Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary

Why a Sulphur Horse?

Helen Alicia Smith
Adjunct Professor of Equine Behavior, Dept. of Veterinary Technology, Medaille College, Buffalo, New York, February, 2009

I have had the honor and privilege of working with a great many horses in my short career of ten years as a horsewoman. Of those horses, more than a few of these have been mustangs. I have been a fan of the veracity, intelligence and fortitude of these little horses for a long time. It was not until I met my first Sulphur Horse, however, that I realized what a relationship between a horse and human could really be.

Arthur, my Sulphur Horse, came to me unexpectedly, as most good things in life do. He was the easiest wild horse I have ever gentled. He gave me one hundred and ten percent of try every time we were together. He learned remarkably quickly and was startlingly curious and friendly. It didn’t take me long to realize that this little Spanish horse and I would have a long life together, full of adventure and deep, long lasting friendship.

Not only is Arthur a remarkable learner and a delightful personality, but he is a wildly gifted dressage prospect and I look forward very much to dabbling in endurance riding and eventing with him as well. The horses of Spain were bred for versatility, bravery, collection, disposition and soundness. The horses of Spain have been revered and adored for centuries for these rare and beautiful qualities. Powerful and resilient enough to withstand war or a nine week voyage on ship to come to the new world were they would piafe in their standing stalls for exercise. How many breeds do you know of today with that much grit and athletic stamina? Not many, but the Sulphur horse has it. It is these very rare traits that are far too seldom found in the world of horse breeding today. Today we want bigger, better, faster, more. More often than not integrity is tossed aside for aesthetic gains. Mother Nature cares nothing for dysfunctional aesthetics; she breeds her

horses to have the precious qualities that make a horse indomitable. In the Sulphur Horse these rare qualities live on past centuries of hiding in the high mountains of Utah. These little horses were made for any task by men, and perfected by nature.

Yet, for all their delightful talent, what makes me love them so much is their affectionate disposition. I have never known a horse quite like Arthur in this way. There is an inexplicable bond between us that quite literally leaves me breathless and tearful at times.  I am told by Susan Watt, Program Manager of the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary where Arthur was born, that it is their understanding of living wild in a herd that gives the Sulphur Horses such a devoted and loving disposition. They know that their herd is more valuable than anything; it is their means of survival. I am Arthurs’ herd, he is mine. We will embark on life’s journeys together, fearless, strong, and with the love and enthusiasm taught to me by my little Sulphur Horse.