Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary

Photos by Tami Riedeman

Due to the economy and the millions of unwanted horses in the United States, Dayton Hyde and I suspended the mustang breeding program in 2008 at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. We want all horses to have happy homes and are trying to set an example that if the horse world would stop breeding that one day all horses might be wanted.  But there are many people that are lucky enough to understand the joy, beauty and unconditional love that mustangs can give. Tami and David Riedeman are two of those people that visited the Sanctuary and fell in love with a mustang filly they saw on tour. Many thanks to the Riedeman's for sharing their story of Coyote Kisses and Utah’s foal. – Susan Watt, IRAM program Manager

Annie and Coyotes Kisses

Look into the eyes of the “wild” horses of South Dakota and you will see tranquility. I believe they know that the gracious hearts of humans of the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary (BHWHS) are there to protect them and provide a safe home. Within the safety of gentle green hills, these ‘elegance on four legs’ can be admired by horse lovers such as myself.

I discovered the sanctuary through tourist literature available from the state of South Dakota. On July 8, 2006 my husband David took me to BHWHS as a wedding anniversary gift. I was looking forward to seeing Mustangs up close and photographing the equines I’ve loved since childhood.

After reading through the brochures provided by BHWHS, I told David I was interested being a sponsor of BHWHS. His reply, “I think we should buy one.”

Oh my goodness! Those were words I never thought I’d hear out of his mouth, especially since we already had four adult horses. Of course, the original plan was to purchase one horse. It wasn’t until later, that we were gently talked into a second one.

Deciding which foal to bring to our Sandstone, Minnesota hobby farm was a tough choice. During the sanctuary tour; horse babies of all colors danced, played and melted our insides with their adorable faces.

A filly, born July 4, 2006, captivated David’s heart more than all the others. She is cremello in color with sky blue eyes. To be honest, I wasn’t initially impressed with the young horse, but my husband (a non experienced horse person) saw something in her that I did not and so we bought her. Annie is now one of the most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen. She is a true Mustang representing the intelligence, bravery and personality of one of God’s finest creations.

How did Annie get her name? Again it was my beloved spouse who made the suggestion. “I think we should call her Annie, short for Anniversary; since she is my anniversary present to you.” I could not have received a more beautiful gift.

A few months after purchasing Annie, we received the phone call notifying us that Annie was ready to be delivered to our place, KoodB Ranch. “And by the way, would you be interested in her playmate, he needs a good home too?” sanctuary personnel asked. This time David said, “No” and I said, “Yes.” Annie and Coyote Kisses arrived about a week later.

From the day the youngsters touched their tiny hooves on our property, they were delightful and sweet, like the sparkle of two exquisite charms.

Coyote Kisses especially enjoys being around people. You’ll often find him standing at the gate waiting for people to give him a kiss on the nose. He is also the most playful of all my horses, carrying around a Jolly Ball or stealing items from the grooming tools box. Coyote’s photo is featured in a book titled, “Cutest Pets Around the Globe 2009.” It is a picture of him carrying a yellow ball while “marching.” I wish they could have printed the series of photos that included him rolling, tossing the ball, retrieving it and running around the pasture with it.

Annie can do without hugs and kisses, what she covets are a head to hoof grooming session. She is curious about everything and seemingly unafraid of much; even going as far as trying to step in the bucket of a tractor while it idles.

Both horses are still green broke; only because it is difficult with my crazy work schedule to maintain a steady training program. They don’t get ridden much, yet when family comes to visit every year, they allow people to saddle them up and go for a short ride.

One of my favorite stories involving my horses is this: On a cold, winter morning a couple of years ago; I looked out the window and saw my four horses standing close to my front door. “Hmmm, that’s not good,” I thought. There was a pretty good chance I knew where they got out from so I decided to go fix their escape exit before trying to round them up. Still in pajamas, I put on my winter boots and jacket and headed for the gate. Much to my surprise the four horses followed right behind me like a row of ducklings. Whew! I opened the gate, in walked the horses and I was still able to fix the fencing problem without them getting out again.

Going on trail rides with my friends is fun, a jaunt around the pasture is calming, but the one thing I have realized over the years is this; as much as I enjoy horseback riding, I don’t need to ride. I am able to touch them, talk to them and watch them be themselves every day and that is enough for my heart and soul remain content. – Tami Riedeman

Mothers of Coyote Kisses and Annie

The mission of the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary was founded in 1988 by Dayton O. Hyde to provide a home for unadoptable wild horses. These two BLM mares arrived at the Sanctuary within a few months of each other. Coyote came from Florida and had been rounded up by the BLM and adopted out spending many years in captivity before she came to spend her final years living as a wild horse was meant to be free. Utah is also a BLM mustang that was adopted and gentled and when she could no longer be ridden she too came here to spend her life in freedom. These two unwanted mustangs became friends out on the wild side of the Sanctuary and had two foals those lucky youngsters found a wonderful home with the Riedemans.