Some of my favorite horses... Swift, Trigger is in the middle and a Pony/QH named Cookie who doesn't know what quit means.

Let me tell you about Swift. I bought him from Alan Leer in 1989. As a colt, he ran with the herd of horses that Leers had for the movie, Dances with Wolves, which was filmed over the Alkali Divide on the Belle Fourche River. After the movie was done, Allan sold him in his production sale in Sturgis. The colt did not look to good as the summer and then a fall blizzard took the bloom out of most of the weanlings. 

I rode him calving in 1992 and we had some pretty tough spring weather. The only way to get around was on a good saddle horse. Dad and I rode a lot together that spring. Swift did great. In fact, over the next couple of years he earned quite a reputation on the Lonetree Ranch and with the kids at Rainbow Bible Ranch.

His registered name was Troubled YoYo. I liked the name Swift better as Dad had a favorite bay horse with that name in the 1960's. 

Swift was my main horse for a number of years until a scar under his neck that remained after a nasty cut which he received in his "movie days" began to affect his breathing. I retired him to the camp string where only more experienced riders were given the privilege of riding one of "Larry's saddle horses". He was quite popular. :)

He was not ridden much in the last couple of years due to his breathing difficulties, but he still ran with the camp string. He always carried his head high entertaining memories of days gone by. And he would get his frisky moments where he would run as if he was an unbroke horse.

We turned him out in the breaks with all the other good horses of the RBR camp string. The good prairie grasses of the Dakota Plains would do them all good as it would prepare them for the coming winter months. Life was good.

And then from seemingly nowhere came a storm. On that October Day, which will not too quickly be forgotten when the Plains and Hills of Western South Dakota would be ravaged with rain, snow and wind in the what would be known as Atlas, Swift died. And not only Swift, but tens of thousands of cattle, horses and other animals met their demise. 

The story does not end here... because the memories live on. I am one of many that were blessed by this one creature created by the Almighty to be a blessing. I am better because of Swift. Thank you Lord for lending him to me for a time.

FROM MARCH 11, 2014