PUBLICATION OF

VALENCIA COUNTY NEWS-BULLETIN MOUNTAIN VIEW TELEGRAPH EL DEFENSOR CHIEFTAIN

C o WBoy Country

2015

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A PUBLICATION OF

VP Community Newspapers Rockford M. Hayes

TABLE CONTENTS Valencia County of News-Bulletin

Editor Clara Garcia True cowboy: mirabal • 4

Staff Writers Prize-winning angus bulls • 8 Julia M. Dendinger Deborah Fox 10 Kenn Rodriguez Single action shooting •

Director of Sales Cowboys and cattle • 12 Joe Mickelson Baditude bucking bulls 14 Advertising Consultants • Sandra Nadeau Bobbie Chandler Valencia County vets • 16

Walkin in circles • 18 Mountain View Telegraph cowboy tails • 20

ranch life 22 Editor • Rory McClannahan horsin around therapeutic • 24 Staff Writers Iain Woessner Nicole Maxwell

El Defensor Chieftain

Editor Scott Turner

Staff Writers John Larson Jonathan Miller

Advertising Consultant Olivia Gomez

Cover and Template Design Byron Hughey COWBOY Country 4

Visit with Alpacas and shop for that special gift in the Ranch Store.

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Submitted photo Magdalena Middle School student Jaxson Mirabal earned a spot on New Mexico’s Junior High School Rodeo national team. Calamity Jane true cowboy 10% DISCOUNT Middle-schooler Mirabal on one item with this ad embodies the Old West By Jonathan Miller than soon-to-be eighth-grader Jaxson El Defensor Chieftain Staff Writer Mirabal. Recently the Magdalena Middle Magdalena School student earned a spot on New True cowboys are tough. They Mexico’s Junior High School Rodeo have a reputation for being salt of the national team by cleaning house at earth, sons-of-guns who represent the NMJHS finals in Lovington in the good ol’ days, the rough and May, but that accomplishment was tumble days. They ventured West, more than a year in the making. tamed the wild and conquered an In early 2014, Mirabal was prepar- Ranch Hours: Fri-Sat 11-4pm - Call Ahead unforgiving and unknown landscape. ing to qualify for the national junior Appointments available on other days If you’re looking for a true cowboy high rodeo as a sixth-grader, but an 150 North Bosque Loop • Bosque Farms in Socorro County, look no farther injury took him out of the game for 869-2133 • www.cowboycamelids.com SUMMER 2015 See Mirabal Page 5 5 Mirabal: Brand of determination Do you have from page 4 trouble hearing? a bit. That injury would have taken won the average in goat tying, saddle any normal rider several months to bronc and bareback riding to earn Why miss a word if you don’t have to. recover from, but Jaxson would have his way to nationals, but anyone ® ™ none of it. who knows the Mirabals shouldn’t Try NEW Audibel A3 wireless hearing aids today. “I think that’s all he’s ever thought be surprised by his success. After The latest in hearing aid technology. about, is either working on our all, rodeo is a true legacy in Jaxson’s ranch or competing in rodeos,” said family. Jaxson’s dad, Jory. “He competes in “He has several uncles that com- sports and enjoys that at school, but pete; his mom competed,” Jory said. he really enjoys working at the ranch “My granddad rode broncs too, so and going to rodeos.” it’s kind of a family thing and he was That injury put a gash in Jaxson’s drawn to it.” leg so deep it found bone on his Rodeo is truly a family legacy right leg and required more than 80 and Jaxson’s been competing in the stitches, but he was so determined to rodeo area since he was 5 years old. recover he was literally back in the However that doesn’t make the job of Welcome to the next generation saddle the next day — against doc- a dad any easier. of wireless hearing technology. A3 hearing aids lead the way in tor’s orders. “I worry about him ... As a dad and as a coach, I’m sitting there going performance, comfort, personalization Clearly no one in the Mirabal fam- and connectivity. They are designed to: ily would ever put Jaxson in harms ‘Why in the world am I letting my kids climb on one of these suckers?’” Help you hear and understand way, but he carries a brand of deter- But when you have a kid who conversations better in noisy mination that got him to the national environments like restaurants breaks his own horses and all but finals in Des Moines, Iowa, on June Make loud sounds more comfortable blows off an injury that might side- 27 nonetheless. while boosting soft sounds line a professional hockey player, “I’m really excited,” Jaxson said. Stream TV, phone calls and more, there’s still an inherent level of trust directly to your A3 hearing aids “That’s all I’ve been thinking about within the family — even for a since I qualified.” See Mirabal, Page 6 In Lovington last month, Jaxson Fit to Hear. Fit for Life.

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LIKE US ON FOLLOW US ON *Deposit may be required. 6 Mirabal: Happy from page 5 seventh-grader. “I just want him to go compete and enjoy the experience, and do his best and let the cards fall where they might,” Jory said. “I just hope he enjoys it and takes it all in.” Not only will Jaxson feel the pres- sure of competing against the best in the country in Des Moines in rodeo events, but he’ll also feel the pressure of running for office. He’s running for vice president of the NJHSRA. It doesn’t seem like all that pres- sure will affect him too negatively though. “I just think doing my best and knowing what I did … If I know I tried my hardest I’ll be happy,” Jaxson said. And of course like a true cowboy, he’ll keep it all in the family. “I’m just happy for my dad Submitted photo because he always takes me to all of these rodeos and supports me.” Magdalena Middle School student Jaxson Mirabal practices for upcoming rodeo competitions.

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SUMMER 2015 NMB-T.com 7 ride. dream. play at bfra!

Come join us at the Bosque Farms Fair - July 24-26 Celebrating50+ years of supporting the rural equestrian lifestyle!

