting the momma's to prepare for fence weening.

 Bianca puts pressure to move the cows out of one section to another.

 Killer view.

 Jack did awesome movin' the momma's out!

A little reinforcing of the fence line so the calves don't push through.
 A job well done! Time to head back for one of Jacinda's famous meals!

 Another killer view.

And it's a wonderful day in the neighborhood!

November 1st, 2014
Was a day of gathering cattle on Staple Cross to prepare for shipping.

The next day...

We headed out bright and early, in hopes we would miss the rain.

 Time to sort, Momma cows, heifers and steers...

The first batch comes down the alley before being pushed back up in order to sort into their prospective pens.

 Will the rain hold out??

 Here are the momma cows once they come through the alley.

 Rick workin' gates in his slicker to keep warm from the rain.

 Momma checking to see if her calf might be in the pen.

 "You're not my momma."

Countin' heifers.

All went smooth, and it seems Henry put in a good 
word for us with the Man upstairs
 to keep the heavy rains at bay. 
Though you weren't there in body, you were in Spirit! Miss you Henry.