I travel the interstate between Fargo and Grand Forks fairly regularly and have noticed the transformation of what was once simply an eyesore on the interstate to what now might be called Picasso's Ponderosa. To each his own is my mantra. It does however upset me that someone would keep horses in such a setting.
I'm not a tree hugger or a PETA protégé, but somehow I can't but feel that given a choice, those horses might prefer a barn with a door. I'm sure horses can sustain subzero temperatures for years at a time or stay confined within a 10-acre area filled with what appears to be remnants of a lumber yard explosion with no noticeable side effects, and in fact may even have their character enhanced while living in such conditions. It apparently doesn't take much to make a horse happy.
But I have to wonder what impression is left in the minds of the many travelers making their way by this scene reminiscent of an underfunded western filmed in a Third World country. Perhaps this would be a good spot for that new sign, "Welcome to the Buffalo Commons."
Steve Sulland
Grand Forks, N.D.