JuNioR RodEo sChEduLE FALL 2015 For Ages 18 and Under All Leadliners Receive a Buckle a girl and Boy All Around Buckles, 31 ug money and Prizes r us be • • C t 2 to s he 2 oc rm ck september 12 Fo our try webs o En ite for Fall Youth Rode AttENtION

ROUgH StOCK RIDERS, tHE BOSqUE FARmS JR. RODEO EVENtS WILL BE A qUALIFYINg EVENt FOR tHE AYBR WORLD FINALS

Cowboy’s Enjoy a night out for two and a chance to win the $10,000 RENtAL iNFoRMAtioN grand prize at the popular event November 7, 2015 at Isleta Night out Resort & Casino Limited (300) tickets available! Call Reasonable rental rates for AnnuAl FundrAiser dinner 505.363.8198 or 505.450.5099 for tickets or information. Event Hall for receptions, parties, memorials Reasonable rental rates for Arena Events for rodeos, clinics, barrel races, horse shows BOSqUEFARmSRODEO.ORg see website for FIND US ON FACEBOOK: SEARCH more information “BOSqUE FARmS RODEO ASSOCIAtION”COWBOYBosqueFarmsRodCouneoAssociattionry 8 cow-man Sanchez breeds prize-winning Angus bulls By Kenn Rodriguez News-Bulletin Staff Writer

Los Chavez When Patrick Sanchez talks about his Angus bulls, he can hardly contain his enthusiasm. In fact, talking to him over ice tea in his home in Los Chavez is a lot like talking to someone who’s discovered exactly what they should be doing in life — which is pretty much the situation he is in. Sanchez and his wife Theresa’s company, Sanchez Angus Cattle and Farm, recently had one of its Angus bulls, named PS Emblazon 1478, was the top-selling Angus bull out of 80 at New Mexico State University’s Tucumcari Bull Test. “The average score is 100 and our bull had a 120 to win it, so our bull is better than the average by 20 percent prob- ably,” Sanchez says. “There were only 10 bulls over 110, so it was like running the Kentucky Derby and winning by a Kenn Rodriguez-News-Bulletin photo nose. We were really fortunate.” Patrick Sanchez of Sanchez Angus Cattle and Farm in Los Chavez, recently had one his Angus This was the second time Sanchez Angus has produced bulls, PS Emblazon 1478, honored as the top-selling Angus bull at New Mexico State University’s See Sanchez Page 9 Tucumcari Bull Test.

SUMMER 2015 9 Sanchez: Two bulls, two prizes from page 8 the top-selling Angus bull, having The association goes through a managed the feat first in 2011. process called “Expected Prodigy “At the time, someone pulled me Difference” to rate calves once they're aside and told me to really enjoy it born from the sire, or male parent and because we had a top-selling bull so the dam, or female parent. early on,” he said. “So being able to do “With EPDs, you know the dam’s it again this year was a very humbling genetics and the bulls genetics,” he experience. We got a hit the first time said. “Each has their own number and and won when we were new in the has its own identity as far as genetic registered business but this one seems makeup. You can show it all on paper. to mean a little more because we saw It’s the difference between just kick- how hard it is to do it and come back ing a car’s tires and being able to see and repeat.” under the hood, if you’re buying a What makes Sanchez’s accomplish- bull.” ment with the Angus bull even more Though he’s found success with a impressive is that Emblazon 1478 was prize-winning bull twice now, Sanchez a natural born bull, as opposed to said he wants to continue improving coming from artificial insemination as his livestock, using the technology many bulls and cows come from when available as well as his own efferves- it comes to gatherings like the NMSU cent enthusiasm. Bull Test, which was established by “What’s kept me going is the passion the university in 1961 and is the sec- to try to raise the best cattle here that ond oldest bull test in the country. are adaptable to Southwestern condi- Bulls are tested for six months to tions,” he said. “Since I got together determine their quality based largely with a fellow with a degree in animal on how much weight they are able to husbandry, we’ve been able to develop gain and how fast, among other crite- efficient cattle that eat less grain and ria. gain more weight. It’s really paid off.” “The sire and the cow he came from Sanchez has lived off Jose I. Garcia were our best and he ended up being Road in Los Chavez for the past 10 just a tremendous bull,” Sanchez said, years, building a house around 2005 pointing out his bull beat out bulls and taking over the land, which from Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado includes several nearby lots where he as well as bulls from New Mexico, for grows alfalfa and other crops. Behind the honor. his house, his now prized bull rules Sanchez, who said his family was the roost with a dozen or so cows and among the four founding families of about as many calves in the field. The Los Chavez, grew up in Albuquerque rest of his herd is on range land near and began raising cattle on his land in Moriarty. the South Valley 20 years ago. “I kind of grew up around farms and ‘When we first started, it just was ranching and I used to help grandpa,” something to put meat in the freezer,” he said. “He had small dairy, about he said. “We started with steers, then 300 acres, and I used to help in the bought some mama cows to start summer. I always liked the style of liv- breeding them. We were then run- ing. Once I was able to buy land and ning commercial cattle for a while lease some other property, I was able from there. We got our butts kicked at to acquire cattle and one thing lead to first but we’ve come a long way since another.” then.” Now 57, Sanchez, who gradu- Sanchez said he came into raising ated from Valley High School in registered Angus cattle in 2008, which Albuquerque, eventually got into was a big step up from just raising construction and is now a code commercial cattle. The process is enforcement officer for the city of fairly involved, he explained. Albuquerque, a job he said he will “You have to go through the likely retire from in the next year or American Angus Association, and so. Then he’ll devote his time exclu- they trace everything back to grand- sively to raising cattle. sire, to get genetic traits for not just the “It’ll actually be nice,” Sanchez said. cow, but this goes back to see the sire “I’ll be able to work the farm, about of the calf,” he explained. “They go 80-90 acres, and run cattle on week- back generations, and the cow and bull ends. It’ll be nice to not have to go to has to be registered.” Albuquerque every day.” COWBOY Country 10 Shoot ‘em up SASS in Edgewood has 100,000 members By Rory McClannahan Mountain View Telegraph Editor

