If you are
reading this once- a- year letter, you are one of the people who are making a
difference in the lives of our veterans and active military and without you we
literally could not do all that we do for those that have given so much. For that
we are grateful beyond measure and humbled by your continued generosity and
support.
The
Cowboy Up! and Wisdom Way for Warriors programs continue to be on the cutting
edge of alternative healing programs nationally for veterans. In addition to
the thousands of hours of training sessions with our horses, free to our men
and women veterans, we are experiencing a surge in active duty member
participants from bases in New Mexico and across the country. “There is
nothing like this program for us anywhere in the USA” one of our active duty
participants proudly reports.
Active Duty Folks
Our Warrior Bunkhouse continues to
provide a safe place and a safe space for our visiting warriors and is a focal
point for a camaraderie that eclipses traditional counseling. Shared over daily
home cooked meals served free and washed down with a steaming cup of cowboy
coffee, it is veterans helping veterans at its finest.
Warrior Bunkhouse/Meal Time
The
“Team Training” concept that we initiated here was hugely successful in
2015. Along with individual program participants, we will continue to
promote this unique program concept in 2016 which provides the opportunity for
warriors that served together to come to the ranch and again train and be
together, forging new pathways towards healing. “Battle buddies”, teams and
small units that served in Afghanistan and Iraq can again experience that
camaraderie and cohesion through our Skill-Set Restructuring program and the
way of the horse. Combining their military skills of teamwork, individual
initiative and leadership with newly acquired horsemanship and ranch skills
continues to prove to be an empowering combination.
Team Training
"Horses For
Heroes Cowboy Up! offers a positive solution that allows us to create new,
dynamic, and positive memories to replace (or certainly push away) those
memories of combat, and in so doing, allows us to re-engage with the present,
with reality. This eases feelings of frustration and/or sadness and replaces
them with feelings of accomplishment and contentment (and for me, joy!). I
consider your program a key enabler of healing, especially self-healing, which
is a major achievement and one that is priceless, because it permits we vets to
feel in control again."
~ Sgt. Major S.S. US
Army (Ret.) 2003-2010 Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran
Plans for a new 80’ X 120’ covered arena (artist rendering
below) to expand our training days are well underway. In anticipation of being
fully operational by late spring, this will greatly assist us in maximizing our
programmatic capabilities. Modeled after our bunkhouse design it will
also provide us with an all weather, multi-function facility for our program
and the veterans’ community at large. A big thanks to the Pendleton/Hood River
family and the Wrangler National Patriot Program for helping to make this a
reality. Follow our progress with this project and all our activities through
our Cowboy Up! blog and on Facebook at:
As
our program grows we are proud to honor our new 2015 program graduates who will
now assist us as instructors, providing self-sustainability and qualitative
excellence to our program. Finally, we are also pleased to announce the
addition of former US Army Ranger and Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sergeant
Leroy Petry to our National Advisory Board. 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.
Graduates Paul and Sarah
Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sergeant Leroy Petry
with Rick Iannucci and Eric Yorty
with Rick Iannucci and Eric Yorty
We
are looking forward to a great 2016, so thanks in advance for your financial
help and please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Look for us
in Wakeford and Millers new National Geographic book “Veterans Voices”.
National Geographic Andrew Wakeford
Photographing at the Ranch
Helping our Heroes is a click away by
visiting our website’s Donate Page at: www.HorsesForHeroes.org or to make a contribution
by mail: Horses For Heroes - NM, Inc., P.O. Box 1882, Santa Fe, NM 87504
With
every good wish and blessings this Christmas and for the New Year!
Rick, Nancy and the entire Cowboy Up! crew.
Isaiah 6:8
