Meet the Freedom Family

Diamond Lil is Trigger’s last surprise gift to us! Our aging band stallion Trigger passed away in the fall of 2021. In the spring of 2022 Lil was born to mare Mae West. We’re so grateful for Lil, a living reminder of her father.

Born 1998. Mae West is likely the daughter of Froggie, one of the most mysterious of all the band stallions in the Pryor Mountains. He and his mares lived in Cougar Canyon and we never knew where they got water. I only saw him once before he raced away. Mae’s mother is the statuesque Belle Star, the full sister of Raven (Cloud’s father). Mae is the mother of Josie, also in our Freedom Family. Mae inherited her mother’s incredible eyes and passes them on to her elegant offspring.

Little Jane was a surprise addition to our Freedom Family! She was born in late August 2020 to two senior parents, Trigger and Mae West, both in their twenties. It was believed that repeated doses of PZP had rendered Mae West sterile. Calamity Jane proves that was not the case! Though she was unexpected, we welcome her with open hearts! She is a spirited little girl and seems to be enjoying her “wildish” life with her family here in Colorado.

Born 1997, son of Flicka and the only offspring of the deceased grullo stallion, Challenger.

Ginger Kathrens was hired by the BBC to document Trigger for the program, “Spirit of the Mustang” when he was just a couple of days old. With his “hour glass” blaze and stockings, he was photogenic and unmistakable on the range. As a two-year old, he ended up in a two-stallion band led by the sabino stallion, Crazy Horse, and the stylish bay stallion, Star. Oddly, these stallions allowed 2 year-old Trigger to breed mares in the band, so Trigger had unusual early training! Crazy Horse and Star ranged widely, using the spring-fed waterhole atop isolated Tony Island in the Custer National Forest. Perhaps this is why Trigger chose to live in the National Forest lands as an adult. Trigger left no offspring on the range but we are thrilled to have his daughters in our care.

Born 1999. Moshi is the grulla daughter of Quelle Couleur who lived in Grijala’s band in the Pryors. Moshi’s father is likely Lakota, a favorite of many of us. The 20 year-old grullo stallion was put down by the BLM in July, 2012 as a result of injuries sustained in fighting, likely while trying to win back his band from Grijala.

Born 2002. Chalupa is the daughter of Moshi and Santa Fe. Chalupa, a beautiful red bay, was with Bo’s band when she was captured. Chalupa and Bo produced two sons in our care. Diablo (Patriot) lives with supporters and friends of ours in Texas. Her son, BJ (Bo Junior), lives on my ranch in Colorado. Chalupa is also the mother of Winter. Chalupa’s mother, Moshi, was with Santa Fe in 2001 but the band was shattered during the 2001 helicopter roundup and Chalupa was born into Pierre’s band. When I look at Chalupa’s beautiful face, I see the image of her father.

Born 1993. When I first saw Mystery she was a yearling and I asked Revered Schweiger why she was named that and who her parents were. At that time, he said that her identity was a Mystery and that is what he called her. Mystery is the wildest of our horses and rejects any contact with us humans. I admire her tremendously. Sadly, she has no offspring on the wild horse range or in our care.

Born 1996. Dark bay daughter of the sorrel mare with the flaxen mane and tail, Madonna, and probably the stallion, Looking Glass. Evita has such a sweet disposition, soft expression, and beautiful conformation, much like her stylish mother.. Evita also has Madonna’s nurturing qualities. We regret she did not leave any offspring on the range.

Born 2011. Lily is the dun daughter of Shane and Moshi and is almost a dead-ringer for her father. How Lily lost the very tip of her left ear remains a mystery but gives her a distinctive air. She has the sweet disposition of her half-sister, Chalupa. Since an incident with a porcupine necessitated a couple visits to the vet, she is fairly fearless with visitors.

Born 1996. Daughter of the lilac roan mare, Princess. Sierra was born into the band led by the small, dark grullo stallion, Konik. Because of her chestnut color, it is unlikely he was her father. The band was being dogged by a red roan, stallion, known as “the Rev”. He might be her father. However, she also resembles Flash, the sorrel stallion with a blaze face who lived to be 27 years-old.

Sierra’s only living offspring was Fortunatus who died in the harsh winter of 2010-2011 probably as a result of the newly erected fence that prevented him from returning to his traditional wintering grounds in the Custer National Forest. Sierra has not produced a foal while in our care.

Born 1999. The leggy daughter of the deceased black mare, Pocotello, and the black stallion, Pierre. After the death of both Conquistador and more recently Shane, Cavalitta joined Trigger’s band, although she maintains a level of independence that is intriguing to observe. Cavalitta and Conquistador leave two sons on the horse range, Grijala and Hernando. Both are band stallions on the Pryors, and are robust and taller than the average Pryor mustang, a characteristic that no doubt helped them in winning mares.

Born 2011. Daughter of Trigger and Mae West. Josie was stolen from Trigger by Conquistador just weeks before he died. She and Cavalitta are fond of each other and recently Moshi has shown her fondness for this colorful filly as well. Josie promises to become an outstanding mare. She is the great niece of Raven, Cloud’s father, and has her mother’s large and expressive eyes. Quite the beauty!

Winter was born on the first day of winter, 2017. She is the daughter of Trigger and Chalupa. Although born in subzero temperatures, she not only survived but thrived with the loving attention of her family. Today she is a beautiful grown filly and like Lily, is fairly inquisitive about visitors.