Institute of Range and the American Mustang
Board of Directors
Dayton O. Hyde
Late Founder/Author/Conservationist
(1925 ~ 2018)
Late Founder, Dayton O. Hyde was born in Marquette, Michigan, in 1925. At age 13, he began working on his uncle's ranch in Oregon, then moving on to the Cate School in Carpinteria, California, graduating with the class of 1943.[1] He fought in the Army[2] in World War II in the European campaign. After attending the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in English, he continued work on his uncle's ranch before marrying and starting his own ranch. The couple raised five children there. In the 1950s, one of his photographs of rodeo cowboys was chosen as the Life magazine Picture of the Week.
In 1990, he moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota, where, in addition to writing, he operated an 11,000-acre (4,500 ha) sanctuary for wild horses. Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde, a documentary released in 2013, tells the story of his efforts to protect wild horses in the American West. Hyde died in December 2018 at the age of 93 in Chiloquin, Oregon.[3]
Dayton believed that man does not have dominion over the earth as most religions believe. Rather we are caretakers of our fellow travelers on this planet. Encompassing all living things, the air, the water, and the earth.
Susan Watt, President of Board, Executive Board
Susan Watt, President of Board, Executive Board
After learning about Dayton Hyde in 1990, Susan visited the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in 1995. She asked him to teach her about wild horses. "Hmm, he said, you will have to learn. It was Dayton's way of testing me to see if I had what it took to continue his Dream of the Wild Horse Sanctuary."
Year 2026 and Forty (40) Years Later;
The Institute of Range and the American Mustang's program has grown to include; the expansion of the sanctuary acreage, development of the 501 (c) (3) non-profit, sustainable hay and water sources for the wild horses, donor/sponsorship programs ongoing development and continuing the American Mustang rescue efforts (special circumstances) of unadoptable BLM and/or at-risk horses.
Randall E. Wright, Treasurer
Mr. Wright involvement with late Founder, Dayton O. Hyde began in 1987. He was asked by the late Governor George S. Mickelson to assist with the land's private entity transition for the creation Dayton's non=profit vision of a Wild Horse Sanctuary.