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At one time there were thousands of these Choctaw Horses in the mountains of Southeast Oklahoma. But, by 1979 when the Rickmans began their conservation efforts,, there were only 9 to be found.
Story by Rebecca Stair
Photography by Laurie Harris
t has been over forty years since Bryant and Darlene Rickman came to realize that the Choctaw Horses that they had grown up riding were teetering on the brink of extinction. Since then they have dedicated their lives to the conservation of the rugged, highly intelligent, people loving horses. When the Choctaw Indians traveled the Trail of Tears to Southeast Oklahoma they brought their horses with them. These horses were the pure direct descendants of the horses brought to the New World by the Spanish Conquistadors. Smaller in stature (13.2 to 14.2 hands), yet deep bodied and strongly coupled, these hardy horses are able to tirelessly carry a grown man all day at good speed and many are gaited. At one time there were thousands of these Choctaw Horses in the mountains of Southeast Oklahoma, but by 1979, when the Rickmans began their conservation efforts there were only 9 to be found. Today with much thanks to Bryant and Darlene they number close to 400. Bringing them back from the brink of extinction has been a true struggle and has come at great personal and financial cost.
8 / Sport and Trail Magazine
horses brought to the New World by the Spanish Conquistadors. Smaller in stature (13.2 to 14.2 hands), yet deep bodied and strongly coupled, these hardy horses are able to tirelessly carry a grown man all day at good speed and many are gaited. At one time there were thousands of these Choctaw Horses in the mountains of Southeast Oklahoma, but by 1979, when the Rickmans began their conservation efforts there were only 9 to be found. Today with much thanks to Bryant and Darlene they number close to 400. Bringing them back from the brink of extinction has been a true struggle and has come at great personal and financial cost.