Edgewood Sometimes the best ideas come about when you are among friends doing the things you enjoy. Without a group of friends and a common inter- est in cowboy-era firearms, there might never have been a Single Action Shooting Society or the sport of cowboy action shooting. Now SASS has about 100,000 members worldwide and thousands of shooters come to Founders Ranch in Edgewood every year for the annual End of Trail event that crowns the best shooters in the world. Both the sport and the organization has grown beyond the imaginations of that group of friends who Telegraph file photo would get together on weekends in the California Shooting and costumes do go together. The Single Action Shooting Society’s mission is to promote the desert in the early 1980s and fire a few rounds. sport of Cowboy Action Shooting and preserve the lifestyle of the Old West. The organization has more “They all grew up watching westerns and had an than 100,000 members world wide. affinity for the lifestyle,” said Barbara “Cat Ballou” Ormond, who along with her husband, Don “Tex” The sport continued to grow, but Ormond said that “It’s just so much fun to pretend for a while. The Ormond, were there at the beginning. by the early 2000s, it was getting more difficult to world is serious enough, so why not have some fun?” Word got around that these friends were going out hold events in California. Ormond said. and shooting and having a good time. More people “The political climate had changed and we lost our That attitude carries over to member names. You started showing up at these excursions and folks leased range to a housing development,” Ormond could go to a SASS event looking for a friend who started coming dressed up like they’d just stepped said. “We started looking for a new place and fortu- goes by the name Barbara Ormond, for instance, out of a time machine. nately found the property near Edgewood.” but to find her you better ask if anyone knows Cat A little organization was needed for these gather- By 2004, SASS had moved to New Mexico and Ballou. ings, so these friends — which included Harper moved onto the 480-acre Founders Ranch. The ranch If there is one thing that is taken seriously by Creigh, Gordon Davis and Bill Hahn — came up has several ranges and horse arenas, but the cen- SASS and its members it is safety. Ranges are with a few competitions with some loose rules. terpiece is the Old West main street that was built monitored by certified professionals. Firearm safety The first End of Trail was held in 1982 with 65 on the property. During End of Trail, most of the courses are required among participants and even the Western buildings are used in conjunction with the participants. lowliest of members will chastise anyone who is not By 1987, the original group of friends realized that event, and any visitor who arrives wearing 21st cen- following safety procedures. the sport was growing and they needed to organize tury duds will look out of place. “In all these years we’ve never had a serious acci- even further. So in 1987, SASS was created to help A big part of SASS and End of Trail is the celebra- in the development of local clubs and serve as a gov- tion of the Old West, which means most folks are dent,” Ormond said. “We want this to be fun for the erning organization for Cowboy Action Shooting. dressed accordingly, Ormond said. See SASS Page 11 Fabulous Custom Home in Los Chavez!

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SUMMER 2015 The greatest compliment you can give is a referral. 11

Telegraph file photos Every member of the Single Action Shooting Society gets a badge. The organi- zation was formed in 1987 in California but moved to Edgewood in 2004.

Each year in June, the Single Action Shooting Society hosts its annual Cowboy Action Shooting event, End of Trail, at Founders Ranch in Edgewood. The ranch sports ranges, arenas for mounted shooting and an Old West town. SASS: Fun for the whole family from page 10 whole family and safety will always be shooting events year-round. a priority.” For more information on these End of Trail is held annually at events and about SASS, go online to Founders Ranch each June. However, www.sassnet.com. the ranch also hosts several regional

