“ Thunder of Hoofs “

The timeless struggle between man and nature and the interdependence between the Plains Indians and the buffalo are the subject of “The Thunder Of Hooves”. The Indians utilized every last part of the buffalo and were very dependent on them for survival. The buffalo benefited from that relationship also. Large areas of the prairie were burned off at regular intervals to provide fresh grasses and induce the herds to graze there. The excess numbers of the herds were trimmed by the buffalo hunts.

With the introduction of the horse the Plains Indians had the mobility to follow the herds allowing them to become completely nomadic. This led to a period of great prosperity for these Native Americans, which lasted, from 1750 to 1875. By 1886 all but the last buffalo were killed by White hunters.

The story behind the bronze is that of a Sioux hunter whose arrows have run out and whose luck may also have run out in this timeless contest, as hunter may become the hunted.