The 400 mile Lakota Ride Horse Riding Trail, July 2018, is an invitation by The Lakota People to the entire equestrian community. This ride, from Denver and onto the Pine Ridge Reservation, is designed to bring the Lakota People and others together to encourage healing and understanding between the Lakota Nation and those who do not live on the reservation.
At ThinLine our mission is to help break through the perceived barriers between all horsemen of differing disciplines and help to create a unified community of Riders.
We have spent the past 7 years working with horsemen and artisans on the Pine Ridge Reservation. In today’s fractured political and economic culture we find ourselves looking more and more to the wisdom of our fellow Native equestrians.
We are presently in the 7th generation of the great Lakota leader, Crazy Horse, His words:
“Upon suffering beyond suffering; the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world.
A world filled with broken promises, selfishness, and separations.
A world longing for light again.
I see a time of seven generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become one circle again.
In that day there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things, and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom.
I salute the light within your eyes where the whole universe dwells.
For when you are at that center within you and I am in that place within me, we shall be as one.”
Who are the Lakota People?
‘My name is Darien Young Man Afraid of His Horse . I am 20 years old and a freshman in college. I graduated from Red Cloud Catholic private high school. I’m now a full-time freshman student at Oglala Lakota College where I study Math, Science, and Technology. I was born and raised on the Pine Ridge reservation along with my family of six. We all live in a three-bedroom house that includes a basement.
My tribe is sadly stricken by poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, and a high infant mortality rate. Even though my tribe comes from a long line of history and genocide it has a great deal of greatness in it that the media fails to tell about. We’re very rich in culture and Spirituality. We’re the only tribe that refused to give up our language and fought against colonialism and assimilation. The greatest influence in my life was the teachings of my mother and grandmother as well as many various family members who did their best to raise me and my siblings in a traditional way of life. My family is very traditional and we know our language and culture by heart. And so, many ask me about it. However, I am still learning also and honestly feel like I only know so little when it comes to my culture. My mother says to learn our culture is to live through yin and yang. There will be bad for we live in a place so poor. However, we’re also rich in our culture and history.
I seek to share and give insight on what I know and tell all about what I’ve always known so others can understand and be aware of my people and our culture.”
Can I join the ride and show my solidarity to this wonderful nation, as well as the other riders whether they be western, show jumpers, dressage or any of the myriad of riders we are?
Yes of course! You may trailer your horses, join in a day or the entire 400 miles. If you do not have a horse reach out to the organizers. They will bring a horse from the Reservation for you to ride. We all need to ride together, get to know each other and break down those barriers keeping us apart. Join them!
I understand the difficulties of life on Pine Ridge, I cannot join the ride, what can I do to show my support to these fellow horsemen?
No worries! There is so much you can do to show your support. ThinLine has set up several ways you can help. Feed a Lakota horse for a day $25.00, Shoe a Lakota horse for the ride, $100.00, Sponsor a Lakota rider for a day, $25.00, Sponsor a Lakota Rider for 400 miles, $500.00. Provide Tack for a Lakota Horse. 100% of all donations are conveyed by ThinLine to the Lakota. If you prefer to donate directly to the Lakota Ride simply click here.
Who are the Tipi Raisers and why are they organizing this Ride of Reconciliation?
A 400 mile horseback ride from Denver, CO to the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota.
- The purpose of the Ride is to bring Lakota People and others together in order to encourage healing and understanding between the Lakota People and those who do not live on the reservation.
- The Ride is also a fundraiser providing critical funding in support of:
- Building a home for a Lakota family living on Pine Ridge.
- Remodeling and improving several homes throughout the reservation.
- Providing firewood, clothing, gasoline, food and necessary supplies throughout the year to families in need on Pine Ridge.
- Providing scholarships for Native and non-Native youth to visit each other’s communities and participate in programming through The Tipi Raisers.
- The Ride starts on July 14, 2018, in Denver. The Ride ends on August 4, 2018, in Pine Ridge.
- Riders can ride one mile, one day or multiple days.
- Riders can start and end on any single day during the Ride based on their individual schedules.
- Riders do not have to have any experience riding horses.
- The Tipi Raisers provides horses, tack, support vehicles and Lakota guides throughout the Ride.
- We ask riders who do not live on Pine Ridge to obtain pledges of at least $500.
- If someone is not able to ride, we encourage the sponsorship of a Lakota rider or a donation to any of these worthwhile projects.
Click Here to contact the organizers: The Tipi Raisers .org
All Donations here are Matched by ThinLine!
https://thinlineglobal.com/shop/native-american-horse-tack/feed-a-lakota-horse
https://thinlineglobal.com/shop/native-american-horse-tack/tack-up-a-lakota-horse
David Ventimiglia
Executive Director – The Tipi Raisers/Ti Ikciya Pa Slata Pi
[email protected]
(720) 412-3335
10244 W. Arkansas Dr.
Lakewood, CO 80232
The Lakota Ride and ThinLine