Bryant and Darlene Rickman have diligently worked to keep the Choctaw horses from
extinction.  This effort also includes the Cherokee and Huasteca horses.  Without the
Rickmans all three of theses strains of Colonial Spanish Horses would have disappeared
long ago.  This effort has extended over decades, and has involved heroic action including
the maintenance of a herd of equine infectious anaemia (EIA)-infected horses in order to
assure that their infection-free foals could continue rare bloodlines on into the present.
Being in the Kiamichi Mountains with Bryant, calling up the horses, and seeing what new
foals were added to the group was always a special thrill. Being in Darlene’s kitchen was
also always special, and usually included the world’s biscuits served up with big helpings
of love and good humor.  If I had a special horse that needed to go to Oklahoma for a
while, I would always make sure to give it to Darlene, because I knew the horse would get
special attention and care. The only real disagreement we had was on horse names,
because none of mine were dignified enough!
The Rickman family has been essential to Choctaw horse conservation in many ways.  
They have also contributed greatly to Choctaw hog conservation, and without their input
this breed would also now be extinct.