"Three Rivers Horse Trade"14" x 20"                                           Oil

Trading goods and horses among tribes of the upper Missouri was many times contingent on the relationship between the tribes. More commonly war parties attacked enemy villages and settlements in the hope of attaining goods and horses. These raids also served as rites of passage for young men to groom them as future protectors of the villages and families as well as leadership among the tribe.  This piece, Three Rivers Horse Trade depicts the exception of warring tribes, instead this is a time of peace. The converging of these three water ways to the one truth, represented by the feather is where this trade of the Holy dog takes place.

20.5" x 28"                                   Mixed; Oil, beads and quill work medicine wheel

Make inquiries with Rehfelds Gallery, (605) 336-7073

26" 32"                                         Mixed; Acrylic and Oil

A piece collaborated by Black Pinto Horse and wife Emily

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Make inquiries with Black Pinto Horse Fine Arts

"Four Dance Ponies"

20" X 28"                                       Mixed Media; Oil, quill work medicine wheel and horsehair

This mixed media piece illustrates a celebration of life demonstrated by four dancing ponies. These four black & white paint ponies symbolize the four stages of life; Birth, Childhood, Adulthood, Spirit hood. Composed above the four ponies are 6 adorned eagle feathers attached to multi-colored Medicine Wheel, together they represent the “Chief that sits Above” an Arikara translation for our creator, six feathers denotes the direction; North, East, South, West, Heavenly direction, Mother Earth. The medicine wheel symbolizes the four nations of man and the center of the Universe.  Eight squares are divided to both sides of the composition to demonstrate that both heavenly bodies are present - blue squares, as well as enlightenment – yellow squares.

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Spotted Horse Trail
*private collector, Pelican Rapids, MN 12" X 20"                                          Oil

Enlightenment              *private collector Minot, ND               21" X 36"                                     Mixed; Oil, Quill Work and Horsehair

This piece is designed to portray the journey and ascension of one’s internal self to enlightenment, much like the symbolism used by artists of the High Renaissance Era. These renaissance artists utilized diagonal composed subjects to demonstrate the ascension of man to god. Enlightenment used images, colors, symbols and mixed media similar to that of the Calling of the Ponies Series,This collaboration of media demonstrates the ascension of the inner self/outer self represented by two Buckskin paint horses that are on a journey to enlightenment. These two paint horses travel in the direction of a single feather and the medicine wheel which represent the one truth, and all that reside within (the universe). Red is the blood of all living beings, blue is the heavenly body that exists in all of life, white is the purity and yellow is enlightenment. 

Elk Soldier Ponies

32" x 26"
Mixed; Oils, Acrylics, and Simulated Elk Teeth

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Night Thunder Pony
*private collector Lawrence, KS
29" x 32"
Mixed; Oils, Horse Hair, and Beadwork

Night Thunder Pony uses blues to demonstrate a heavenly presence during a journey at night. The journey trail is enlightened by Grandmother Moon . A lone Yellow horse references the horse that raced the Buffalo and saved the people and restored the order of man. The Arikara tradition of the Yellow Horse comes from the south direction and the thunder beings and our past relations come from the Southeast. Four medallions with horse hair commemorate the Holy Dog Nation.

Grandma's Quill Ponies
20" x 24"
Oils

Grandma’s quill ponies signify a window in time that recognizes the compassion, wisdom and patience of our Grand Mothers. The window of time reflects the traditional application of quillwork used to adorn the garments of the First Nation plains tribes. A skill passed on from the Grandmothers to the young women that entailed traditional teachings of life and esthetic beauty in its creation. One feather represents the one truth that exists in all of life. Four vertical squares signify the transition of the ever changing blood of the people the two red horses are the acknowledgement of companionship. Four Blue lines are a signature that the Artist was in the center of the four directions (universe) during the time of this creation.

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Night Raid
34 1/4 " x 40"
Mixed; Oils, Beadwork, and Horse Hair

This piece is a tribute to Wolf Trail, the artist’s father and the sacred horse bundles. Wolf Trail’s favorite horses were Blue Roan horses. Seven virtues depicted as Blue Roan war ponies are dispatched from the lodge of “The Chief that sits above”. Love, Compassion, Courage, Honor, Resiliency, Wisdom, and Faith. The large red stripe across the middle represents the bloodstream of humanity. These seven virtues are on a journey in the cover of darkness to bring their gifts to the (sáhniŝ) people. The Northern lights in each square are the spirits from the past that are lighting the way for the horses. Six faint feathers are symmetrically placed around the shield; these feathers are symbolic of the subtle life presence of the six directions.  The ribbons hanging from the feathers represent the male and the female.  The shield is marked with the hand print of the “Holy Father” (atíAx waaRUxti). The beaded horsehair coming from the hand print is the insignia of the Sacred Dog (the Horse Nation).