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Cowboy country in New Mexico can find its beginnings in the vast plains and mountains of Socorro and Catron counties. Ranching was a way of life for many, and a good hired hand could always find work, from the sprawling ranches like the WS Ranch in Alma to dozens of smaller cattlegrowers across Socorro and Catron counties. Magdalena: The Trail’s End From the 1880s through the mid- 20th century, the cattle business was thriving between Springerville, Ariz., and Magdalena, the “trail’s end.” A wild town, with bars, hotels and Courtesy of BLM and Farr family gambling for the monetarily solvent cowboys, Magdalena earned its name Farr cattle drive — getting close to peaceably enough around 1540 when Magdalena. a Spanish soldier saw the face of Mary Magdalene on the north side of the five to 10 miles wide, was used annu- mountain that overlooks the present ally up until 1916, when it was official- TRAILER SALES town. ly designated by law with the signing Parts • Sales • Service The face is shaped by a natural of the Grazing Homestead Act. After formation of rocks and shrubs, but that, it was used continually until Custom Hats the religious resemblance caused the trucking became the preferred way of mountain to become a place of refuge getting cows to market. from hostile Indian attacks. The peak year was 1919 when One of the largest shipping centers 150,000 sheep, and 21,000 head of west of Chicago, Magdalena was cattle passed the point around Ten known as the “trail’s end” of the live- Mile Hill. In 1930, the driveway stock driveway from Springerville. was fenced, and wells were drilled The stockyards, on North Ash about every 10 miles by the Civilian Street, are the only reminder of the Conservation Corps. village’s cattle heyday when thousands The last cattle drive was in 1971, of cows and sheep were herded into when the Santa Fe Railroad spur to Magdalena using the historic stock Magdalena closed. driveway, also known as the “hoof Rancher Dave Farr remembers the highway.” days before trucks replaced the cattle Cowboys drove their cattle — on the drives in an interview in 2008 with average — 10 miles a day, and herders Brenda Wilkinson, Bureau of Land drove sheep about five miles a day, Management’s archeologist in Socorro. allowing them to graze along the way. “Well, we always worked short- Chuck wagons and relays of horses fol- handed, like in the spring with straight lowed behind. yearlin’s there’d be two of us and a The driveway, 125 miles long and horse wrangler and a cook,” Farr said. 19480 Hwy 314 • Belen, NM 87002 SUMMER 2015 See Cowboys Page 13 (505) 864-8899 • www.tandttrailersalesnm.com 13 Cowboys: Baca elected sheriff from page 12 “And the horse wrangler would bring More cowboys arrived, many from the horses in to the wagon and hook a the large WS Ranch at Alma, and rope on the wagon wheel and build a before it was all over it is said more rope corral and catch our horses and than 400 bullet holes were counted in saddle ‘em.” the walls of the jacal. Elfego emerged “Well, we were always on horse- unscathed after the sheriff arrived the back so we’d change horses. We’d start out with the cattle, and the cook next day and calmed the crowd. At one would start out with his wagon, horse point during the seige, Elfego shot and wrangler go with his horses,” he said. killed one cowboy who tried to storm “We’d have a pow-wow with the cook, the house, and Elfego was tried for where we’d camp for noon maybe. We murder in Socorro but quickly acquit- just grazed the cattle along, and the ted. horse wrangler grazed the horses.” Charlie McCarty, of Reserve, once “Cook would hook up with the spoke of what he knew about that mules and get ahead so he could have event. dinner or supper ready. We’d change “Charlie McCarty, the one that made horses, morning noon and night … we had night horses,” Farr said. “On ear- Elfego Baca famous, was my grand- lier trips we made we’d have to stand dad,” McCarty said. “He settled here guard every night, after everybody got in the 1800s.” in and ate, and the cattle bed down.” “My family refused to talk about it,” “Why, they’d look at a watch and he said. “A news reporter once came to divide the time up and each fella had my dad but he brushed her off and said so many hours, two or three hours, to go find something else to write about.” ride around the cattle and hold ‘em. “Elfego and my granddad met up And they’d come wake the next guard on the streets of Magdalena about the Courtesy of BLM and H.B. Birmingham family up and then in the mornin’, usually the turn of the century,” he said. “The two last guard he’d pull out with the cattle Taking a break at the chuckwagon. old-timers got to talking, slapped each while the other cowboys were eatin’ breakfast and we’d whip up and relieve other on the back, went to the bar and him and he’d come back and eat.” bought each other’s drinks.” “This is all before the sun comes up, In 2008, a statue memorializing just daylight you know,” Farr added. Elfego’s standoff was dedicated in the center of tiny Reserve, not far from the The legend of Elfego Baca now-disappeared jacal. One hundred miles southwest of Elfego went on to be elected Socorro Magdalena is the village of Reserve, County sheriff, and his exploits were which was once known as Frisco romanticized in a 1958 Walt Disney Plaza, the site made famous for a two- television series, “The Nine Lives of day shoot out between Socorro County Elfego Baca,” starring Robert Loggia Deputy Sheriff Elfego Baca and as the crafty sheriff. upwards of 70 some-odd cowboys in According to legend, when Elfego 1884, or so most of the accounts go. first took office, he got the names and It seems there was a highly inebri- addresses of all those who had out- ated cowboy shooting his pistol off in a rowdy fashion, which caught the standing warrants and he sent each of attention of 19-year-old Elfego Baca, the accused a note, which said, “I have who happened to be in town. Charlie a warrant here for your arrest. Please McCarty, the cowboy, was summar- come in by March 15 and give yourself ily arrested and locked up in the back up. If you don’t, I’ll know you intend room of Mr. Milligan’s Store. to resist arrest, and I will feel justified Several of Charlie’s friends in shooting you on sight when I come demanded the deputy release him, and after you.” in the scuffle, Elfego pulled out his That non-violent method worked on six-shooter and unintentionally shot a most of the recipients. horse, which fell on the rider, killing him. Tempers got out of control and Besides his two year stint as sheriff, the uneven odds told Elfego he was in Elfego was also, at one time or anoth- trouble so he sprinted down the street er, Socorro’s mayor, school superin- to the shelter of a small shack, an tendent, county clerk and, after he adobe jacal. became a lawyer, district attorney. COWBOY Country 14 graze and roam Baditude Bucking Bulls breeding rodeo champs By Iain Woessner “Transformers” robot. Mountain View Telegraph Writer Ortiz’s ranch is home to a number of cows, bulls and goats. He shares the Chilili land with pig farmer Harold Dow, who Under New Mexico’s big sky a ver- raises Red Wattle Heritage Hogs, an dant landscape spreads out across the endangered species of porcine. Ortiz’s foothills of Chilili, where the Baditude son and daughter, Abelino and Anita, Bucking Bulls graze and roam, bred to have grown up on the ranch. buck riders from far and wide off their Abelino rides bulls himself, with broad backsides. aspirations to be a world champion, “Just to (wake up) and see how while Anita is interested in the busi- healthy they are, make sure the calves ness side of bull raising. Abelino will are born (makes it worthwhile),” be going to Abilene, Texas, in August Antonio Ortiz, a local ranch owner to compete in the Professional Bull and an employee for the Torrance Riders World Championship. County Department of Roads, said Travelers are welcome to come by as he oversaw his prized bucking and see the bulls, take pictures and bulls approach the fence. “Watching learn about the art of cattle herding, bull bucking, rodeo clowning and any them buck is a lot of fun, too. The Iain Woessner-Telegraph photo bulls make their own names for them- number of skills that Ortiz is versed selves.” in. Old Ironhide charges at the fences to demonstrate his position as the alpha Bull riding isn’t as popular as it used “(The bulls are) smarter than heck,” bull of his herd at the Baditude Bucking Bulls Ranch in the East Mountains. to be, ranch owner Ortiz admits as he Ortiz said. “When the cows are being guides his massive pick-up truck up born, the bull will walk the fence line along the dusty road leading towards and bawl all night long to make sure his grazing grounds. Here a handful the predators don’t take their calves.” raise it; grow it; sew it; just show it of bulls come slowly trundling along For prospective riders, Ortiz knows as he calls to them, expectant for exactly what you need to succeed at hay. Chief amongst them, and first to staying on a bucking bull. arrive, is the imperious patriarch and “You need to work out, be strong, leader of the herd, a monstrous black agile and have no fear,” he said. “It plummer cow, who walked with the takes a lot of focus, too.” regal grace of a king, who had earned Young Abelino patrols the edges the name Ironhide. of the ranch on a crimson all-terrain “We haven’t named them (when vehicle. The cows know the sound of they’re young)” Ortiz said. “We see the engine, and come up the dusty path what they can do and then we name to watch him make his rounds, trying ‘em.” to locate a missing calf. Ironhide was named by Antonio’s The calf’s mother remained atop a wife, Annette, after her favorite See Bulls Page 15 Saturday August 29th 10 am on California Street

SUMMER 2015 15 Bulls: Timeless ranch from page 14 ridge, watching the tree line, waiting for its child to return, even though Abelino came back empty- handed. There’s no cause for concern, Ortiz said. They don’t lose calves very often, and it seems common enough for a baby cow to wander away from its mother as it grows older. “Once they get on top of their game you gotta exercise them,” he said. “Get a big corral and run ‘em around. Here they get plenty of exercise. They’ll go eat good grass back there, then by the time they walk over here to get water they’ve got- ten a good workout. Out in Texas you get more rain. Out here it’s dry, but you got good grass.” The ranch seems timeless, tucked away from the bustle of Albuquerque and nestled in the bounti- ful bosom of the blossoming East Mountains. The constant sound of braying bovines is carried on the cool summer’s breeze. For Ortiz, he says, this isn’t simply a hobby. It’s a way of life. “I can’t wait to retire,” he said with a laugh, say- ing he looks forward to being able to spend all of his days on his ranch, tending to his livestock. He hopes to be able to leave a full-fledged breeding business to his children. Of course, the key to raising good bulls is keeping them happy, Iain Woessner-Telegraph photo and Ortiz knows exactly what makes a bull happy. “Food,” he said. “A lot of food, a lot of grain.” A boy’s life: The Ortiz family gathers to watch the bulls approach the fence. Cow rearing is in their blood. His wife added, “And the occasional cow of Antonio Ortiz, in the cowboy hat, recalls his father raising cows, and his son and daughter have both taken course.” to the art with gusto.

