I’ve been a bit behind on announcing the new foal arrivals on my blog. But, here they are:
Pilar and her new foal Ukiah
Pryor Foal # 5
The fifth foal for 2020 was born on Mother’s Day weekend to the mare Pilar and stallion Hamlet. Pilar is the 2015 daughter of LaBrava and Irial. Hamlet is the 2007 son of Delliah and Pierre. The foal is a colt and has been named Ukiah.
Pryor Foal # 6
The sixth foal for 2020 was born on Mother’s Day weekend to the mare Morning Reverie. Morning Reverie is the 2017 daughter of Hataali and Morning Star. I am listing the father of this horse as unknown. The foal is a filly and has been named Usha.
Usha
Pryor Foal # 7
Foal # 7 for the season was born to Quintana and Okomi, also born on Mother’s Day weekend. Quintana is the 2016 daughter of Feldspar and Mescalero. Okomi is the 2015 son of Firestorm and Jackson. The foal is a colt and has been named Udall.
Udall and Utah
Pryor Foal # 8
Pryor Foal # 8 was born to the Penn and Jesse James. The birth of this foal was probably Mother’s Day week or the week before. Penn is the 2015 daughter of Audobon and Hamlet. The foal is a filly and has been named Ukulele Lil.
Penn and Ukulele Lil
Pryor Foal # 9
The 9th foal of this year was just discovered this past weekend by Dennis. The foal has been born to Niobrara and Fools Crow. Niobrara is the 2013 daughter of Firestorm and Jackson. Fools Crow is the 2005 son of Strawberry and Cortez. The foal is a filly and has been named Uushuwate.
Niobrara and foal
Thank you Dennis for the use of your beautiful photos!
We are looking forward to 2021. Consider joining us for a camp trip of a lifetime!
Deposit is fully refundable if cancellation is due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. At this time I am not accepting any new guests.
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.
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 is willing to help you position yourself for the best photo opportunities, offer tips on lighting and settings. And if you want to stay up late, she will even offer a bit of night time photography tips in the amazing very big and dark Montana sky.
The many stories that Sandy shares 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 can give you a better understanding of what it is like to live wild on the range. You will also be able to experience first light, blue hour, incredible sunsets and dark starry skies with an opportunity to do some night shooting. All tours may include light to moderate hiking.
The camping trips are 4 days/3 nights on the mountain top. This trip includes: comfortable transportation up and down the mountain, all food, snacks, tents, sleeping pad and expert personal guiding. (last night dinner is on your own once we return to Billings). Each tent and sleeping pad will be cleaned and sanitized thoroughly between guests.
Below are the tour dates for the summer of 2021.Cost of the trip is $2295.00 per person. A deposit of 50% ($1147.50) is due at time of booking. Contact me for payment options (I accept Venmo or check) or hit the PAY NOW button below. (a secure payment that accepts most credit/debit cards throughout the world.)
1. June 25-28
2. July 1-4
3. July 7-10
4. July 13-16
5. July 19-22
All payments are considered non-refundable, EXCEPT: Refunds will be issued if we are not able to go due to Covid-19. Refunds may be made if cancellations can be filled ( if cancellation is due to anything other than Covid-19 travel restrictions) 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
Contact Sandy with any questions: 406-360-8959
All tours will start and end in Billings, MT.
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 SandyPhone: 406-360-8959 email: wildinthepryors@aol.comWild 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 # 3 was born to Feldspar and Okomi. Feldspar is the 2005 daughter of Rosarita and Starman. Okomi is the 2016 son of Jackson and Firestorm. The foal is a colt and has been named Utah.
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 # 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 2015
Oceana 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.
Every year we loss a few horses, none are ever easy, or pass unnoticed, but some are harder to accept. Each of us have our favorites, whether we want to admit it or not. This year is no exception to that, but to me, it is an especially hard year. The mountain just will not be the same without these horses. And so, with this post, I tell you about what I know of them and dedicate in their honor.
Tonapah, August 2011,
1. Tonapah, born in 1986, she was the oldest living horse on the mountain for many years. Her sires are unknown, but she had many offspring, Lakota, Warbonnet, Baja and Brumby are just a few. Part of her will live on through these horses.
Tonapah was with the band stallion Duke for many years, until she decided to leave him and join Horizon/Fiesta band in the summer of 2013. A part of me wondered if she left him because she was trying conceive (she was on PZP). She clearly sought out much younger stallions to be with. In the end, she may have conceived, as many of us think the dead foal that Liz found this summer may have been hers…
Whether that is true or not, this wise old mare was a great asset to the Horizon/Fiesta band. Taking this unorganized and unsettled band under her care, she turned them around to become a stable and strong force on the mountain.
