Thundering Hooves Sculpture

By Jean Sensel

Silhouetted against the sky, mustangs race a ridge high over the Columbia River and I–90. The lead stallion rears, will he wheel away from the brink? It takes a moment to realize the ponies are an illusion, their seeming movement caused by the motion of your own vehicle.

Artist David Govedare of Chewelah created the Thundering Hooves sculpture near Vantage as a gift to Washington State for its Centennial in 1989. Govedare specializes in life-like roadside art formed of bronze, steel, basalt, glass, or granite. "I selected the Thundering Hooves site for its natural, dramatic power," says Govedare. "That majestic viewpoint acts as a gateway between the east and west sides of our state."

A legend Govedare wrote to accompany the sculpture carries a Native American flavor. "I admire the Native American belief that all life is connected and part of the great mystery," says Govedare. The unfinished sculpture's design includes a 36-foot basket representing the cornucopia of life. The ponies, turned loose from the basket's confines, represent the gift of free will, as well as the history of the area. The last wild mustangs were rounded up nearby in the early 1900s. Postcards available in Vantage carry the legend and proceeds will help fund the sculpture's completion. Or read "Grandfather Cuts Loose the Ponies" (www.spokaneoutdoors.com/vanstory.htm).

At a distance, the 16 life-size ponies appear three-dimensional, but are ingeniously crafted from 1/2-inch thick Corten steel and are two-dimensional. This type of steel needs no painting and develops a rust-like appearance after several years of outdoor exposure. Although Govedare intended the display to be viewed while passing by, his artistry deserves a closer look. Torch and grinder on steel created an amalgam of colors that combine with symbols on the mustangs’ flanks to make the ponies appear painted for war. Standing among them, you can almost hear the thunder of hooves roll across the giant expanse of the Columbia Basin.

No official access up to the sculptures exists, but short trails lead from an eastbound I–90 viewpoint 1/3 mile north of the Vantage bridge. An exit 3 miles farther allows an easy return back to westbound I–90 and Highways 26 and 243 junctions. The steep shale and rock trails warrant a walking stick and sturdy, ankle-high boots. Summers get toasty along the Columbia, so a cool sunrise or sunset hike, a water bottle, an eye out for rattlesnakes, and a camera will make your visit to the Thundering Hooves safe as well as memorable.

Northwest Travel Magazine November/December 2007