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By Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Assistant Editor

The image is iconic: The rugged cowboy atop his trusty horse moving the herd across the sweeping plains. Maybe he is taking them to summer pasture, maybe they are headed to market. Either way, it is a sweeping and romantic picture of life in the West. The part of the picture most people don’t imagine is what happens when his horse comes up lame or a cow has a difficult birth along the trail. Well, “back in the day,” as they say, the cowboy did for himself, treated the Julia M. Dendinger-News-Bulletin photo animals as best he could and possibly went on with life short one cow pony Dr. Fabian Sanchez, DVM, owner of Yucca Veterinary Medical Center in Belen, examines a pregnant mare at or bovine. Double LL Ranch in Bosque. The veterinarian uses a portable, digital ultrasound to measure the progress of the preg- With the advent of modern inven- nancy. Much of the work Sanchez does is related to equine reproductive health. tions such as the automobile and the railroad, the image of the lone cowboy his fellow practitioner, Dr. Florian focused on large animals. Sanchez “My job is to educate people and on the trail remains iconic but not nec- Sanchez, DVM, owner of Yucca opened Yucca Veterinary Medical help them keep up with vaccinations,” essarily all that realistic. Now when Veterinary Medical Center in Belen, Center in October of 2014. McCallister said. “We’re a better a horse goes headlong into a barbed- has been alive. Regardless of the age gap, both source than feed stores. We only use wire fence or a cow just can’t birth a McCallister graduated with a have put in nearly a decade of work to brand name vaccines and we make calf, ranchers and farmers can call on doctorate of veterinary medicine in become veterinarians, and now offer sure they are handled right — if it gets local veterinarians to lend a hand. 1984 from Kansas State University, their services to animal owners across too hot it’s bad, if it freezes it’s worse.” Valencia County is home to many after earning his bachelors in ani- the county. Growing up and working on the vets who treat a wide range of animals mal science from New Mexico State Looking back at his years in the family ranch, Sanchez is aware that — from our companion animals up University. business, McCallister said there really many cattle growers have to take a to formidable breeding stallions. We In August 1987, his dream of own- isn’t much new in the way of treating common sense approach to maintain- sat down with two of them to get their ing his own practice came true when illnesses but there are new illnesses ing the health of their animals, and it’s take on modern veterinary medicine he established the local veterinary hos- finding their way to New Mexico. sometimes for economic reasons. for large animals, primarily horses and pital on “The Farm.” West Nile Virus made an appearance “A big thing we do is keep clients up cattle. On the other hand, Sanchez is a in the late 1990s “with a vengeance,” to date on the latest vaccines. One of Dr. Mike McCallister, DVM, owner 2004 Belen High School graduate and as he put it, and is here to stay. Tick- the most cost-effective ways to keep of Village Veterinary Hospital in graduated from Texas A&M before borne diseases are making their way a heard healthy is with the right vac- Bosque Farms, has been practicing he completed veterinary school at across the country recently and heart cines,” Sanchez said. animal medicine almost as long as Colorado State University, where he worms are a problem everywhere. See Vets Page 17

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1435 Route 66 [email protected] C(505)oun281-98try60 Edgewood, NM 87015 www.sandiatrailer.com (800) 832-0603 18 equine angels Walkin N Circles helps hundreds of horses By Nicole Maxwell teaches participants how to handles Mountain View Telegraph Writer traumatized horses. People who adopt horses get a DVD that shows the train- Cedar Grove ing methods. On a sprawling ranch in Cedar “We’re thrilled that 90 out of 100 Grove, north of Edgewood, 69 rescued ranch hands are involved in the pro- abused, abandoned and unwanted gram,” Andrews said. horses are maintained, trained and — The horses are fed twice a day by most of them— adopted out. the 50-person feed team. There are Walkin N Circles is one of 30 horse over 100 total volunteers at Walkin N ranches in the United States and Circles, which is “fantastic,” Andrews Canada that are a part of the Doris said. Day Equine Clinic that teaches work- The volunteers, or ranch hands as ers how to deal with traumatized they are usually called, are broken into horses and recently began a fodder 10 teams with duties ranging from program where the ranch makes its feeding the horses, administrative own food for the horses. duties and maintenance. “As long as you don’t have a hal- Living on the property is new ranch ter, everyone is friendly,” Walkin manager Steve Forester, who has been Nicole Maxwell-Telegraph photo N Circles Executive Director Ruth employed at the ranch since 2011, first Walkin N Circles Ranch Executive Director Ruth Andrews lets Max smell her Andrews said. hand. Walking N Circles Ranch is a horse rescue that takes in abandoned, See Horses Page 19 The Doris Day Equine Clinic abused and unwanted horses with the hope of eventually adopting them out.

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“It’s like treating an anorexic; added,” Andrews said. can cost between $30 and $50 depend- Horses: Help their bodies are so used to The fodder is made from barley ing on the type of training, Andrews from page 18 seeds and is watered on a timed basis, said. getting minimal food that it’s Andrews said. Currently, the ranch owns all 69 of as caretaker/handyman, then as ranch hard to get them to eat more.” Walkin N Circles received a $4,250 the horses and would like to get that foreman. grant from the American Society for down to 50 since they cost an aver- “During the past six months of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals age of $3,000 per animal per year to the ranch’s reorganization, Steve has Ruth Andrews to help with the fodder program. maintain, which includes feed and vet- Andrews has hopes of one day freez- erinary bills. taken on more responsibilities and has Executive director demonstrated leadership abilities that ing and re-selling the fodder since it is Horses stay at the ranch an average make him the ideal ranch manager,” cheaper than hay. of three years, longer for ones that are One of these horses is Precious, who All of the horses at Walkin N Circles ill and forever for ones that cannot be Andrews said. was found on the mesa and was 400 that are aged 15 years or younger are adopted out, Andrews said. The ranch is currently taking appli- pounds underweight when she came in training. Some ranch hands pay for For more information, go online to cations for ranch hands. Orientation to the ranch. She has been at the ranch training with their own money, which www.wncr.org. is held the last Saturday of the month for less than a year and is in the pro- starting at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., unless cess of re-feeding. orientation day lands on a national Most of the horses are fed alfalfa holiday or other ranch activity. and a supplement of senior feed at the “We are very attractive for families,” evening feeding. The older horses that Andrews said. cannot chew very well anymore get Although a family-oriented experi- “alfalfa soup,” which is a combination ence, the ranch does not allow ranch of alfalfa pellets and senior feed pellets hands to be under 8 years old. made into a soft consistency. The horses at Walkin N Circles Of the 69 horses at the ranch, 12 of range from retired racehorses that them are fed from the fodder program. cannot be ridden or adopted out to for- Walkin N Circles has a goal of getting merly starved, abandoned horses. at least 35 horses on the program by “Re-feeding a starving horse is a the end of the year. science unto itself. It’s like treating an This program saves about $1,000 per anorexic; their bodies are so used to month on feed bills, Andrews said. getting minimal food that it’s hard to “It’s just growth with barley seed, get them to eat more,” Andrews said. water and light. There are no minerals

