Another day at the ranch...

March 29th, 2014

Joe sending T.

Chris looks on, before his turn in with Knight.

Joe has T's attention, and respect...

...then as Monty Roberts calls it, "Join-up".

We call it partnership, and there is nothing like having a horse show you that he trusts you

~it is truly a thing of beauty!

March 25th, 2014

Another day at Horses For Heroes- NM Cowboy Up!

Going over ways to manipulate reins.

Re-capping trotting before moving into loping.

With the proper ques Star picks up his left lead with ease.

Process of opening and closing a ranch gate ~ nice job John!

It's that time again...

Star says, "What's That?..."

"No, I don't want any!"

"Alright...it's not so bad after all."

By establishing a regular deworming schedule to target and eliminate 

worms it helps keep your horses parasite free. 

Welcome!

March 22nd, 2014

We wish to welcome our newest combat warrior,  NM Army National Guardsman
Sgt. Joe Riggs, to the Cowboy Up! Program! 

As always we start from the ground up.

Eric goes over what round penning is, the different reasons why 

we do this exercise and how it is done.

Joe learns to move T with his energy.

By the end of this short session T and Joe are "in-tune" - look at their foot falls!

With good time we head to the arena for...

... some basic riding principles.

After a great session it's time for lunch. Always great to have that time together!

Gathering the girls...

March 12th, 2014

Back to Staple Cross Ranch to move a few of the ladies to another pasture. 

 Pasture control and rotational grazing is important in  keeping healthy land.

March 13th, 2014

Thanks to Eric, Brandon, Bianca, Brian and Emmett for helping Rick and I to re-configure paddocks 

so that each of our Four-legged Instructors has their very own space!

Eric and Brandon, taking down fencing to realign 

corral areas to make an additional run.

Brian and son Emmett cleaning up branches. Priceless!

The guys enjoy their new runs!

March 15th, 2014

Ahhh, grooming in the spring... lots of dust and hair, but it's SO worth it!

A nice exercise we learned from Craig Cameron to 

warm up you and your horse.

Rick working with T to see how well he does with a rope...

...looks pretty comfortable!

After a great session Chris works the gate with Knight.

Welcome to our newest four-legged instructor!

Big thanks and blessings to Phil and Laurie Bidegan for our new horse 'Montoya Cedar'. This handsome gelding is ranch raised on their T-4 Ranch in Montoya,NM and we are honored to add him to our remuda and to be able to put him to work in our Cowboy Up! Program. 

You can read all about this great ranch, the Bidegan family and their excellent horse program in this Western Horseman article entitled Family Fortitude.

Bianca testing out the new guy ~ nice!

Welcome T, we hope you enjoy your new career helping our Heroes 

~ we are extremely happy to have you!

Movin' Bulls

February 18th, 2014 

You would never know it was still winter, as it was a beautiful day!

Spent the afternoon with Mr. Henry McKinley moving bulls.

The lack of moisture leaves our landscape quite dry in places,

and with huge amounts of tumble weeds.

Happiness is a cowgirl riding the range!

What a day!

Yesterday, March 4th, 2014, we had visitors from AMI to see what a 

typical day looks like here at the ranch.

Cowboy Up! Director Nancy De santis started in the round pen to illustrate the partnership that bridges the boundaries of human and horse communication.

After just a few minutes the partnership is clear ~ true connection.

Afterward John takes the guys through how we further our relationship with our horses as we take great care in grooming before saddling.

Then into the arena ahorseback for a session!