Each horse on the range has their own story, but the birth of this foal is a bit more special than most. Not only does this foal represent rare blood lines, but also shows the success of a mountain horse relocating to the Dryhead, providing a genetically viable new bloodline among the Dryhead horses.
In 2009, almost the entire population of Pryor Horses living in the Forest Service part of the range were removed. A few were able to escape this removal. One of the horses was a young bachelor named Hamlet. Hamlet was born in 2007 to Delilah and Pierre. In 2014, Hamlet acquired his first mare. A mare named Audobon. Audobon, born in 2000 to Feather and Challenger was not only the only offspring of this pair, but the only offspring each would have.
In 2015, Audobon and Hamlet produce a beautiful filly named Penn (Abbie and I call her Paris). This birth alone was a reason to celebrate. The following year Audobon and Hamlet would have another foal, Quicksilver. Quicksilver he would not live long and that following winter, Audobon disappeared as well.
During the disruption of Hamlet’s band, the young Paris ended up in the Dryhead, (the desert part of the lower mountain) with the stallion Jesse James, who claimed her for his own.
Jesse James also has a very special story. He is the son of Seneca (part of the Greeters) and the late Admire (who was killed by a drunk driver in 2011, along with his son Kapitan). Jesse James is the only remaining offspring of Admire and Seneca on the range.
Admire and his band were the first wild horses I ever saw when I drove up the Dryhead for the first time. Here is a link to my blog piece about the judgement against the person who killed them: ADMIRE Within that post is a video I made, where you will be able to see Admire with his band, including a young Jesse James.
Along with Paris, Jesse James has Cecelia, a very wise mare who was with the stallion Sitting Bull for many years. (he died in the winter of 2015-16). Unlike Jesse James’s very visible years with the Greeters, he and his small band have been seen very little and mostly from a distance. When Cecilia and Sitting Bull were together, they were rarely seen, often referred to as the “wildest of the horses on the range”. I am sure this is the reason why Paris became pregnant at the age of 2, this band could not be found or approached close enough for the administration of the PZP vaccine.
Last summer Abbie and I were able to spot this elusive band from a distance.
This 4th born foal of 2018 appears to be a colt. He is the son of Paris (Penn) and Jesse James. Paris is the 2015 daughter of Audobon and Hamlet. Jesse James is the 2009 son of Seneca and Admiral. He was discovered by Nancy Cerronni. He has been named Sentinel.
Hopefully this summer Abbie and I will be blessed with a chance to see this family and continue to watch him grow wild and free on the range!
Thank you Nancy for the use of your photos!
Sandy