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“For our honeymoon, we went to the bull riding championships in Scottsdale, and when it ended, we kind of looked at each other like, what’s next? It was wintertime and there wasn’t much to do until rodeo season, we went trapping in the mountains for three months. It was the only logical thing to do, right? Actually, it was amazing and I learned a lot, mostly about who I had just married.” ~ Cowboy Tails

Rio Communities Terri Powers has always had a fascination with cowboys, but at an early age, she made a decision about the breed of man who would much rather spend time with his horse rather than with his wife. “At 8 years old, I decided I would never marry a cowboy and I never did,” Powers said laughing. “The work is so hard — it looks like those women have it hard. Being a cowboy’s woman — no thank you.” Growing up in Tijeras, Powers was knee deep in the cowboy lifestyle. Her father was an equipment contractor for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and her brother enjoyed roping as a youngster. While she tried to keep away from get- ting involved with a cowboy, her son, Sal Gomez, ironically, is a roper in Texas. Even though she kept to her promise to never marry a cowboy, she has always been fascinated with the lifestyle and the women who put up with those rough and rugged men, who work hard, play even harder and have little to no time for the women folk. Her fascination with these particular types of women led her on a journey to write a book of the tales she’s heard throughout the years. “Cowboy Tails: Good ol’ Gals Tell All,” her second book, was published in early December, just in time to debut it at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev. Every day, all day, Powers signed books for anyone and everyone who bought a copy. “Those cowboys are some hard dogs to keep under the porch,” she said. “They just do whatever they want. Just the lifestyle of carrying stuff, pull- ing stuff, driving stuff and all that stuff just looks Rio Communities author Terri Powers will be holding a book signing for “Cowboy Tails: Good ol’ Gals See Women Page 21 Tell All” from 1-4:30 p.m., Saturday, July 11, at Hastings in Los Lunas. You can also get a copy of the book at Cowboytails.com or from Amazon. SUMMER 2015 21

from a women in Boston who had a “I think it’s the lifestyle that I Women: Love one-night stand with a cowboy, and didn’t like,” Powers says, “because from page 20 from her accounts, it sounds like she cowboys are very attractive. There’s was a ne’er-do-well. just something about those guys that hard.” “At the end, she says she married, make women swoon. It was just too While Powers doesn’t have any- she has a great life and two beauti- hard of work and I didn’t want that thing personally against cowboys, ful children,” Powers said, “but, life. Yeah, I was attracted, but just she said, ‘If that cowboy showed up she just didn’t want one of her own. not interested.” Her first book, “Gold Buckles tomorrow, I’d sell it all and leave After writing the book, she ana- Don’t Lie,” a biography of Fred with him.’” lyzed her decision and came up with Whitfield, the only African- Even though Powers talked with American rodeo world champion, got dozens of women who are in the this conclusion: “In my whole idea her somewhat back into the lifestyle thick of it and wouldn’t change it for for not marrying a cowboy was that I from a distance. She began talking the world, the allure of being with a was a feminist and I wasn’t going to to women about their cowboys, their cowboy and living the cowboy life- live with the old-time, old-fashioned, lifestyles and some of their best and style continues to elude Powers — old-school men.” worst memories of living the life of a and she’s more than fine with it. What she did learn after talking cowboy’s cowgirl. “There are a lot of women who to these women featured in the book “I saw there were some smart girls, wouldn’t have anything but,” she is that a lot of women were pushed good women and they’re married to said. “I don’t know what it is but in by their cowboys farther than they cowboys and it’s not killing them,” their eyes, that’s just what a man is. would have ever gone without them. Powers said. “This book is kind of Compared to metro-sexuals, men These cowboys had more faith in an exploration of my decision not to from today, these guys have some- what they could do than they did Submitted photo thing that a lot of women want.” marry a cowboy. We’ve got every- themselves. Terri Powers, author of “Cowboy Tails: Not all of the cowboys featured in thing in there. The bull riders did Powers will be holding a book Good ol’ Gals Tell All,” knew from an the book are ropers and bull riders. not fare very well ― they’re pretty signing for “Cowboy Tails: Good wild.” early age she would never marry a Some are your every-day ranchers, ol’ Gals Tell All” from 1-4:30 p.m., Every chapter in “Cowboy Tails: cowboy. While she’s held to her prom- and there are some stories about Saturday, July 11, at Hastings in Los Good ol’ Gals Tell All” tells one ise, her fascination with the women wannabe cowboys. Powers admits Lunas. You can also get a copy of woman’s story, while there are a cou- who have made that lifestyle choice that she might have given a cowboy ple of women whose stories are told are the inspiration for the book. a “test run” once, but he was every- the book at Cowboytails.com or from throughout the entire book. There is thing she thought they’d be, she says. Amazon. only one story of a happily-ever rela- pretty much got stories that are spe- tionship involving a bull rider. cific to cowboys.” Powers didn’t seek out women who “Cowboy Tails: Good ol’ Gals Tell had a bad relationship with cowboys, All” isn’t a book intended to bash simply if someone had an interest- cowboys, Powers says. While some ing story. She’s quick to point out women featured in the book do have that she writes about a lot of great bad experiences, it’s a book simply relationships women have had with from the women’s perspective. Along cowboys — some really good men. with talking to her friends, she was “My mother’s married to a cowboy also able to connect with women and he’s one of the best men I’ve across the country through social P.O. BOX 608 / BELEN, N.M. 87002 ever known,” she said. “There’s some media who were more than willing really good men and then there’s to share their stories for this book. Managers some really ornery men. I really tried “I was stunned at what they told CHARLIE MYERS to decipher with each story if, ‘Is this me,” Powers said. “I told them I PHYLLIS MYERS (505) 864-7451 just a man in general or are these didn’t have any use for anything less traits specific to a cowboy?’ I think I than everything. I have one story CATTLE SALE EVERY FRIDAY Andy’s Boot Shop @ 9:00 A.M. East Mountains, Socorro and SHEEP, GOATS & HORSES SELL THE 1ST Valencia County’s Boot Headquarter THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH @ 10:00 A.M. Andy and Andrew Luna For an up to date market report, 1910 Main St NE, Los Lunas, NM 87031 please visit our website at: (505) 865-5888 www.belenlivestockauction.com Sales & Repair Since 1983 COWBOY Country 22 Ranch life The old way of life on the ranch By Susann Mikkelson For El Defensor Chieftain

