August/September 2010 Paddock Paper
August Minutes and Announcements
7:00 p.m. – Meeting begins with announcements:
• Need people to run for NNMHA officers for 2011.
8:20 Meeting ends
• Fun Day in September, possibly the 25th. Horsemanship Challenge may be on the 26th. Need volunteers for both.
• Betsy requested feedback from members on Photo your Tack Day.
• Shelley announced her ACTHA ride, need for volunteers, and update on her stolen trailer.
• Ridge Riders ride Sunday after ACTHA ride.
• Karen Reyer thanked NNMHA for the Mule and Donkey Association’s use of facility.
• Betsy introduced tonight’s speaker.
August Speaker
Our guest speaker was Rick Iannucci, retired U.S. Marshal and former Green Beret, and Director of Horses For Heroes New Mexico, Inc. “Horses For Heroes – New Mexico, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Cowboy Up! is a horse therapy wellness program based in Santa Fe, NM free to Veterans and active military who have sustained physical injuries or combat trauma (PTSD) during their time serving our country. From day one Veterans are hands on with our 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.” (from www.horsesforheroes.org)Accompanying Rick were Nancy De Santis, Lori De Santis and veterans Sgt. Andrew Brandi, Lance Cpl. Sterling Bucholz, Sgt. Kristy LeFrance, Stewart Angel and wife Julie. The four Veterans each spoke of their experiences:
Sgt. Brandi: Stresses of combat troops different now. Vietnam tour of duty was 240 days per tour, now over 3000 days per tour, which has a dramatic impact on soldiers. Boot camp for soldiers is operant conditioning that brings out primal side. Primal side must be controlled – Horses for Heroes helps with this. Psychological issues complex due to war experience. Huge stresses faced by combat and combat support troops. Transition from military to civilian life extremely difficult. Horses for Heroes helps tremendously with transition. Suicide/homicide rates in US military have skyrocketed. Horses do not betray, humans do. Need to keep helping our vets one vet at a time.
Sgt. Brandi has written “The Warrior’s Guide to Insanity” a heavy little book dealing with post combat issues and much more. http://sgtbrandi.com/
Lance Cpl. Sterling Bucholz: Learned a lot about Vietnam vets and how they didn’t get any thanks from civilians. Horses for Heroes staff has been very helpful and giving, especially since they have combat vets. Considers them family. When he works with horses he is very focused – the only thing he is thinking about is the horse and riding. Horses for Heroes partners with the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior program.
Sgt. Kristy LeFrance: Wounded in explosion while in convoy in Iraq. Hit with an IED. Anger is always there, difficult to deal with. Has degree in business and accounting but due to her injuries cannot do them anymore. Had a horse, Lacy, who was brought to New Mexico for her by Horses for Heroes, and they rescued Stella, her service dog. Lacy helps her emotionally and has helped her physically in that she can now move about on her own two feet.
Stewart Angel: Veteran of Bosnian conflict. Combat medic. Thanks to Horses for Heroes for the help they have given him. Working with and riding horses has given him more focus than anything else in the past.
Tonight’s program served to move and enlighten our members and we appreciate our guests’ sharing their experiences with us.
—Phillip Bachicha & Trish HugNNMHA Fun Day
Sunday, September 26, was NNMHA Fun Day at the grounds; it was fun, though there were only four of us – Trish Hug, Betsy Walker, Blake Emerson and MaryJo McBean, who drove up from the South Valley in Albuquerque. It took us only 45 minutes to set up the course. We had a real gate, some poles for weaving forward and backward, the bridge, the tarp, the mailbox and later we set out some ground poles for trotting over. We had enough challenges that with four of us we never had to wait to take a turn. We rode from about 10:30 to 12:30, took a short lunch break, rode some more and then called it a day at about 1:30. Sorry you missed it!
Calendar of NNMHA Events
October 27 – AERC rider Kathy Myers of Santa Fe will speak about her first-time experience competing in the 100 mile Tevis Cup endurance race on July 24 of this year – what it took to get ready, strategies, stories… Usually only 20% of first-timers actually finish and Kathy finished 80th out of 181 starters. Should be a very interesting tale.
November 17 (one week earlier because of Thanksgiving) – “Crime Prevention and Coverage” This meeting follows in response to recent concerns raised about theft of horse related possessions, trailers, tack – and even our horses themselves. This meeting will have a two-pronged approach. We’ll hear from a crime prevention specialist from the Santa Fe sheriff’s office who will speak about the best ways to protect ourselves, our horses & livestock, our property and our possessions. What steps and measures can we take to best prevent these crimes from happening in the first place? If a crime does occur, what are the very best steps to take when reporting and following up? To dovetail with this, Garrett Seawright, of State Farm Insurance, will tell us about the best ways for horse owners, ranch owners and boarding facilities to choose coverage. There are specialized riders (no pun intended!) that are incredibly affordable to help us be protected in the event of a theft. Let’s be prepared!
Ridge Riders
Find the latest trail ride information – Ridge Riders.
In The News
Catch up on the latest – In The News.
Other Equine ActivitiesBe sure to check out the Other Equine Activities webpage for more fun events to attend.
ClassifiedsCheck out our Classifieds page for boarding opportunities, tack, horses and services.