This year will be the 4th year of “Lakota’s Gift”. For the past 4 seasons, I have awarded a four day camping trip to an inspiring Pryor Mountain Wild Horse follower in honor of my favorite horse, Lakota. This person needs to be passionate about this special herd of horses and have some basic knowledge about them.
To be considered for this award, please submit an essay telling why you should be awarded this gift. Please include some information about yourself, what you know about the horses and what you hope to give back to the horses by being selected for this award. All essays must be submitted by February 1, 2017.
All trips start and end in Cody, Wyoming.
Past recipients of this award have been: Jonathan Stander, Brianna Harvey, Abbie Branchflower and Lexi.
You can submit your essay to this email: wildinthepryors@aol.com
Sandy
Below is a slideshow of some of the many photos that I have taken of Lakota. Please give it sometime to upload before trying to view.
This will be my 4th season of camping tours! On my first season, my very first trip, in July of 2013, with my daughter Amber acting as my assistant, a woman, named Jeanne booked a trip for herself and her two granddaughters, ages 11. Lilly and Lexi were great to be around, and seemed mature beyond their young years, and since that day, Jeanne and I have become life long friends. Not only did Lexi know the horses, but the love they all shared for the horses and the appreciation they had for the mountain, made this trip one that I will always hold close to my heart. But this trip will also be remembered as the trip that a new foal decided to be born, right outside our tents very early one morning. That foal was Nacer. Through tragedy and deep emotions, the five of us would be linked to this mountain for life. You can read more about that foal, by clicking on NACER.
This is my third year that I have awarded a free camping trip to a young person who would be willing to carry on their passion of the wild horses and share it with others their age. I named it “Lakota’s Gift” in honor of my favorite wild horse who died in the summer of 2012. ( Has it really been 4 years?) Lakota gave so much to me in such a short time, that I wanted to do something to “keep the torch burning” for these special horses.
Lakota at my campsite, July 2011
And so this years Lakota’s Gift recipient will be Lexi. She will be joining me for one of my July trips. Lexi is now 14 (she will be 15 by the time she goes on the mountain), and even more knowledgeable than ever about the horses. I look forward to spending some time with her.
Lexi is also the proud co-owner of the Pryor Horse, Montana, who was removed last summer. Montana is living at her grandmother, Jeanne’s house and is doing great. It is apparent by the photos here, that Lexi already has a special bond with him.