Though just a short distance out- side of Socorro, a drive out to the Pound Ranch is a little like a trip back in time. This is partially due to the long and rich history of the land and the people who run the ranch, partially due to the serenity of the place, and partially because it is not an easy ride and access to modern resources is limited. Among the family who runs the ranch, you will find Tom and Sissy (Pound) Olney, who are always busy, but always seem to have time to be cordial and friendly, to lend a helping hand to a friend or neighbor or even to a stranger. Sissy Pound was born in Socorro County, to parents Smokey and Isabella (Bourguet) Pound. Her fam- ily history in the county dates back to the late 1800s, when her great- grandfather Juan Bautiste Gianera came to this country from Northern Italy with three of his five sons. Seeking a place to live, run sheep and cattle, raise his family and Submitted photo leave a legacy, Gianera found the Sissy and Tom Olney demonstrate that part of success is in being a good team, and a loving couple — whether it be Rio Grande Valley, and here he working cattle, fixing fence, managing the sales, raising kids or just out having a good time. settled. Two years later, and by some miracle, he sent for his wife and their “What kind of faith does it take to wait all that time, and then from 1961-62, but then moved back youngest children, and they joined to Magdalena and became a game the family. get on that boat with two babies, and travel to a new world, warden and a trapper on a spe- “What kind of faith does it take,” not knowing what you will find?” cial turkey relocation project that said Sissy, with mist in her eyes, “to trapped turkey from the San Mateo wait all that time, and then get on Mountains and brought them to that boat with two babies, and travel Sissy Pound Olney Magdalena. to a new world, not knowing what Socorro County rancher Tom’s dad, Hugh, had invented a you will find?” trap to catch the turkey. He remained Tom Olney’s family did not move with Game and Fish for 15 years in to the area until 1960, when his par- Tom was a teenager. years later, he would marry Sissy Hugh Olney was, among other and become part of the family. Magdalena, where both Tom and ents, Hugh and Martha Sue (known his brothers, Sam and Ted, went to things, a lion and bear hunter. He From here, Tom’s family left and as Sue) Olney, came to Luis Lopez, school. When the family left to fol- where they lived in a tent for a year would go to the Pound Ranch to moved to Ponderosa, N.M., where low Hugh’s job to Ruidoso, Tom while Hugh worked for the New hunt, and sometimes took Tom with his dad went to work for the New See Ranch Page 23 Mexico Fish and Wildlife Service. him. Little did he know that some Mexico Game and Fish Department SUMMER 2015 23 Ranch: Built on a foundation from page 22 stayed in Magdalena and finished “His strength and determina- high school. Afterward, he spent two years in college at Western New tion through depression, Mexico University, but came home recession, drought and war and worked on various ranches in the area for the next almost 10 years. are what has kept this place After moving to Texas to farm and going.” ranch, Tom was in a horse accident that left him in a coma for 48 days. He moved back home and went to Sissy Pound Olney work, off and on, for the Very Large Rancher's wife Array in western Socorro County, just outside of Datil. He also worked for Buddy Major. roughed it. From their individual Tom and Sissy finally married lives before — Tom’s time living on July 6, 1984, after which they with his family in a tent in Luis immediately loaded up and moved to Lopez, and working from ranch to the Pie Ranch north of Magdalena. ranch, and Sissy’s time on the ranch There, they were responsible for as well as in her work as a livestock 3,500 yearlings, 350 cows and their inspector and deputy livestock calves and 30 head of buffalo, along inspector — to their lives together, with six race horses — just the two of them. starting out all alone on the Pie “We learned to work together, Ranch, and making their way back quick,” Sissy remembers, looking at home to the Pound Ranch, where Tom. “It’s a wonder I didn’t kill you.” they lived without electricity until Even though the ranch was origi- very recently. nally in her mother’s family, Sissy “My friends always ask me, ‘What credits her dad, Smokey Pound, for did you do to have such good kids?’” seeing the ranch through so that it Sissy said with pride. “I told them, still supports the family today. we raised them doing things the “His strength and determina- tion through depression, recession, old way; sitting around the dinner drought and war are what has kept table talking about our day, working this place going,” she said. together, having inter-generational The same values are held on the family around and working hard.” ranch today, where the entire fam- Her children grew up without elec- ily, including Sissy’s brothers, Primo tricity, but Tom and Sissy feel they Pound and Billy Jack Pound, as well had the best of what they needed to as her and Tom’s son, Brian Olney, be successful adults. along with his wife, Eslinda, and Today, Gianetta Jo Lark, Sissy and their daughter, Jeana Rose, live and work. Their daughter, Gianetta, also Tom’s daughter, has a house that is works on the ranch and is the ag built on the very foundation of her teacher at Magdalena High School. great-great-grandfather’s home from Tom and Sissy have always 1889. am’sButcherBloc S All sausages k made fresh in store Full Service  Meat Market & Specialize in green Custom Meat chile brats Some ranchers have moved more into using motorized modes of transport on Processing the ranch, but Tom and Sissy Olney still prefer horseback to any other mode. COWBOY869-3750Country 1470-A Bosque Farms Blvd. 24 therapeutic Horses help those with special needs By Deborah Fox News-Bulletin Staff Writer

