2019 Pryor Foal # 10 was born to Oceana and Grijala. Oceana is the 2013 (born in October that year) daughter of Tecumseh and Galadrial. Grijala is the 2006 son of Cavelita and Conquistador. The foal is a colt and has been named Titan.
The powerful Grijala with bachelors: Knight, Gringo and Inali, June 2015
I remember the first time that I saw Oceana. I was instantly in love with this special girl. She was born late in the year ( late September) to a special couple, Tecumseh and Galadrial. Their story is one that I have told many times on the mountain, and should write a blog post about it. Oceana was a great surprise to all of us that have followed this group, and after looking back at old photos and recalling their story, I guess it would be fair to say that Oceana is my favorite mare on the mountain.
Oceana with her family, May 2015Oceana and Tecumseh, May 2015
I first saw Oceana in May of 2015. She was a small, sturdy, fuzzy little girl, who idealized her father and and captured my heart. Surrounded by not only Galadrial and Tecumseh, but also by Gringo and Beulah. This unusual band of 4 would take great care of her. Despite being born late and a little small, Oceana became very independent.
It was clear the spring of 2016, that Oceana had a big attraction to the powerful stallion Grijala. She joined his band at a young age, and he was always seen as being kind and gentle to her.
In late June of 2017, Abbie, along with myself and a group of students, discovered a new born foal with Docs band. This foal did not belong to this band. Abbie and suspected that Oceana was pregnant, and that this may be her foal. Somehow, this young foal got separated from its band. Here is a photo of the foal that Abbie and I named Hope Ryden. ( Not to be confused with the foal that Jasmine had a few months later, also called Ryden) You be the judge. We’ll never know for sure, but seeing her new foal made both feel we had been right. You can read that post here: Hope
June 28, 2017 Oceana’s foal?Oceana and her new colt, Titan
Regardless of the past, I do know that we now have a beautiful little colt with fantastic parents. I could not be happier for this amazing filly that has grown into a beautiful mare.
Pryor Foal # 8, was born to Quahneah and London. Quahneah is the 2016 daughter of Washakie and Baja. London is the 2011 son of Gold Rush and Doc. The foal is a filly and has been name Taiga.
Quahneah has always held a special place in my heart. Abbie and I were blessed to have seen her a few hours after her birth. The following year, Quahneah put on a special show just for us, making us laugh at a time really needed it. She is a special horse.
Quahneah shortly after she was born with mom Washakie, sister Bacardi and father Baja. July 2017
Pryor Foal # 9, was born to Jacinta and Garay. Jacinta is the 2009 daughter of Rosebud and Tecumseh. Garay is the is the 2006 son of Mariposa and Conquistador. The foal is a colt and has been name Tapadero. Tapadero joints his other two full siblings on the range, Rue and Patriot.
Have you ever wanted to photograph wild horses in their nature setting? The Pryor Mountains in Montana offers you an amazing opportunity to do that with an equally amazing backdrop. You will have full days loaded with the opportunity to capture the horses in action, starting with the first light and ending with the blue hour and sunset. And if you choose, you can stay up late and capture some of the dark starry skies in photos and then fall asleep with the horses near by.
Whether you bring a professional camera, or just a cell phone to take photos, Sandy goes out of her way to make sure you leave the mountain with cherished memories of your once in a life-time camping trip.
Sandy has been camping in the Pryors since 2009, spending weeks at a time with the horses, and has been providing camping tours since 2013. Abbie Branchflower will be joining Sandy for part of this season, as her assistant. Abbie also has a vast knowledge of the horses and loves to share it!
Sandy is unsure how many more years she will be doing these tours, choosing not to do tours in 2019. Don’t miss the opportunity to join her.
The many stories that Sandy and Abbie share about the horses and the range, make this trip more than just a chance to view them, it makes this a trip more about knowing the horses, giving you a brief glance into the life of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horses.
Experience living with the horses 24 hours a day and in doing so, this will give you a better understanding of what it is like to live wild on the range. All tours may include light to moderate hiking.
