Buffalo Ponies John Clymer

The composition presents a procession across a vast, undulating prairie landscape. A group of individuals, presumably Indigenous people based on their attire and weaponry, are depicted riding a large herd of horses – specifically, ponies – across the open terrain. The figures appear engaged in a hunt or migration, moving with purpose and energy.
Here we see a dynamic arrangement; the ponies are not uniformly aligned but rather surge forward in a somewhat chaotic manner, suggesting both the difficulty of controlling such a large group and the inherent wildness of the scene. The riders themselves are rendered with varying degrees of detail, some appearing more prominent than others, contributing to the sense of movement and depth within the composition. Their clothing consists of animal hides and feathers, indicative of a traditional lifestyle closely connected to nature. Several carry spears or lances, reinforcing the hunting context.
The landscape itself is characterized by muted earth tones – ochres, browns, and greens – which contribute to an overall feeling of spaciousness and desolation. The horizon line is relatively low, emphasizing the expansive sky above and further amplifying the sense of scale. A cluster of vegetation, resembling a yucca plant, punctuates the foreground, adding textural interest and grounding the scene.
Subtly positioned in the lower left corner, a dog – likely a hunting hound – is depicted running alongside the procession. Its inclusion introduces an element of domesticity within this otherwise wild setting, perhaps hinting at a complex relationship between humans, animals, and the environment. The overall effect is one of portraying a moment frozen in time, capturing a traditional way of life intimately intertwined with the natural world. Theres a sense of both power and vulnerability conveyed through the depiction of these people and their ponies traversing this immense landscape.