With the “stay at home” order in many parts of the world right now, due to the Coronavirus, we all have a lot of extra time on our hands. This year we will need that extra time, because the letter U is a tough one, that will need a lot of research and thought! I look forward to your ideas. Have fun!
Oceana and Tecumseh, May 2015
This will be the 8th 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.
Pegasus with her mom Ireland, July 2015
In 2000, the BLM started using a letter for each year of foals, starting with A. This year is the U 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 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!
The first known Pryor Foal was born to Nova and Hickok. Nova is the 2013 daughter of Kitalpha and Bristol. Hickok is the 2007 son of Belle Starr and Starbuck. The foal is a colt and has been named Uinta.
Thank you Diane Granger for the use of her photos.
I woke up this morning with a message from Sarah and Abbie. Jackson had died. While this was not unexpected, it was still very shocking. I can’t imagine the mountain without Jackson.
Moorcroft licks Jacksons wound, February 2013.
Jackson was born to the mare Broken Bow and stallion Two Boots in 1998. This beautiful coyote dun stallion was a giant force on the mountain. He claimed the largest bands up until he lost his status of a band stallion in May of 2014. While he claimed a mare from time to time for a short while, his days of being a prominent band stallion were over.
For some stallions, they give up the will to live after the loss of their band. But Jackson choose to embrace his next role: caretaker of those in need. He was often spotted with young bachelors teaching them the “ropes”. But perhaps his most important role was that of a caring bachelor stallion. It seemed if any horse on the mountain was alone or need a friend, Jackson was there. Either briefly or for a longer period of time, he stood by those in need. The most significant one was when he spent an entire summer watching over a wounded Mandan. I believe Mandan is a live today because of Jackson.
An injured Mandan appeared at our camp during dinner with a caring Jackson keeping watch over him.
Caring was not new to Jackson, when he was still a band stallion, I witnessed many touching moments of closeness with his family. This behavior never ended, as he continued to carry out that role as an older bachelor.
Jackson and Brumby. As Matt Dillion called them: The Brad and Angelina of the mountain. I wish they had been allowed to keep more of their offspring.Jackson’s Band, 2-17-13 Protecting his band from a snowstorm.
Perhaps one of the funnest moments I shared on the mountain with Jackson, was in July 2014. A few cattle from a nearby ranch, happened to wander on the range. While I am sure this wasn’t the first time he saw cattle, it was amusing to watch his reaction to them. The rancher removed them later that day.
In the winter of 2016-17, he somehow injured his left eye. It appeared that he had lost sight in that eye. Many of us worried he would not make it without vision in both eyes. But once again, he showed us how amazing and strong he was.
I could continue to tell many stories of this amazing stallion. But somehow the words are not coming very easily to me this morning.
Jackson and Brumby with Hayden, 2007. Thank you Terry for your photo.Jackson and his son Maelstrom, February, 2013
To me, Jackson was the most caring and nurturing stallion on the mountain. There will be a giant empty space where this amazing stallion was. He left this earth on his own terms, wild and free. Rest easy Jackson. You changed my life, and I know you changed the life of may others. Thank you.
The Sixteenth 2019 Pryor foal was born sometime around November 1 to Jasmine and Doc. Jasmine is the 2009 daughter of Aztec and Cloud. Doc is the 2003 son of Winnemucca and Little Foot.
The foal is a filly and the name that has been chosen is Talulah.
I found that there are three meaning to this name. The first one that came up was: An Online Australian Woman’s Boutique. Surprised by this, I googled it again. This time from Wikipedia:Talulah Jane Riley-Milburn[1] (born 26 September 1985), known professionally as Talulah Riley, is anEnglish actress. Still thinking that there had to be more, I googled it again and found this: The name Talulah means Leaping Water and is of Native American origin. Talulah is a name that’s been used by parents who are considering baby names for girls. Choctaw.
Okay, I think the last meaning is the one I will think of when I say this name, since the announcement of the name did not include what meaning it was intended for.
Welcome to the Pryors beautiful little filly! These photos were taken by Jack Sterling on December 3 (Thank you Jack for the use of your photos). As you can see, she seems to be doing quite well. Looking forward to seeing this little one!
The 2019 year is coming to a close soon. For the past several years, I have been publishing this post to honor and remember the horses that died during the year, this year is no exception.
A part of me just wanted to let it slide by, this post is never an easy one to make, but in the end, I realized that I needed to continue this tradition and give these wonderful wild horses one last post of love. The mountain is a special and spiritual place, even though these horses are gone, their spirit continues to touch anyone who visits and takes the time to listen.
The horses below are listed in alphabetical order.
