MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT SFC LEROY PETRY JOINS

HORSES FOR HEROES - NEW MEXICO COWBOY UP! NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD.

Photo: Executive Director of Horses For Heroes - NM, Inc., Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry on the day of his jump into Santa Fe for the unveiling of his statue, June 24, 2013, and Cowboy Up! Graduate and Instructor and Eric Yorty (US Army). Iannucci organized Petry's jump and ran the Drop Zone with Cowboy Up! Crew members.

Horses For Heroes- New Mexico Cowboy Up! is pleased to announce the addition of former US Army Ranger and Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry to their National Advisory Board.

Horses For Heroes- NM Inc. Executive Director Rick Iannucci, former US Army Special Forces said, “I am honored to have my dear friend Leroy join us in our mission to provide healing; body, mind and spirit, for our nations warriors.

His addition to our team validates the important work we do and honors and empowers the men and women who have selflessly given their very best for our country in time of war.”

SFC Leroy Petry who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery during combat operations in Afghanistan, joins an already sterling group of men and women on the National Advisory Board of this faith based program including; former NM Cabinet Secretary and retired Air Force Colonel Tim Hale, NM National Guard Head Chaplain Quentin Collins, Capt. Ralph Galati US Air Force former POW, Sergeant First Class Dana Bowman, US Army Special Forces (the first double amputee to return to active duty) and the Hon. Judge Arthur Gajarsa US Circuit Court of Appeals (Ret.) among others.

Horses For Heroes- Cowboy Up! is a Santa Fe, New Mexico based 501 (C) (3) non-profit and a unique horsemanship, wellness and skill set restructuring program FREE to all Operation Irai Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom~Afghanistan and Operation New Dawn men and women veterans and active military, especially those who have sustained physical injuries or PTSD.

From day one veterans are hands on with their American Quarter Horses beginning with groundwork and progressing to riding as well as participating in other aspects of ranch life, including working cattle and more importantly experiencing the camaraderie with cowboys who are veterans themselves.

They believe Horsemanship is Leadership and by assisting veterans through the way of the horse and cowboy culture they are able to support their journey, integrating body, mind and spirit.

Petry, a Santa Fe, NM native, and Iannucci have worked together on various national projects for combat wounded veterans since 2012.

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March 17th to April 4th, 2015

It's always fun to get new equipment!
If you are looking for great, Handmade in the USA, halters, lead ropes, rope reins and more!
Look up our friends Lazy K Corral and tell 'em Nancy and Rick sent ya!
We highly recommend Kathy and Dave!
Thanks you two!!!

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As you know from an earlier post Kerry Kuhn stopped by
to visit Cowboy Up! and the crew, he had posted the below
message on his FaceBook page :

Click to enlarge.

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Always a great day when ya can get in the saddle, as
it's been wintery weather, but we get a chance to ride!

Greg (Marine) is doing well with T4 - working on his riding skills with Cowboy Up! Director,
Nancy De Santis ~ remember:

“Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.”

Zig Ziglar

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Paul (Marine) works with our Cowboy Up! program medic Neal "Doc" Riley (US Army Special Forces).

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A special visit from National Geographic photographer Andrew Wakeford
who is completing his next coffee table book "Veteran Voices"
where some of our crew will be featured.

Andrew blends in while the crew gets to work saddling the boys.

There's no stopping for photos, Andrew captures in action shots

while the guys ride.

Photographing the photographer...!

Andrew shows us some of his stories in his first
veteran portraits book "Portraits of Service".

Left to right: Executive Director of HFHNM Inc. Rick Iannucci,
National Geo photographer Andrew Wakeford,
and Cowboy Up! assistant instructor Paul Duran (Marine).
We will keep ya posted when the book is release later
this year or early 2016.

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Working Ranch Magazine comes out for a visit.
Left to right: Rick Iannucci, Mark O'Byrne (Marine
who stayed and worked with us a couple years back), and
Working Ranch Editor Tim O'Byrne.