08/24/2026
For decades, catching that first glimpse of the Wild Horses Monument rushing across the ridge just past Vantage has been a quintessential ritual for anyone heading east toward Crescent Bar. That familiar silhouette against the Central Washington sky signals that the urban rush of the west side is melting away, the Cascades are behind you, and your escape to the sun, basalt cliffs, and river is finally within reach.
Formally titled Grandfather Cuts Loose the Ponies, this iconic landmark has a rich backstory rooted in local history, state milestones, and a grand artistic vision.
1. The Artist and the Inspiration
The monument was created by sculptor David Govedare of Chewelah, Washington, and installed between 1989 and 1990 as a tribute for Washington State’s centennial. Govedare is also well-known for The Joy of Running Together, the famous life-size steel runners installation in Spokane’s Riverfront Park.
For the Vantage installation, Govedare drew inspiration from regional heritage and Indigenous storytelling. His original design concept was deeply symbolic: a giant, 36-foot-tall steel basket tipped on its side, representing a "Great Basket" from the Grandfather Spirit. In Govedare’s narrative, the Spirit tips the basket to release the gift of life and free will across the earth:
Creatures of this planet, behold, a Great Basket! I send this basket, bearing the gift of life, to all corners of the universe. Now, take these ponies; I am cutting them loose. They will inspire a spirit of free will."
2. Why That Specific Location?
The ridge overlooking the Columbia River near the Vantage Bridge wasn't chosen at random. The location honors the history of the region's actual wildlife. Specifically, the last great roundup of Washington’s wild horses took place in this very area in 1906. Placing the sculpture on the steep hills above the river tied the art directly to the land's history, commemorating the free-roaming herds that once thundered across the Columbia Plateau.
3. The Anatomy of the Monument
The Steel Herd: The installation consists of 15 life-size horses cut from COR-TEN steel—a specialized weather-resistant alloy designed to oxidize into a rich, protective rust-orange patina.
*Scale and Weight: Each horse weighs roughly 1,000 to 1,200 pounds and is welded to metal poles anchored directly into the rocky ridge, capturing them frozen mid-gallop against the elements.
The Unfinished Vision: If you've ever wondered why there isn't a giant basket, it comes down to funding. Private fundraising slowed down during the initial construction, and the massive 13-ton steel basket—along with a few remaining horses meant to be spilling out of it—was never built.
Despite being technically "unfinished," the 15 charging horses standing alone on the skyline became an accidental masterpiece. Over the decades, millions of travelers driving I-90 have looked up to see them. For travelers making that familiar turn toward Crescent Bar, the wild horses aren't just a piece of public art—they are the official welcoming committee to vacation mode.