Below are the tour dates for the summer of 2020.Cost of the trip is $2125 per person. A deposit of 50% ($1062.50) is due at time of booking. Contact me for payment options, or check out by hitting the PAY NOW button below. (a secure payment that accepts most credit/debit cards through out the world.)Below are the tour dates for the summer of 2020. Cost of the trip is $2125. A deposit of 50% ($1062.50) is due at time of booking. (balance is due April 1, 2020). Contact me for payment options, or pay now by hitting the PAY NOW button below. Accepts most credit/debit cards all over the world.
1. June 28-July 1 2 Spaces 2. July 3-6 Full Moon! 1 Space 3. July 9-12 3 Spaces 4. July 14-17 2 Spaces 5. July 19-22 Full
All payments are considered non-refundable. Refunds may be made if cancellations can be filled. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS, so please consider purchasing travel insurance on your own!! Here is a link to travel insurance purchase. This insurance is not through Wild In The Pryors. Please explore this link for cost comparisons of several companies. TRIP INSURANCE
2020 Camping Tours
2020 4 Day All Inclusive Camping Tours Deposit
$1,062.50
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Contact Sandy with any questions: 406-360-8959 All tours will start and end in Billings, MT.
Your camping trip will be 4 days/3 nights on the mountain top. This trip includes: comfortable transportation up and down the mountain, all food,( the food is top quality, no freeze dried camping stuff!) snacks, tents, sleeping pad and expert personal guiding. (last night dinner is on your own once we return to Billings).
There are many great hotels in Billings, MT. You will be responsible for making your own arrangements before and after the trip. AirBnb is also a great source to find some lodging. I can pick you up at your hotel the morning of our first day, or you can meet me at my house in Billings. Feel free to contact me for hotel recommendations. Camping trips will be limited to 5 guests. Sandy will have an assistant with her who will assist her and help you with any camping needs. Sandy will personally be doing all of the guiding. For reservations: Contact Sandy Phone: 406-360-8959 email: wildinthepryors@aol.com
Wild in the Pryors is permitted by the Bureau of Land Management to conduct small group tours within the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range from January to December. Wild in the Pryors is one of a handful of businesses that have the federal permits necessary to guide clients onto this federal property.
Pryor Foal # 6 was born to Juniper and Horizon. Juniper is the 2009 daughter of Sapo and Bolder. Horizon is the 2007 son of Felina and Morning Star. The foal is a filly and has been named Talia.
Pegasus and Traveler. Photo by Jack Sterling.
Pryor Foal # 7 was born to Pegasus and Missoula. Pegasus is the 2015 daughter of Galaxy and Ireland. Missoula is the 2012 son of Half Moon and Teton. The foal is a colt and has been named Traveler.
This foal is very special to me. Both Pegasus and Missoula were discovered and named by me. Missoula was the very first foal that I had the privileged to find. I am looking forward to watching this little guy grow into a stallion. Thank you so much Jack for the use of your photo and the discovery of this very special foal.
2019 Pryor Foal # 4 was born to Morgana ( Father unknown). Morgana is the 2012 daughter of Icara and Merlin. Thank you to Brittny for the use of her beautiful photos.
Morgana and Titana
2019 Pryor Foal # 5 was born to Paris (Penn) and Jesse James. Paris is the 2015 daughter Audobon and Hamlet. Jesse James is the Seneca and Admiral. The gender is unknown at this time due to the remoteness of this band. Name has not been given. Thank you to the BLM for the use of their photo.
Photo by BLM Paris and her foal are in the middle of the photo.
Pryor Foal # 2 was born to Petra. London is most likely the sire.
Petra is the 2015 daughter of Galena and Doc. London is the 2011 son of Gold Rush and Doc.
No name has been given and the sex is unknown right now.
Niobrara and her new foal. Photo taken by Cheryl Egan
Pryor Foal # 3 was born to Niobrara and Fools Crow. Niobrara is the 13 daughter of Firestorm and Jackson. Fools Crow is the 2005 son of Strawberry and Cortez. It’s a colt. The name is Thunderbird.
Thank you Cheryl for allowing me to use your photos.
A young Mandan. Born in 2012, this photo was taken in early 2013.
This will be the 7th year that I have made this post. This is a “fun” only post where any of you can suggest names for the 2019 foals born in the Pryors. Of course, like on all the previous years, I can not guarantee that they will be used, but it will be fun to list them, and I do know that whenever a foal is born, I come to this post to look at all of the suggestions. And if you can, please include the meaning for the name, it would be very helpful to know that.