Make inquiries with Rehfelds Gallery, (605) 336-7073

Red Thunder Ponies 
20” x 36 3/16”
Oils

The ascension of seven Red ponies arrive in the wake of the morning, from the sacred Chief Mountain. These ponies are bearing the gift of song to the people fasting and in prayer. The words echo, “Chief Mountain you are the Red Thunder, pray for your children”. The seven Red ponies are marked for battle outlined with black to display the great mystery. The circle around the eyes are to see the enemy in battle, four coups marks on the face are the markings of the four directions, Lighting on the legs are the markings of the Red Thunders. The one blue feather represents the one truth sent from the heavens.  This piece is in honor of those who sacrifice for the sake of the people.

Make inquiries with Rehfelds Gallery, (605) 336-7073

The Journey to the Lodge of the Whistles
*private collector Jamestown, ND
23" x 36" - Oils

The Lodge or House of the Whistles, This is the Arikara translation for the Sundance Ceremony.“ The Arikara claim that this was a hard dance, for they had to dance four days and nights without eating or drinking.  Strikes Enemy (Arikara) danced this dance several times,” Murie. The Ceremony consisted of fasting, prayer, dancing and sacrifice for the benefit of the People. This depiction by Black Pinto Horse is of six horses (sacred dog) on a journey to the Lodge of the Whistles; each of them having unique parts to represent the people. The lead purple paint horse has one Eagle feather from its mouth - the one Truth. The Second Black Pinto Horse with the Red hand print on the shoulder - Touch the Enemy and surrounded by mystery. The Third Green Paint Horse with the shield marked by the buffalo is the strength and protection – spiritual growth. The Fourth Blue Paint Horse with the four feathers and the sign of lightning – from heaven and the elements from all four directions. The Fifth Green Paint Horse with the spear and two Eagle feathers – symbolize justice of the two worlds.  The Sixth Blue Paint Horse is the pure nature of innocence. All six Horses are marked on the nose with the four directions and a circle around their eyes to better see the enemy. The Bluish/Green diagonal Eagle feather with the red hand print on it represents the unbalance ness of our society as spiritual based people. The hand print is the ownership to our own unbalanced status and the responsibility to change this through prayer and sacrifice. The Tree of life represents both the enemy of this ceremony as well as the past, present and future nations. The Four Squares represent the directions and the small white dots are the pure nature of these directions. Spirit lights of the relatives that have passed on, shine on a biomorphic background of chaos as they pity us in this life.

Mahalo Ponies
Private Collector - Devils Lake
16" x 20", Oils

Ma halo means thank you in Hawaiian and this piece is a tribute to "Iwa La Ni" (Bird of Heaven), a Hawaiian bird from heaven bringing comfort, encouragement, and prayers to share with the children of this land. Each flower represents a specific angel that guides her. The other three ponies are traveling companions. Two feathers are that of growth and calmness. The colored squares are the transition from the mystery of the past to the growth of purity.

The Partnership
Lake Region State College
16” X 30”
Mixed Media; oils, embroidery floss

"The Partnership" a collaborative piece with the foundation completed by Emily (Nell) Yellow Bird and the images done by Monte - Black Pinto Horse - Yellow Bird. This work is from the “Calling of the Ponies” Series, and it conveys the joining of two very different lives on the same spiritual journey working with children during a time of chaos. The biomorphic application of complementary Blues with Yellows portrays the concentrated conflict within the journey. Four Horses bring about change and introduce Hope. Black Pinto Horse is surrounded in the circle of life. The two feathers represents both Emily and Monte and the joining of lives on the same path in the center of creator's universe represented by the Medicine Wheel. Small spirit lights in the composition are relatives arriving at a time of need.

Calling of the Ponies  
*Four Bears Casino & Lodge in ND
16” X 31”
Oils

It's a calling out to all the relatives for prayers in a time of need.  It reveals how the prayers are being carried for the individual that is seeking Creator's help.  The prayers are being carried on the backs of the horses, never changing and remaining untouched by the enemy (negative).  The artist comes from the Horse Bundle People.  His carrier of prayers is that of the horse, the Sacred Dog.  The spirit lights represent our relatives from the past that are also a part of the prayer- they are asking Creator to have pity on their grandchild or child.  The background is am orphic representing the ever-changing life struggle and goodness.  The circle is symbolic of grandmother moon, the host of compassion.  The two feathers represent the two lives; one of the contemporary world and the other of traditional.  They also represent the man and the woman.  The four stripes signify the artist was centered within the four directions during the making and the completion of this piece.

Crow Horse Woman
*Private Collector - Montana
16” X 30”
Mixed Media; oils, bells, and cowry shells

Crow Horse Woman “Calling of the Ponies” Series, a tribute to the Crow horseman and the women that made them great.

Rough Rider Ponies II
*Private Collector
24" X 30"
Mixed Media; Oils, Bells

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