windcross conservancy

I volunteered with Windcross for 6 weeks and it was an incredible experience. The Spanish Mustangs are wonderful to get to know and the family that runs the non-profit are extremely knowledgeable about the history of the breed. I found it fascinating, if you're in South Dakota be sure to go and take a tour amongst these amazing horses.

prepare to walk amongst the mustangs! a totally fantastic experience. one of the owners (i'm sorry, I forgot his name already) toured us and by toured us I mean walked us amongst them. he literally answered every question I had. he was so very involved and connected with the horses. they are extremely well cared for and loved, each and every one of them. he pointed out the idiosyncrasies of some of the horses and once he would tell us, you could see what he was talking about. that was the most interesting part to me. the horses were so gentled and socialized, even the stallions. it is very evident they are very accustomed to people, especially their owners, and that a lot of time and effort is put into their care. and some cozied up to us immediately. some love to be scratched. you could get some horse stuff on your shoes so choose accordingly. we were there an hour and a half. be sure to take a camera. when I go again (and I will) I will call ahead and ask if I can bring carrots. a donation is suggested/requested but not required. my husband and i were glad to donate their minimum plus some. the biggs from louisiana

“Windcross Conservancy” Spanish Mustang Preserve, in Buffalo Gap, was one of the highlights of vacationing in South Dakota. Lucia, the owner and extremely knowledgeable historian of the breed, gave us a personal tour of her herd of Mustangs. I love horses, but I don’t know much about them and they are so big they scare me a little. We walked out into one pasture and met a beautiful stallion, Copper, which is on the cover of her brochure. Then we drove out into the pasture and the middle of herd of Mustangs, who were all very socialized, friendly and very gentle. Lucia brought along an intern, who knew horses and helped maneuver them so they didn’t overwhelm me ….. what a wonderful experience. All this while Lucia is telling us facts and stories about Spanish Mustangs. The tour usually is an hour or so, but we asked so many questions it took much longer, and Lucia took time to answer every question. This tour is a “must do” when you visit South Dakota ….. and it’s a bonus that the ranch is a 501c3 that educates and promotes the welfare of Spanish Mustangs, and the quality of life for these and other horses. We very highly recommend this tour.Ann & Ron Reisner, Morro Bay, California, September 2014

We absolutely loved Windcross Conservancy. It's run by volunteers who are so friendly and wonderful. The horses are more like giant puppies. They are so sweet and loving. You get an up close look at these magnificent creatures. The volunteers are also very knowledgeable and will take time to answer any questions. Our 5-year-old absolutely adored this place and made some horse friends for life! :)

Absolutely awesome place!!! Anyone who loves horses should go!!! You get to walk out in the fields with the horses and pet them!Much better than the nearby wild horse sanctuary tour where you drive through in a bus and much less pricey! They asked for a small donation. Well worth the donation and your time to find Buffalo Gap, SD! They do suggest reservations but we just stopped by. Wonderful!!!

Thank you for your wonderful review. I passed on the review to the young ladies who did your tour. You made their day! We are so glad you enjoyed your visit.

We were so blessed by our time at Windcross late this fall. The personal attention during our tour, the up-close-and-personal experience with the horses, the family's passion and love for the horses and their obvious knowledge... What a gem of a place! When I was planning our trip to the Black Hills/Rapids City I never saw Windcross listed on Tripadvisor as a local attraction. I went back to add it after our special time there and saw it was under Buffalo Gap. I wonder if there's a way to add it to the Rapids City/ Black Hills attractions as well so that when others are planning their vacations they can be more likely to include you on their itinerary? This seems to be the way a lot of people plan these days and I'd hate for them to miss out on this very special spot and the opportunity to bear witness to the wonderful work being done...and contribute if they can! This attraction has no cost for admission but accepts donations. Too bad the other horse conservancy (which does have a high cost) is more likely to pop up on Tripadvisor. We would never have been able to afford to see the other place. Windcross inspired what I believe will be a long-time love of horses in our daughters. It is worth noting that a couple of our children were very nervous at first but were quickly won over by the confidence and calming influence of the family overseeing this operations of this place.

The ranch is small and hard to find. Do not rely on the GPS it will only get you lost. My 11 year old daughter loved the experience. The owners take the time to teach about the Spanish mustangs. You can stay as long as you want. The horses are beautiful. My daughter wants to return before we leave South Dakota. I think we will.

Amazing tour and guide. Beautiful horses with a great explanation as to their heritage and bloodlines. Up close and personal with the horses. Donations only. Also handmade jewelry available on site. Very friendly people. Horses very friendly and loved to be pet.

Stopped here on the end of our trip to the Blackhills and am SO glad we did! The family who runs the conservancy has so much knowledge about the history of these horses and why they are so special. At Windcross you get up close with the horses, walk among them, and pet them. Very interesting to learn about these horses. It was such an awesome experience, will definitely go back on the next trip! Highly recommend!!

The knowledge base of the curators of the Conservancy is truly amazing. They have a real bond with the horses and an intense desire to preserve the integrity of the breed. They spend a lot of time with their visitors and help them interact with the horses. They are incredibly intuned to the subtle behaviors of the horses and their personalities and they bring you into this experience. The Conservancy is a great example of a working ranch also. They have geese, guinea hens, cows, chickens etc. and readily explain the workings of a ranch along with the maintenance of the horses. AMAZING. Highly Recommended

This place and the Family who run it have found a place in my heart for the rest of my life.I felt like I was part of the family, and learnt so much about Horses, and myself in the time I spent here. It is a site worth seeing and a cause worth supporting.