Jarales The smell of horses, hay and sun- shine is good for anyone’s soul, but in particular, horseback riding is good therapy for people with disabilities. Horsin’ Around Therapeutic Riding Center, located in Jarales, is a non- profit organization dedicated to help- ing children and adults with disabili- ties to reach their potential through equine facilitated therapy. Starting in the cool hours of morn- ing, the instructor and owner of the riding center Donna Hofheins-Tolbert and a small group of volunteers help individuals with disabilities groom and saddle horses for therapeutic riding sessions. One young man from Bosque Farms, Kevin Spulak, who has epilepsy, Deborah Fox-News-Bulletin photos shovels manure from the stall of a During the Outlaw Ambush portion of a creative riding course at Horsin’ Around Therapeutic Riding Center in Jarales, sorrel mare he has ridden for the past Donna Hofheins-Tolbert, left, an advanced therapeutic riding instructor and CNA, asks rider Kevin Spulak, right, if he four years. The pre-ride activity helps wants to shoot the squirt gun. him coordinate his physical move- ments before getting on horseback, the the ability to articulate ideas or com- aged to mimic swimming strokes with manner puts both animals and people instructor said. prehend spoken or written language, his arms. at ease as well. The mare stands patiently while usually the result of damage to the Another barrel is the Outlaw “The success of the program is Donna instructs Kevin on how to brain from injury or disease. Ambush, where the rider’s task is to due in large part to Donna herself, brush the horse. The sun illuminates the horse’s sleek pick up a squirt gun and squirt at a because she works so well with that “With the fur, not against it,” she coat and the half ton creature carefully target. The activity erupts in laughter population,” Pat said. “Kevin does not demonstrates to him. carries her precious cargo with the because he has chosen Donna for a have that smile most of the time, but It’s been a process for Kevin to grace of a ballerina. It’s as if horses target. it just naturally comes out at Donna’s learn how to concentrate and focus on know — as if they can sense the Next is a set of cones. They are the because he is so happy. Donna’s commands. emotional, physical and psychological Rocky Mountains and the rider must “It has meant everything to Kevin,” “Following verbal commands is real- needs of humans with disabilities. navigate through them. The final por- she continues. “He looks forward to ly hard for him,” says his mother, Pat. “A lot of the therapeutic part comes tion of the course is a stretch between this — he will hop out of bed first “For him to be sitting on a horse and from the horse. I’m just helping to two barrels called the Great Plains. thing in the morning if he is going Donna to be out in the arena and he’s facilitate it,” says Hofheins-Tolbert, Pooh, the horse, is Donna’s barrel horseback riding.” listening to her and following direc- who is a certified nursing assistant and racing horse and is surprisingly patient One of Hofheins-Tolbert’s clients, tions is a huge thing for him. He does an advanced certified therapeutic rid- and tolerant for a rodeo horse. Most Dalton Meyer, who has Baird syn- that very little in other settings.” ing instructor. barrel horses are feisty and ready to drome, also volunteers at the riding Sessions at Horsin’ Around have Each week, the corral is set up in a run once the rider is seated. center. He lives down the road and helped Kevin increase his attention new course configuration. This week “I get her home and around those they have known one another since span and control his muscle move- it’s the Pony Express, and starts out kids and she is a totally different ani- Dalton was 7 years old. ment, which is really hard for him at a barrel labeled, California. From mal,” Donna said. “Horses are very “The horses calm the kids down and because of his epilepsy. He also has California, the horse and rider travel sensitive to the energy of the person it helps with their speech and motor aphasia, so he has little language between two rails set up to simulate riding them.” skills. Aphasia is partial or total loss of the Platte River, and Kevin is encour- The instructor’s warm, outgoing See Needs Page 25 SUMMER 2015 25

Horsin’ Around Therapeutic Riding Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals with developmental disabilities, is supported by sponsor- ships and a volunteer staff. Pictured from left, are Pat Spulak, Sylvia Meketi a volunteer staff member; Pooh the horse, Donna Hofheins-Tolbert, therapeutic riding instructor and Horsin’ Around owner; Kevin Spulak, a regular rider at the center; Dalton Meyer, a client and volunteer staff member; and Toni Wright, a volunteer staff member. Needs: Helping children ride from page 24 skills,” Dalton said. “It feels good were 235 roping teams that raised to me when I help the kids ride — it $5,000 for the riding center. makes me happy to see them happy. I She currently has 18 riders who have all the patience in the world for come for therapeutic riding. Most them and they relate to me.” of them have autism and some have Donna and her husband, Lance Down’s Syndrome. Tolbert, both rodeo. Lance is a steer Applications for therapeutic riding wrestler and the president of the New are being accepted and must include Mexico Rodeo Association. He also a physicians release for each rider. teaches steer wrestling, and he is the Horsin’ Around Therapeutic Riding president of the riding center. Center, at 53 Mill Road in Jarales, is Horsin’ Around Therapeutic Riding just south of Belen off N.M. 116. There Center is a vendor for the state Mi is a Facebook page of the same name. Villa waiver, funding for developmen- Individuals and businesses inter- tal disability therapies. For qualifying ested in sponsoring therapeutic riding clients, it helps pay for riding sessions. sessions can email Donna Hofheins- The riding center is also supported Tolbert at horsingaroundcenter@ by sponsorships and hosts three annual yahoo.com or call 907-4780. People HOBBES ACCOUNTING fundraisers to help those who don’t interested in therapeutic riding can Providers of Accounting & Tax Services qualify for the waivers. download the riding application These include an award ceremony from the website at www.horsin- for the riders that takes place in aroundthreapeuticriding.com. George J J Hobbes September. It is $20 per person and Horsin’ Around Therapeutic Riding P. O. Box 272 after the awards there is live music Center will host a yoga clinic from Peralta, NM 87042 “Giddy-Up” and a dance. A silent auction also 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 1820 Bosque Farms Blvd. helps raise money, and a team roping 11. The cost is $120 for two hours of Bosque Farms, NM 87068 event on the last weekend of March yoga on the ground plus two hours of at the Valencia County Fairgrounds horseback yoga with a pool party and Whoa! Horsemen’s Arena. Last year there barbecue afterward. 505-869-3830 • 505-869COWBOY-2896 • Fax 505-869-0843Country [email protected] • www.hobbesaccounting.com 26

horsin' around

Deborah Fox-News-Bulletin photo Kevin Spulak, a rider at Horsin’ Around Therapeutic Riding Center, enjoys visiting with the horses after his riding session. Kevin is feeding an Arabian mare named Lilly. The riding course and all the activities at the riding center have therapeutic value and help people with developmental disabilities learn and practice skills many people take for granted.

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