Horses For Heroes Cowboy Up!
Instructors/Staff
Saddle Up!... We've Got Your SixIsaiah 6:8
Rick Iannucci retired U.S. Marshal and former Green Beret. Horses For Heroes - NM, Inc. Executive Director and Instructor. A working cowboy on several surrounding cattle ranches, also a nationally recognized 4-H leader (Western Horseman Magazine, November 2009).
He commanded a Special Missions Unit in Colombia, has served as an instructor at the US Military Academy at West Point, and was a member of the elite US Marshals Special Operations Group (SOG).
He is the recipient of the Attorney Generals Distinguished Service Award and the US Marshals Service Directors Award for his work in Colombia. In 2010 he received the American Red Cross Real Heroes Award for his current work with military veterans.
He combines a lifetime of horsemanship training with his military and police special operations training experience into this one of a kind program. Rick has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Neumann University and is a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and a decade member of the Special Forces Association (D-7014).
Corinthians 13: 4-6
Nancy De Santis Cowboy Up! Director and CCHI certified riding instructor, as well as, Treasurer and Secretary for Horses For Heroes - New Mexico, Inc. Nancy is webmaster managing all it's on-line presence. She also is a working cowgirl wrangling on surrounding ranches and is a Reiki Level II practitioner.
Joe Streaker, Raised on a Virginia Thoroghbred farm, Joe has started colts for the track, worked on several ranches, and has done everything from foxhunting to ranch roping and cutting.
Norm Becht is a US Army Veteran who wants to "give back" to those who have served their country by being a Cowboy Up! Instructor. Norm also volunteers for a local therapeutic riding program assisting riders with some much needed saddle-time.
Judy Schneider, LISW, has been a clinical social worker for over 25 years. She has worked with military families facing the challenges of deployment, trauma and suicide. Judy combines Equine Assisted Counseling into her work and is the founder of Healing Through Horses, working exclusively on our retreats for women veterans.
Carl Hawkins, USMC RECON Veteran. Life long working ranch cowboy worked with Tom Goodnight, 6666 Ranches, and Singleton Ranches just to name a few. Owner of the world class Hawkins Chuckwagon.
Thomas Wingate, US Army Veteran. Thomas managed a polo team of 30 horses at Cato Farms in North & South Carolina. Currently he is Ranch Manager of Eaves Movie Ranch, as well as one of our Cowboy Up! instructors.
Thomas Wingate, US Army Veteran. Thomas managed a polo team of 30 horses at Cato Farms in North & South Carolina. Currently he is Ranch Manager of Eaves Movie Ranch, as well as one of our Cowboy Up! instructors.
Wes Studi US Army Combat Veteran, horseman extraordinaire & Cowboy Up! Instructor. Also the star of such notable films as Geronimo, Last of the Mohicans, Comanche Moon, Avatar & Heat.
Kiowa Cranson a Colorado native attended Colorado State University with a bachelor degree in Ag Business. He is the trainer for the Singleton's San Cristobal Ranch Horse Division starting two year old horses.
Chuck Franco is a lifelong law enforcement officer and former magistrate judge. A dedicated horseman, Blue Star Dad, and 'First Gentleman". He is a hard working and dedicated addition to our Cowboy Up! Staff.
Advisory Board
Hon. Arthur Gajarsa, Judge (Ret.) US Circuit Court of Appeals, Sr. Legal Advisor
Gerald Valentine, MD Program Psychiatrist, VA Connecticut Healthcare System - National Center for PTSD
SFC Dana Bowman, US Army Special Forces, Abilities Advisor
Neal "Doc" Riley, US Army Special Forces OIF combat veteran, Program Medic
SFC Michael Chaisson, US Army Special Forces (Ret.) Program Medic
Wayne Winters, Horse Health Advisor and Farrier
Stuart McCall, DVM Program Veterinarian
Christina Savitsky NARHA certified therapeutic riding instructor since 1999. Instrumental in our initial instructor development program.
Lt. Col. Darrell "Moe" Elmore, US Army Special Forces (Ret.), Special Projects Advisor
Capt. Ralph W. Galati, US Airforce, ret., Decorated POW, Veterans Issue Advisor
Angela Ortiz-Flores, LISW Specializing in PTSD
Tim O'Byrne, Editor, Working Ranch Magazine
Robert Kingsbury CPA. Accounting Firm of Gonzalez & Kingsbury
Deb Austin, Office Alternatives, Albuquerque, NM
Nicole Woody, Esq. Legal Advisor
Jennifer Jaramillo, County Affairs Advisor
Four Legged Instructors
The Cowboy Up! program features the American Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse Association ID #: 1832444
American Quarter Horse Association ID #: 1832444
Hollywood
St. Jack
Stiltz
Houdini, aka Mr. Bill
Duke
Roper
Rain Dancer is now retired from all his work including working cattle and chasing bulls. He lives in Abiquiu, NM with two lovely girls who dote on him regularly.
Sokee (to the right and just below) is living in Los Alamos with one of our 4-H girls and is active in 4-H, in fact this year he took First and Third place in 2011 Districts! Sokee lives with Chip who also shows. Here is Sokee in his new life... as Julia keeps us updated on all their adventures.
Moon Dancer is loving life with all his mares. He lives just down the road and is enjoying retirement by spending some time heading out on the trails.
Aztec & Duke are back home on the Express soaking up the sun and breathing in the fresh mountain air.