Read Our 2017 Newsletter

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2017 News Highlights and Thanks 

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we are talking once or twice a year!

Happy Thanksgiving

Veteran's Day

A message from Hope in the Saddle who created the video below:
"Today and every day, we would like to thank the incredible men and women who have put so much on the line in their service of this county. We'd also like to thank organizations like Horses For Heroes NM - Cowboy Up!—a unique program that utilizes horses and ranch life to help veterans recuperate and reintegrate into their communities."

Season End Staple Cross Ranch

Had clear skies for the last weekend working at Staple Cross!

October 28th & 29th

Saturday afternoon heading out to move the cows.

 Boss gives out the directives...

... and out they go!

A little drink before moving on. Photo by Bianca

Into the next pasture we go! Photo by Bianca

Rick, Paul and Eric driving the herd. Photo by Bianca

 Sunday 7:30 am crisp!

 The last gather.

 East sunrise.

 In they come.

Sorting begins from pens...

... to alley.

  Gentle cattle handling is our style.

 Next a batch comes down...

 ... to sort on foot.

 Counting.

 And up they go for shipping.

To Steve, a true Cattleman ~ Thank you!

The Brave

The Brave Supports Horses For Heroes Cowboy Up!

Thanks y'all!

Remember September

Remember September

***
We had a great time talking with Scott, have a listen!

Listen to "Horses For Heroes Cowboy Up • The Scott Helmer Show - 09.10.17" on Spreaker.

Havin' a Busy Summer

National Day of the Cowboy Benefit Concert

Oh what fun we have every year with some of the Talented folks of the Western Music Association NM Chapter who so graciously put on this Benefit Concert for Horses for Heroes NM, Inc. Cowboy Up!

It's always lots of fun so bring the family and even a picnic!!!

Beverages available for purchase on-site.

WHEN: Saturday July 22nd, 2017

TIME:  Doors open 6:30 pm

WHERE: Rio Bravo Brewing Company

1912 - 2nd Street, Albuquerque, NM

 COST: $20 at the door or online holdmyticket.com

Click flier for details!

4th of July

Staple Cross Branding 2017

This Memorial Day

 West wall of our Warrior Bunkhouse.

To each and every man and woman who laid their life for this country through all eras, we salute you.

As a gift to our American Gold Star Mothers (AGSM) Albuquerque, NM Chapter and in a gesture of heartfelt respect we created the only Post 9/11 Memorial honoring the Fallen Heroes of New Mexico.

With great respect, glory and gratitude we honor their sons and daughters. The 4’ X 6’ sculpture is adorned with hand stamped brass dog tags, which contain the name, rank, branch of service, date of birth, and place the fallen hero made their ultimate sacrifice.  A large Gold Star circled with a wreath duplicating the AGSM logo completes the flag like design.

Of the pair, one dog tag is permanently mounted on the wall and the second dog tag hangs from a 4-inch brass chain.  A wind chime effect takes place as the dangling tags flutter in the wind and recessed lighting casts a soft shadow in remembrance of them.

Bonanza Creek Branding 2017

Part of the Cowboy Up! Team at Bonanza Creek.

Marine Sessions

April brought back Troy, one of our Marines out of Idaho who has been busy taking care of a pack string in the mountains on guided hunts. This March he also graduated from Dale Moore's Saddle Making School in Montana and built his very own saddle! 

 The very first thing we do is make sure the saddle is a fit -

that's putting it on without the pad to see if it makes all the right contacts in the right areas to keep the horses back comfortable and healthy!

Ready to launch!

"T4" expresses how nice it is to see Troy again!

Here are some pic's from the week:

Warming up.

Arena view and view of the Ortiz mountains. It's why we live here!

Joe and Rick hittin' a trot.

Nice job!

Trying the saddle on Roper this time.

FOOD Break!

Good riding, good food, good company...great crew!

Cowboy Up! Yoga in the morning...

...prepares both mind and body for the day.

Out and about.

On the morning Troy heads back to ID we have a little surprise for him...

Because of his hard work and commitment to learning and to always Cowboy Up! we induct him into the Order of the Purple Wild Rag  

~a commencement to life long learning!

  We've arranged Troy an apprenticeship with stellar leather craftsman Jack Gulley from South Dakota, so he can continue his education in working leather, fixing saddles and cowboyin'.

Alas, riding continues for this Marine!

 Bareback no less.

Trotting poles bareback is no easy feet unless you have a good seat!

A brief rest!

 Horses can be so competitive ~ stop pinning your ears guys!

You got it Joe ~ left lead and everything!

Happy Easter

It's been a busy 2017 thus far!!!

This is our new pond deck just completed and already in use 

Thank you Brian Ray!

It's been hard keeping up with this blog, sorry all!

We are still here and very active!!!

Many folks don't realize we live in the high desert where we do receive all four seasons, and well, our winter was pretty cold with a few snow storms. While we only book sessions permitted by weather we still have horses to keep legged up and chores to complete daily.

Through the winter months we continue with admin work, speaking engagements, education and scheduling for the upcoming season, but even we need some downtime with some of our own R&R.  Our wrangler extraordinaire Bianca took a well earned trip to Thailand in January, while Rick and I did some Continuing Education with the International Crisis Intervention Stress Foundation in February.  Afterward we took our very first real vacation where we walked on the beach, boated and saw how Florida cattle live:

We even had an wonderful opportunity to fly in a Stearman!
~ Thanks Pilot Tom!
In the 1930's and 40's this biplane was the standard trainer for pilots in the US Army and Navy. A whole generation of pilots earned their wings on the thousands of Stearman Trainers in operation at that time. Like the Royal Canadian Airforce, US Navy and Army used these biplanes for primary, advanced and aerobatic flight training, as well as instrument flight training.

Upon our return it was back to business, finishing projects, and meeting at the Round House for Veterans Day at the Legislature where we met some old friends and new.

To the right of Rick and Brian is Bob; Bob volunteers
time and experience ~ being a veteran and a cowboy we are happy to have him! 

With the warmer days we train and exercise the horses and March 9th, 2017 we kicked off our season with our 2nd Heal the Healers retreat for the NM National Guard Chaplains.

As projects get completed, like our Reflection Pond Deck
~Thank you Brian and Ida!~

Sessions begin to fill our days with visitors such as
Tech. Sgt. Robin Hopkins

And an impromptu visit from Jeff Fitzmorris & Laura Turner both 
Colorado USAF who made the following video short:

We fill our days with...

 ...riding...

...caring for tack...

...camaraderie, and in between it all...

....we welcome a new Marine to the program ~ Welcome Joe!

 The dusty trail brings in long overdue visits from...

...Rick Rinde (Army DOD) from up North in Maverick country...

 ...David (Israeli Comando) in from CA...

Chris Chaisson back from diesel mechanic school 

~ Congrats Chris - you both are just in time...

...to worm the horses!

March 24th, 2017 brought back the Wardogs, John and Stacy!

Continuing the love affair with 'Knight"!

 Stacy, Rick and John in the Civil War encampment in Pecos.

 

The site of the furthest west Civil War battle.

We got an education on Civil War soldiers in New Mexico...

...and watched some black powder demonstrations.

Afterward a visit to the Pueblo Mission;
all of which was was at the Pecos National Historic Park.

Another great visit!
Thanks John for bringing us a brand new Cowboy Up! Yoga sequence ~
perfect timing to teach the next few Cowboy Up! sessions!