NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS HORSE

REMEMBERING clinker

Clinker was an unusual dark bay roan. He was named after the clinker coal rock that is found in the park, in fact some of the most famous clinker formations in the United States are found in his home, Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Foaled in 2005, Clinker was badly injured in his left hind leg while he was still a bachelor. Several people watched him as he tried very hard to gain some mares after the 2009 roundup but he was unsuccessful.

Finally, he was able to collect a few mares in 2012 when Mystery split his band and allowed several lighter colored mares to leave. Clinker moved them into the interior of the park, far from other stronger stallions.

After the 2013 roundup, Clinker acquired the Redface daughter, Indian Paintbrush, but that gain came with a price; she brought with her, Frontier, a yearling brother who would one day take over Clinker’s band.

Over the years Clinker’s injury became worse, making the left hind leg almost useless. In the end, it was so stiff that he could only use the very tip of his hoof for balance.

Afraid he would suffer greatly over the winter, park staff euthanized him in the late fall of 2018. He left several offspring still in the park to carry on his legacy.

Clinker was a wise and brave stallion who showed great perseverance in the face of adversity until the very end.