Native Sun News Today: Homer Stands was a legendary Lakota horse rider

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Lakota legend recognized at bull riding event

Family remembers him as a good man
By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Today Correspondent

RAPID CITY – When Homer Stands Sr.’s mother “Stands” was a young woman living amongst the Lakota, she had a special gift. That gift carried over to her son who became a legend in the rodeo world.

Stands would take the wild horses in the camp over a hill nearby. No one knows exactly what she did with the horses, but the occurrence became a sacred part of the camp. When she would return from this sacred journey over the hill, it is said that the young warriors who rode these particular horses would all return safe from the war party.

The men would return from the courageous journey and the horses would all be uninjured. The horses and riders would stand in a line in the center of camp upon their return. She was able to tame the horses and get them to perform the task at hand. This is how Stands received her name, according to Homer’s daughter, Maria Stands.

Fred Stands, 74, talked about his father with Native Sun News Today. According to the son, his father began his rodeo life when he was 12-years-old by riding calves. It wasn’t until he got a little older in his teens that he began riding the “bigger stuff”.

“He eventually got his own gear and everything he needed for the rodeo. As he got older, he started traveling. He would hit the road by himself, but after he got married he would go to the bigger rodeos and take us with him,” said Fred.

“Back in those days, you couldn’t go very far. They didn’t have no vehicles to travel long distance, but sometimes he would hitchhike to the rodeo. From what I understand, he would do anything to get to the next rodeo. If he didn’t have money, he would hock something to get there,” said the son.

The late Homer Stands was a saddle bronc legend. Courtesy photo

Homer Sr. knew what he was good at. He knew what his calling was from a young age, based on his talents and what his frame allowed. He once tried other rodeo events, such as steer wrestling, but his body weight would not let him get the steers down. And so he stuck to what he was good at, saddle bronc, bareback and bull riding, according to his son.

“After we got older, we would start going to rodeos with him. We didn’t have anywhere to stay, so we’d sleep at the rodeo grounds under the stars. We didn’t have money for rooms, so we’d stay behind the shoots in tents or sleep outside. Sometimes, we’d sleep under the car. If it rained, we’d sleep in the car,” said Fred.

According to the family, the whereabouts of the hall of fame plaque given to Homer Stands Sr. is unknown. They would like to see it someday, or possibly have photos sent to them for their own keepsakes.

Fred Stands said his father’s talent came from growing up on the reservation where horses were a part of the daily life and daily chores. Having this relationship with horses is what taught him the inner workings of the horses mind and intent. This relationship and connection to the horses helped him become a rodeo legend.

“He knew what the horses were doing. He would tell me that you need to watch the horse. The horse is telling you what it’s going to do. In bull riding, he would say, ‘Stay out of that well.’ He was talking about the inside of the turn on the bull ride. He taught us these things. He learned from the old guys he rode with,” said Homer’s son.

Homer Sr. did not have a regular job. Rodeo was his career. “My mom was getting ADC, assistance. That’s what we lived on. It was really hard for him to travel. Sometimes, we would sneak into the rodeo with him. He would put us into the trunk and then let us out when we got behind the chutes,” said Fred Stands. “The last time he rode was when he was like 57. I remember a lot of the younger ones there. He would talk to them, coach them. They gave him a lot of respect. They would listen to him and they would do good,” he said.

Fred said his father cared about his physical health. He chose to live a healthy lifestyle which included exercise and drinking milk. “When he was younger, he would drink milk. A lot of the others would be drinking beer and he would be drinking milk. He’d go to the bar with them and order milk. It wasn’t until he was older that he would drink (beer). He never drank to get intoxicated. He knew he had to take care of his health. Those animals don’t mess around. He respected them in this way,” Fred said.

Maria Stands, 68, remembers her father as being a humble and caring man. The family was raised in Oglala on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. When her father was away at rodeo, her mother would stay home and take care of the sixteen children. Although there was nine brothers, only two of the boys had followed Homer into the rodeo world; Homer Jr. and Happy Stands.

“I remember my father traveling all over, all the time. He was all over the states, but that’s the way he supported us. He would come home with whatever money he made. My mother, Helen Long Warrior, took care of the garden at home and that’s how we survived,” said Maria Stands.