Kristi Noem is often seen riding horses, which are a significant part of her identity and are used in various public events, such as the annual Buffalo Roundup in South Dakota, where she is photographed on horses like Hollywood

. She also has a personal interest in riding, having recently ridden an Argentinian bred horse named Abundance. Some of her horses are named Ice Man, Trigger, Blondie, and Mercedes. 

• Public Events: Noem rides horses for public events, such as the Buffalo Roundup, which is a key part of her South Dakota identity.
• Notable Horses: One of her horses is a halter/performance bred gelding named Hollywood, featured in a photo from the Buffalo Roundup. She also has horses named Ice Man, Trigger, Blondie, and Mercedes.
• Personal Interest: She has expressed a personal interest in horses, recently riding an Argentinian bred horse named Abundance, and sharing her experience in a post on Instagram. 
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  Kristi Noem, the current U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and former Governor of South Dakota, frequently incorporates horseback riding into her public image and official duties, having grown up on a ranch that raised American Quarter Horses
  . She is known for using horseback photo opportunities to highlight border security efforts and her “cowgirl” image. 
  Horses she has been publicly associated with or mentioned include: 
  Abundance: An Argentinian-bred Paso Fino mare she rode during an official trip to Argentina in July 2025.
  Hollywood: A horse she rode while carrying the American flag at a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo event in December 2023.
  Four P Buzzwood: A Driftwood-bred stallion she rode during a buffalo roundup in South Dakota.
  Ice Man, Trigger, Blondie, and Mercedes: These are four horses owned by the state or used for the annual South Dakota Buffalo Roundup, which Noem has mentioned are “crucial to a successful Buffalo Roundup”. 
  Her use of horses for official events and social media posts has drawn both support from fans who call her “America’s Cowgirl” and criticism from opponents who have mockingly referred to her as “Ice Barbie” for her photo ops.