Tonapah never showed us her beauty on the mountain top this summer.
I loved to tell guests, that she was the oldest mare on the mountain, she was a beautiful and strong mare for all those years, she never looked her age. The saying is true for her “you are as old as you feel” and I think Tonapah passed to the other side feeling beautiful and young. I will deeply miss her.
Dukes Band, Tonapah in the middle, August 2012
2. Topper Too, born in 1995 to the mare Topper (who died in the winter of 2014) and the stallion Beauty. She has only one known offspring on the mountain, Fiasco (who is also the daughter of Chino).
Topper Too and her mother Topper were long time mares of the stallion Chino. I smiled a million smiles watching mother and daughter with Chino. They were two of the most unsocial horses on the mountain while together with Chino, and made it clear many times that they would rather not be around humans. Chino lost them in 2013, Topper went to Corona’s band and Topper Too went with Baja. I did not think they would stay separated long, but they continued to live out their lives apart from one another.
Topper Too died from a lightning strike, while in Mescarlo’s band, on May 31, 2015.
Chino and Topper Too, April 29, 2013
The famous Toppers “over the shoulder” look.
Topper Too leaving.
Chino and Topper, May 19, 2012
Topper 1 and Topper too, September 1, 2012 A typical greeting from these two!
Topper 1 and Topper 2
Topper Too and Topper, August 31, 2012
The Toppers, July 31, 2012
Topper Too, July 31, 2012
Chino, Topper and Topper 2, June 17, 2012
Chino’s band, July 31, 2012
Chino, Topper One and Topper Too.
Chino and Topper and Topper Too. May 2012.
3. Chino, born in 1993, to the mare Hightail and the stallion Hercules. It is with much sadness and tears that I type about Chino. He was last seen on July 4, 2015 after saving the life of a young foal (you can read my post about that, by clicking on CHINO.) As you can see from the photos above and below, I saw this stallion constantly. He was always one of those horses that showed himself to me. I pray that he may still show up, but in my heart, I feel he is gone. But what an amazing life he led! There are many stories I could tell about Chino, but none as great as on the last day I saw him.
He is the only stallion on the mountain that has lived in all areas of the horse range: Dryhead, Burnt Timber, Sykes, he knew this mountain better than any horse has or will. He was a patient stallion, putting up with his unsocial mares ( Topper and Topper Too). He seemed to give them up without much fight and go into his second bachelor hood with ease. He excepted it, but never lost his drive. I watched him in April 2014 dog Cloud and his band for an entire day.
Chino has been one of those horses that I never really realized was a clear favorite, but my camera knew, I have hundreds of photos of him. My heart aches to think of the mountain without him.
Galaxy, Gringo and Chino, September, 2011
Jasper, Gringo, Horizon and Galaxy challenge Chino, September, 2011
Chino, September 2012
Chino, May 2012
Chino, April 2014
Chino, April 2014
Chino fighting London, July 4, 2015
Chino, May 19, 2012
4. Hightail, born in 1990 to the mare Calamity, Hightail has been a fixture on at the entrance of the Dryhead for years. She is one of the “Greeters”. She was last seen in August of this year, so there is still hope that she may show herself, but in the many years that I have seen her, I have never seen her away from her close companion, Seneca.
Hightail was the very first wild horse I ever saw. She very quietly and purposely walked slowly in front of my truck at sundown on July evening. I will never forget that moment. She then continued to lead me to the rest of her band, that included Admiral.
I find it sadly ironic that she and her son Chino disappeared within a month or so from each other. Perhaps this mother and son are together in another place, healthy and running with the others that have passed before them.
Hightail, April 16, 2012
Hightail, June, 2015
The Greeters, April 2012
Hightail and Seneca, April, 2012
5. Issaquah, born in 2008 to Bakken and Seattle, he has been missing for over a year. I saw him alone several times part way up Sykes Ridge Road, so maybe he will show himself. That is a very vast area that few people travel, he may still be there.
In his early bachelor years, Issaquah was always with the stallion Hawk. In fact, I called them HawkandIssaquah, because they were so inseparable.
Issaquah died way before his time, unlike the horses above, he had not lived a long enough life.
Hawk and Issaquah, April, 2012
Hawk and Issaquah, April 2012
Issaquah, April, 2013
Issaquah, April 28, 2013
As of today, these are the horses that have passed or are missing. My wish is that this year will draw to a close without another one added to this list.
