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Published October 23, 2009, 12:00 AM

Bringing Back the Horses


Mitchell Buckles, 16, gets a bridle ready for Cole, a Belgian-quarter horse cross at St. Michael, ND, rancher Ed Solwey's barn. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.

  • Mitchell Buckles, 16, gets a bridle ready for Cole, a Belgian-quarter horse cross at St. Michael, ND, rancher Ed Solwey's barn. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.
  • Johnny Leftbear compares a mounted horse leg to his own as rancher Neil Whitmer teaches Leftbear and other students an anatomy lesson on horses feet recently. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.
  • From left; Mitchell Buckles, Troyal Thumb and Jerrit Desjarlais share a laugh as they put away the horses after a recent class. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.
  • Rancher Neil Whitmer plays a game of checkers after class with Johnny Leftbear while Jerrit Desjarlais, left, and Troyal Thumb return the horses to the stable during a recent class. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.
  • Ed Solwey, left, gives direction to Johnny Leftbear as he rides Cole, a Belgian-quarter horse cross, in a ring in Solwey's barn near St. Michael, ND recently. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.
  • Kenny Dunn, an elder of the Spirit Lake Tribe, and rancher Neil Whitmer are part of the "Bringing Back the Horses" program started last fall by the Spirit Lake juvenile court system. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.
  • Jessica White Plume, left, is a researcher with the Center for Health Promotion, UND School of Medicine and Darla Thiele is a juvenile intake officer with Spirit Lake tribal courts. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.