Spotted Bull Puts Horses In Spotlight

Area children had the opportunity to get close with horses and other animals during Spotted Bull Treatment Center’s animal fun day held at the Wadopana Grounds on Thursday, July 9.

Available were horse rides as well as a petting zoo that included goats, sheep, a small cow and baby goats.

Ernie Bighorn, a director for a Fort Peck tribal response program, explained, “Basically, we promote the experience for parents and children to learn safety things for horses and people.”

He said the animal fun day during the week of the Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede has been held for about the last six years.

Bighorn said Spotted Bull contracts the horses out from local individuals. “We make sure the horse is safe around the people and the people are safe around the horse.”

The horsemanship program features student mentors who are about 14-15 years of age.

Amara Bates served as one of the mentors on Thursday. She was enjoying leading horses carrying children around a ring.

“I like how we help in the community and get our youth involved,” Bates said.

The program also leads equine-assisted services training and equine-assisted wellness training on Wednesday nights.

Bighorn said the trainings attract anywhere between four and 14 individuals weekly.

Plans are to built an indoor arena for Spotted Bull’s equine-assisted wellness training. A grant has already been received to help that project.

Officials have found that a relationship with a horse can create many benefits for individuals facing challenges.

“While they are grooming the horse, they talk to the horse about their problems,” Bighorn said. “Horses listen. They don’t talk back.”