Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary & Mammoth Site

(Black Hills, South Dakota) 78 degrees, cloudy day with intermittent rain

We dedicate this post today to our friends J.C. and Bev.  Due to health reasons they were unable to go with us today.  We hope that you can join us again soon. 

On our day off today from the National Forest (only 14 days left) we drove out to the Hot Springs area.  Our VIP pass gave us a free admission to visit the wild mustangs at the Wild Horse Sanctuary.  This ranch of over 11,000 acres is owned by Dayton Hyde.  It is a non profit home for hundreds of unwanted mustangs once on BLM land. 

Our guide, Martina, took us on a private jeep tour. It was very rainy day and we were the only visitors. So she was able to take us in a vehicle rather than a school bus normally used to see the mustangs.  The weather was cool and windy and the horses were galloping through the meadows and fragrant sage brush.  What a sight! 

Our guide Martina

The Wild Horse Sanctuary

Office

We watched them run below in the valley and eventually she drove us down to see them up close.  I did not share with her that I was a little nervous and shy around horses.  She filled our ears with stories about the ranch, owner, her previous life, and special stories about some of the horses.   It was delightful. 

At one point she asked us to get out of the car and walk among a huge group of them.  I looked at her in disbelief and she said “I’m serious, lets get out”  So, gingerly I opened the door and walked out a small distance among the herd.  They were so beautiful and curious to see us.  What an experience.  It has not been several days and I’m still  thinking about this  moment.  I am not exactly a “horse person” but it was really a thrill and something I’ll always remember. 

Martina and her husband are volunteer workampers at this ranch.   They met on the ranch three years ago.  Martina was from Minneapolis and while on vacation stopped at the ranch.  Her husband was the tour guide.  After a long distance relationship she left "cooperate america" and joined him at this special place. 

She also took us by a sacred place where the local natives hold a special ceremony each year.  Not far from this area is a rock wall with may petroglyphs to view and some interesting caves where the cowboys once had stayed to watch over the ranch during the cold winters.   

Some of the mustangs can be sponsored and certain foals are also sold each year to help raise funds.  Be sure to stop here if you are visiting the Black Hills.  Reservations are recommended.

Earlier in the day we had also visited the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs.  This is a very interesting archaeological dig where mammoth bones were accidentally found in 1974 by a developer. 

Today the dig is under roof but is still in progress.  Around 25,000 years ago a large cave collapsed (there are many in the area) and was filled in with warm spring water.  Mammoths and other animals were drawn to this area.  However, once they went in the water they were unable to leave due to the steep sides. 

Over 52 mammoths have already been discovered and they estimate the dig will continue for about another 20 years.  There are walkways that surround the site and a tour guide talks to you through telephones  at several points and tells you more about each of the discoveries.  The cost is $7/person and we found it to be a very interesting place.  There is also a very nice gift shop and book store. 

We have only 14 more days left working at the National Forest.  The time has gone by so quickly.