Petra, daughter of Galena and Doc. June 2015
In 2000, the BLM started using a letter for each year of foals, starting with A. This year is the T year. So please feel free to list your ideas in the comment section of this post. To read more about this system and why we use names, please refer to my Name Game post that I did last in 2013. Click on Name Game to go there.
I am looking forward to reading all of your suggestions. If someone else has already posted your name idea, please list it again anyway. It will be fun to see what the most popular name suggestions are!
I’ll be posting my annual “Who Will Have Foals This Year” post soon. But in the mean time, let’s have some fun coming up with names!
The year of 2018 is very quickly coming to a close, and like the past several years, I am doing this post to honor the horses that have died in 2018. The list is shorter then it was last year, but no less painful. Even though several of those that passed in 2018 were very young, their memory will not be forgotten.
We didn’t get the chance to watch them grow and develop a strong presence on the mountain, but the lucky few that saw them and recorded their existence can remind us all of who they were. Thank you to those that allowed me to use their photos.
Below are the horses that have died (or are missing) in 2018.
Blue Moon, 2012
1. Blue Moon (Flint). 2001 son of Shaman and Sitka. While Blue Moon has not been gone the official length of time to be declared deceased, all of that witnessed his deteriorated condition this past summer, can recognize that he most likely is gone. He not only lost his band last winter/spring, but he somehow got injured. He seemed to have a back/spinal injury that appeared to be very painful. Not only the physical injury, but it was also very clear that his spirit to live had greatly compromised. He was one of those stallions that just couldn’t settle into bachelorhood again. His heart was broken at the loss of his band.
I have many, many fond memories of Blue Moon. He and his band were frequent early morning/late evening visitors to my campsite. They seemed to recognize my truck, Abbie and myself. Blue Moon was the type of horse that if he could, he would have pulled up a chair and asked for a cup of coffee, and talked to us for hours about life. And his life was full of stories, he struggled as a young bachelor to devote full attention to his band. That lead for some painful memories for him, but in the more recent years, he became a devoted caring band stallion that gave his every minute to the care of his band.
He will be deeply missed.
Blue Moon and his brother Custer, 2015
Morning Star 2012
2. Morning Star. 1996 son of Washakie and Plenty Coups. Morning Star lost his band one final time in the fall of 2017. (After losing them and winning them back in the spring of 2017). I don’t believe he was seen after that. He was looking quite thin in the summer of 2017, so without his band and his strength, he was not able to make it. Morning Star was a strong band stallion, who kept his band together. His death lead to the separation of his band, and as current as last week, it has been reported that they are still in constant turmoil. Morning Star was a strong presence on the mountain and will be greatly missed.
Morning Star, summer of 2017
Kemmerer (2010 Sacajawea X Blizzard), and Sacajewea, spring 2012.
3. Sacajawea. 1996 daughter of Three Bars and Calamity. Sacajeawea has not been seen since June 2018. She has always been a strong independent mare, often setting out on her own and changing bands. She was by far one of the oldest and strongest bloodlines that the Pryors had. Her beautiful primative markings and gorgous Grulla color always took my breath away.
Photo by Laura Curtis
Kemmerer, Sacajewa and Seattle. Spring 2012.
4. Sparrow. 2018 son of Pele (Penny) and Irial. Born the week of May 14, missing May 20, 2018. No photo available.
Stargazer and Quartz. Photo by Dennis McCollough
5. Stargazer. 2018 son of Quartz, father unknown. Born week of June 3. Died June 6.
Stargazer. Photo by Dennis McCollough
Shamrock. Photo by Dennis McCollugh
6. Shamrock. 2018 son of Pegasus, father unknown. Born the week of May 20. Discovered missing by Abbie and Sandy, June 21, 2018.
Abbie and I were both so excited to look for Shamrock and so shocked and disappointed when we discovered her missing. Shamrock was a beautiful foal and seemed strong. But Pegasus (whom I discovered and named!) was with an unexperienced new band stallion (Missoula, whom I discovered and named!).