Rest in Peace, you lived wild and you died wild, just as it should be.
I apologize for not getting a post out sooner. But, I have to admit, I was having a difficult time looking at my photos after the removal. After spending the entire summer with these horses and then being there for the removal of the mountain top horses, I had a lot of emotions that weren’t ready to surface.
All of the horses removed, I had seen as little foals, watched some of them leave their family bands and become bachelors, and watched others get to know their home on the mountain. I knew I had hundreds of photos of the horses that were removed, and I just was not ready to see them.
It was this week, that I realized I was ready, and actually looking forward to reviewing the thousands of photos from the summer. I have been very blessed to have been able to spend so much time on the mountain with these horses.
This first post is only of my very first trip up there. After several months away from the horses, I find that my first trip, I take a lot of photos, then with each following trip, I begin to take less shots, and put down my camera to watch the horses and my guests through my own eyes.
June sunset.
June is one of my favorite months on the mountain top. The mountain is just awaking after a long winter, and the horses are much more active with each other. The mountain top brings them all in closer proximity to each other then what they are in the winter months, so there is more action between the stallions on a regular basis. If you don’t mind the cool nights and want a lot of action shots, this is the month for you.
I’m not sure how much longer I will be be doing guided tours, so I cherish each moment I had there with my guests and the horses. I will be doing two guided camping trips in June this year. They are starting to book, so if you are interested, contact me soon. Go to 2016 Camping, to find out more information, with available dates for June, July and August.
So, below are some of the photos I took during this first trip.
Bolder’s band visited our camp on a regular basis, with Killian and Lobo denting my truck during a sparing match.
Bachelor Boys near our camp
Nahwa and McKeanhie
Bachelors
Hamlets
A very pregnant Jacinta
Petite Colour
Kohl and Petite Colour
Garay
Merriweather
One of the many views from the mountain top
Tecumseh and band
Grijala and band
Little Miss Noble
Cappucinno’s run to the Mystic Pond
The Cappucinno’s
Cappucinno’s
Custers
Nye, Firestorm, Brumby and Okomi
Brumby
Galena and Petra
Galena and Petra
Nye
Irial
Oceana
Galena and Petra
Nye
Aurora
Baja’s
Baja’s
Ojai
Washakie
Ojai
Baja’s
Odakota
Noble and Naolin
Pococeno and Galaxy
Limerick
Penny
Manelita with Dove in the background
Naolin and Odakata
Naolin and Odakota
Baja and London
London
Naolin and Nickel
Nickel and Naolin
Petra
Doc and London
London and Doc
Petra and Galena
Cloud
Cloud
Boys with Mandan and Moorcroft in front
Mandan and Moorecroft
Galaxy
Irial
Pride and Feldspar
Jasper
Ketchikan and Okiotak
Medicine Bow, Pride and Rosarita
Mescalero
Mescalero
Hera
Kreguer Pond
Grijala and Noble
Chino
Hamlet and Niyaha
Hamlet
Niyaha and Hamlet
Niyaha and Audobon
Gabriele and Patterson
Cappuccino’s
Naara
Patterson and Blanca
View from Campsite
Gringo and Tecumseh bands
Bolder
Lobo
I’ll be publishing “Part Two of Summer 2015” soon!
Wild in the Pryors 2016 Calendars are ready to purchase! They are printed on premium glossy card stock. The price is 23.00 each, including shipping within the United States. For out of country orders, please contact me for additional shipping price.
You can order by emailing Sandy at: wildinthepryors@aol.com or by calling or texting your order to: 406-360-8959. Payment can be made by PayPal or check.
Below are the photos for the months of this calendar.
Mescalero’s band
Oklahoma and Okiotak
Nye
Patriot and Petite Colour watching Nimbus
Penny
Pegasus
Chino
Juniper
Jacinta and Patriot
Hamlet
Cloud and London
Sunset from the campsite
Thank you!
Sandy
Logo designed by Amber Bushnell. Wild in the Pryors and this logo is copyrighted.
Right in front of our eyes, a new life was born. There were several of us witnessing the exciting entrance into the world. We all agreed this new colt should be called Patriot. Born on the 4th of July.
Patriot was born to Jacinta, the 2009 daughter of Rosebud and Tecumseh (maybe) and Garary, the 2006 son of Mariposa and Conquistador.
There is a story surrounding this birth that I will share soon. But I will say that the stallion Chino ( age 22 this year) is this little ones guardian angel.
I more than ever love this wise old stallion. He is my hero for this day.