Baja, 2015
1. Baja. Baja was the 1996 son of Tonapah and Looking Glass. Baja was an incredably strong band stallion. He held on to his band until the fall of 2017. That year he was 21. The average life of a wild stallion on the mountain is 19, and for him to not only out live that, but to continue to hold unto his band until he was 21, was an amazing accomplishment. He was one of the most beautiful stallions on the mountain. He is truly missed. His legend lives on with his beautiful daughter Quahneah and her offspring.
Baja, May 2012Duke, 2016
2. Duke. Duke was the 1996 son of Flicka and Bigfoot. Duke was also a strong and consistent band stallion. He too lived to the age of 23, losing his band the winter of 2017-18. His legend lives on with 7 offspring left on the range.
Duke, 2015Duke, 2016Fiero, 2012
3. Fiero. Fiero was the 2005 son of Sacajawea and Merlin. A beautiful stallion with an amazing bloodline, Fiero died too soon. Unfortunately, he has no known offspring on the range.
Fiero, winter 2012Jemez with his bachelor buddies in 2012. From left to right: Jemez, Hidatsa, Hawk and Issaquah
4. Jemez. Jemez was the 2009 son of Strawberry and Blizzard. Life is tough for these Dryhead stallions. So few filly/mares for these amazing stallions, Jemez’s life was cut short due to an injury. He also has no known offspring on the range.
Jemez, 2012Killian and Lobo, summer of 2015
5. Lobo was the 2011 son of Sapo and Bolder. Lobo was an amazingly beautiful horse. Just coming into his own, he disappeared the winter of 2018-19. I have fond memories of him as a young colt, sparing with his 1/2 brother Killian. He has no known offspring on the range.
Lobo, 2015Lobo, 2015Lobo, July 2016Tiny with Waif and Kemmerer
6. Tiny. Tiny was the 2019 foal of Waif and Kemmerer. He was first seen by Dennis McCollough in April 2019. He was never seen again. Thank you Dennis for the use of your photos.
Waif and TinyWarbonnet, July 2013
7. Warbonnet. Warbonnet was the 1993 daughter of Tonapah and Geranimo. This beautiful mare was very close to Phoenix, you could often see the two of them grooming, napping or grazing together. Her heritage lives on with her daughter Heritage and her son Tecumseh.
Warbonnet and Phoenix, July 2015Warbonnet with her daughter Kayenta, March 2012Warbonnet, July 2016
Rest in Peace, Wild Horse Souls. Your spirit lives on, and you will always be remembered.
Pryor foal # 15 was born to Maia and Hamlet. Maia is the 2012 daughter of Hera and Prince. Hamlet is the 2007 son of Delilah and Pierre. No name or gender has been announced.
Thank you Phyllis for the use of your beautiful photos!
2019 Pryor Foal # 14 was born to Greta and Garcia. Greta is the 2006 daughter of Belle Star and Chino. Garcia is the 2006 son of Topper and Tony. The foal is a colt. No name has been announced yet.
Welcome to the mountain little one! Thank you Dennis for the use your photos!
2019 Pryor Foal # 13 was born to Jewel and Fools Crow.
Jewel is the 2009 daughter of Waif and Corona. Fools Crow is the 2005 son of Strawberry and Cortez. The foal is a colt. No name has been chosen yet. Thank you Brittny Budde for the use of your beautiful photos!
2019 Pryor Foal # 11 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. The foal is a colt and has been named Trooper.
I am not sure how to start this post. There are so many emotions coming up with the birth of this foal. LaBrava has had some bad luck with the birth of two of her foals. In 2013 right outside my tent, she gave birth to Nacer (click here to read that post) Then in 2015 she gave birth to Pixie ( AKA Pilar) in December. She was able to keep that little one alive and she has grown into a beautiful young filly. Last year (2018) she gave birth on the last day of my tours. Myself and my guests were the first one to witness him. He was gorgeous, perfect. LaBrava was a very attentive mother. We left the mountain that morning, happy with the healthy birth and happy for LaBrava. But within a few days, he was gone. Unfortunately I am fairly sure that it was caused by human interference. I had a number of people contact me about the apparent mix up of Silver Bow (who was very tiny at the time) and Santiago (LaBrava’s colt). You can read about his birth by clicking here Unfortunately, the outcome was not good.
I pray that LaBrava is able to raise this little one in peace. I know that she is an excellent mother and a very strong mare, with a family band that would do anything to help protect their foals. Please stay your distance.
The 2019 year is coming to a close soon. For the past several years, I have been publishing this post to honor and remember the horses that died during the year, this year is no exception.
