Honeymoon and grafted family
- thegreenfields2024
- Sep 7
- 2 min read
We left Cory’s hometown and headed to the Dilday Ranch to spend time with an organization near and dear to his heart. It was my first time meeting his buddy Patrick, along with Russ and Tanna Dilday.
Cory has always spoken so highly of Patrick, the Dildays, and the Dark Horses organization—and for good reason. Dark Horses and the Dilday Ranch give SOF soldiers space to navigate stress, reduce anxiety, and regulate emotions through connection with horses. Horses are incredibly sensitive; they respond to your actions, not your words. The work demands everything—your body, your focus, your patience. With that kind of commitment, you stop wasting energy on things that don’t matter and hold tight to the things that do.
Cory and I spent the day on the ranch. I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first, watching Cory from a distance as he worked with a horse. But Russ and Tanna encouraged me to give it a try, and I’m grateful they did. I was even luckier to have Patrick giving me one-on-one lessons most of the morning.
In just a few hours, I went from never riding to feeling like Annie Oakley (that’s how it works, right?!!!). When the guys decided to go for a long ride across the ranch, I jumped at the chance to join.
That ride was inspiring. Out there, Cory and I cut through the noise and created an unforgettable story—one about a horse and a rider who both panicked but... we sure looked good doing it.... (that story is one for another day).
What started as just another stop on our trip turned into something so much bigger. In many ways, it felt like an unexpected honeymoon—one that didn’t come with beaches or plane tickets, but with dust, horses, laughter, and the kind of love that only grows when you’re welcomed into someone else’s family. At the Dilday Ranch, we didn’t just ride and work—we were grafted into something lasting.
There’s something rare and refreshing about people who live exactly the way they work—honest, dependable, loving, and caring. That’s the Dilday family through and through. You see it in the way they treat their land, their cattle, and every person who steps onto their ranch. The Dilday Ranch raises 100% ranch-raised cattle, freely, naturally, with no added hormones—just the way it should be. Integrity isn’t just a value here, it’s a way of life.
From the moment I was introduced to Dark Horse Elite, I could feel the depth of their purpose. This isn’t just an organization—it’s a calling. The honesty and dedication behind their mission is undeniable, and you can see the impact in every veteran and operator whose life they touch. What struck me most was that it’s never about numbers or recognition—it’s about people, about restoring strength, hope, and direction where it’s needed most. Dark Horse Elite is proof that when vision meets passion, lives are not just changed—they’re rebuilt.
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