I am uncertain about what happened to the Sparrow and Stargazer, but I am quite certain that Shamrock was taken by a mountain lion. A few days after we discovered her missing, Abbie and I came across a large blood patch and drag marks with blood. While we can’t be certain, we concluded that it was most likely that of Shamrock.
Shamrock and Pegasus.
Labrava and Santiago, July 15, 2018
7. Santiago. Son of Labrava and Irial. A beautiful strong colt, Santiago should have survived. Abbie, I and my last guests of the season discovered this little beauty early on the morning of our last day.
We can only speculate what happened to this beautiful foal, born to a large strong and stable band. There was and is a lot of young bachelors pushing for a band of their own. Abbie and I witnessed several very dangerous pursuits involving several bands at a time. There were also several people on the mountain at the time. Did Santiago get separated and injured from a bachelor confrontation? Did he get separated from people approaching too close ( like a foal from 2017?) There were conflicting reports of what happened. Only the mountain knows for sure, either way, this colts life ended way too soon. His death haunts me.
Rest in Peace wild ones. Your spirit still runs free on the mountain.
I am a little late announcing this birth. I did post on Wild In The Pryor Facebook page, shortly after he was born, but was waiting for just the right photos to announce it here. These photos were taken this week by Brittny Budde. Thank you so much Brittny for letting me use them!
Pryor Foal # 11 for 2018 was born to Feldspar and Mescalero. Feldspar is the 2005 daughter of Rosarita and Starman. Mescalero is the 1999 son of Sitka and Shaman.
Mescalero, Sirius and Feldspar.
The foal is a colt and he has been named Sirius. He is named in honor of his grandfather Starman. Sirius is a star system and the brightest star in the Earth’s night sky.
Welcome little one. I hope you are able to shine on the mountain top your entire life.
In all the years I have been going to the Pryors, I have grown to believe that the mountain gives you gifts according to what your energy or attitude is while you are walking on the horses’ ground. You just need to be aware of what and when they happen and be thankful for the gift. This morning was one of those times, and I will hold it in my heart.
On July 9, 2013, my guest Jeanne (who has become a very dear friend) and her two young grandchildren, along with my daughter Amber, witnessed a birth of a foal to a young two-year old filly named Labrava. I won’t go into the details here, but if you would like to read that post you can click on NACER.
Today, just a few days long of the July 2013 birth, Labrava gave birth again. And myself and Abbie were the first to witness this miracle.
We had 3 wonderful photographer guests that wanted to get first light in the morning. I actually love the early morning, and was eager take them out and find horses. After a few minutes of shooting Tecumseh/ Gringo band and Doc’s band, we decided to move down the road a bit. I parked the car and just took in the beautiful landscape while I sipped my first cup of coffee for the day. After spending several weeks on the mountain, I have often just enjoyed leaving my camera down and taking in the horses and landscape with my eyes. As I did this, I noticed Irial’s band to my left. I counted the horses, including Irial. Irial has the biggest band on the mountain at 11. He was one short. Abbie and I had been watching Labrava closely, and we thought she was very near to foaling. We saw them the night before and she was walking as if she was uncomfortable. In a perfect world, we hoped that she would foal that night, but we weren’t sure, because sometimes they can actually go on for days looking that way.
I looked through my binoculars past the other members of Irial’s band. Just below the hill, I could see LaBrava. I immediately thought she looked thinner. Could she have had her foal?? I turned to Abbie and said. Let’s go take a look. We took a very wide berth around her (more than 200 feet or more), we walked slowly over. There on the ground was a tiny dark foal! LaBrava was comfortable sharing her new life as we watched. As soon as he stood, it was obvious he was a colt that was going to look just like his father!
Thank you LaBrava for showing us this gift!
The 10th Pryor Foal was born to LaBrava and Irial. LaBrava is the 2011 daughter of Blue Sioux and Coronado. Irial is the 2008 son of Ireland and Prince. I’ll let you know when a name has been chosen!
LaBrava with her new colt and her daughter Pilar (Pixie)
In all the years I have been going to the Pryors, I have grown to believe that the mountain gives you gifts according to what your energy or attitude is while you are walking on the horses’ ground. You just need to be aware of what and when they happen and be thankful for the gift. This morning was one of those times, and I will hold it in my heart.
