Sunkan Wakan Owe "Horse Tracks" Sunkan Wakan Owe "Horse Tracks" is where youth come to learn how to train horses that have never been ridden. This is the third summer for the Horse Tracks organization. The youth come and put an assigned two-year-old through ground work to saddle work, teaching the horse everything from leading to trailer loading. Participants spend two hours a day working their assigned two-year-old, and another two hours riding older horses – mostly three- and four-year olds that were trained by previous Sunkan Wakan Owe participants.
This is done at no or very little cost to the parents of the youth.
Participants need not provide a thing, and previous experience is not necessary the managers teach youth to train horses.
Everything – horses, tack, saddle, feed, fly spray, health care for the horse – is provided by the organization.
The hours of operation are from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
This year, the organization added girls to the training.
Horse Tracks is hoping to expand the training next summer, 2005. With more equipment and support, a greater number of young people will be able to take advantage of the training.
Anyone with questions or comments, please contact Owen Dean German (605) 698-7061 days; or (605) 938-4197 after 4:30 p.m.
The participants were and are (note that ages are at time of training):
2002
Brandon Goodteacher; 13 years old; Tiospa Zina Tribal School
Kevin Amos; 14 years old: Wilmot Public School
Daniel Amos; 15 years old; Wilmot Public School
2003
Brandon Goodteacher; 13 years old; Tiospa Zina Tribal School
Winston Eastman: 13 years old; Browns Valley Public School
Caleb Eastman: 12 years old; Browns Valley Public School
Hunter Tateyuskanskan: 12 years old; Waubay Public School.
2004
Hunter Tateyuskanskan: 13 years old; Waubay Public School.
Vivian Tateyuskanskan: 14 years old; Waubay Public School.
Sheranda Morrison: 12 years old; Sisseton Middle School.
Anthony Davila: 12 years old; Sisseton Middle School.
Charity Davila: 13 years old; Sisseton Middle School.
(Note: Winston and Caleb also participated for awhile at the beginning of this summer 2004.)
Owen Dean German, mentor to youth who want to learn traditional ways of horse training.
Anthony Davila, grooming the horses.
Sheranda Morrison grooming Sage, the two-year-old assigned to her this summer.
Here is Vivian Tateyuskanskan, getting her two-year-old Juniper to "learn the ropes."
Charity Davila putting on the saddle.
Saddling up Mankiller.
Auntie Lorae watches Sheranda work with her horse.
Vivian pictured with Juniper.
Hunter Tateyuskanskan shows Thunder Boy who's in charge!
Sheranda putting her horse through the paces in the corral.
Using long lines to get the horse accustomed to taking directions.
Vivian and Juniper.
Here Vivian is working with her two-year-old using long lines.
Charity gets her two-year-old horse to respond to her commands.
Anthony riding Mankiller.
Sheranda riding Smokin' Joe.
Hunter gets Chaske to pick up the pace.
Charity riding Rising Star.
Lorae Mercado shows this animal who's in charge!
Stylized photo of Hunter getting his horse to trot.
