Arrowhead Adventures [Guest Post by Erin Phillips]
Summertime in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range
My love for wild horses began in a small town library where I picked out the “Cloud, Wild Stallion of the Rockies” documentary to watch with my family. I fell in love with Cloud, his family, and their rugged mountain home. When I was seven, my parents gave me a miniature horse colt. He was a pale palomino, but the breeder told us that when his baby fur shed out, he would be a palomino paint. My family suggested many good names for him, but when we brought him home I finally decided what it would be – Cloud. He never completely became a paint, so he retains most of his pale palomino color, and he has certainly lived up to his name!
Now I volunteer for The Cloud Foundation and have many opportunities to share the plight of our wild mustangs with our farm customers, family, and friends. It wasn’t a surprise when on June 20, after months of planning, we drove into the Pryor Mountains, part of our family’s trip out west.
Pryor Dryhead approaching sunset ©ErinPhillips
We entered the Pryors by Burnt Timber Road and arrived at the top of the mountain at dusk, just as the horses were beginning to quiet down – or so we thought! As we drove by, I began to spot familiar faces! I sighted Cloud Mato Ska’s band (Cloud and Feldspar’s blue roan son), as well as Okomi’s nearby with Feldspar, Utah, Udall. Many other mustangs were together near Sykes Ridge Road.
We decided to camp at a cleared spot with a picnic table near Penn’s cabin, which was across the road from the horses. Occasionally we heard a stallion scream during the night, or pounding hooves nearby.
The next morning, we were surprised to find that Encore and her family had found us! I spent most of that early morning sitting with them and watching Tor enjoy sleeping in the rising sun.
In the meadow just below Knight’s band there were many other horses. Gringo has added Jewel, Talia, and Galadriel to his previously one-mare band of Bella. Bella seems to enjoy the company!
After breakfast, we walked to a high hill nearby that overlooks the meadow near Penn’s Cabin. At that moment, Irial’s band and a band of duns that might have been part of Casper’s band began to gallop from the snow fed waterhole. Flint’s son, Jasper, was right on their heels. I learned later the duns were indeed Gabrielle and Moenkopi, two of Casper’s former mares. The stallion, however, was the young Oklahoma.
Cloud’s grandson, Echo, soon made his appearance with his two lovely mares, Shadow and Hataalii. Shadow, of course, is quite round (this was only two weeks before Uno Caballo’s appearance). During our time there, I kept a vigilant watch on this band, hoping I would be the first to spot their foal!
We heard horses neighing and turned to see a wild horse stampede, it was Doc’s and Okomi’s bands, and a few other bands following. As the pounding of hooves died, one last neigh rang out from our left. It was Cloud’s beautiful mother, Phoenix, her friend, Pococeno, and stallion, Hernando! It’s hard to believe that Phoenix is actually 29. She looks like the Queen of the Mountain, and really, she is!
Rio (one of my favorites) is back with his mom, dad, and little brother, Tapadero, trying to decide if he really wants to be a bachelor! He seems to be helping his father keep watch over the band, too.
Rio (dun, center) with little brother Tapadero (left, grullo) and dad Garay (right, grullo)
TCF Deputy Director Dana Zarrello, who met us on the mountain, told us that Cloud’s son, Bolder, had lost his band. We saw him walking up and down the road by himself. Suddenly, he perked up and looked back. We followed his gaze and saw Oro approaching with Bolder’s mares. Poor Bolder. I hope he regains a family or joins the bachelors.
On the opposite hill, rather far away, there were two little foals enjoying an afternoon nap. When one mare turned my way I saw a huge blaze – Feldspar! Farther away to the left of Okomi’s band, I spotted a light colored horse grazing with a black one. I turned to Ms. Zarrello, “Do you think that may be Pride?” I asked.
After a closer look, we affirmed that it is Pride and his bachelor buddy, Quaid. Pride looked good from a distance! To the left of Pride and Quaid was the sorrel bachelor, Okiotak, and above them we believed we saw Banjo and his new mare, Sophia.
Okiotak came down the ridge, bringing other bachelors and excitement, but they soon disappeared over the hill. Pride and Quaid were still in the distance and I decided to walk over and see them after spending some time with Navigator’s band.
Pride and Quaid decided to get a drink from the water hole, coming closer to us instead. Cloud’s youngest son has grown up! Hoping there would be some action, we sat down nearby. The bachelor, Nickle, was with Pride and Quaid, too. After sparring, the three settled down, and we stayed, enjoying the majestic mountains and beautiful horses. As we began to leave, Quaid started trotting up to me, but I made sure he realized that I am not as interesting as I may seem to be!
Soon Echo’s band came running down the hill, followed by Quaid’s big brother, Orlando, who is intent on bothering Echo. They hadn’t gone far when Navigator came racing to meet them. Orlando challenged Navigator, so Echo quickly began snaking his mares away. The skirmish didn’t last long, and soon Orlando raced back up the mountain to Echo. After sparring with the other bachelors, Navigator seemed to remember that he had left his mares far behind, so he galloped off.
That evening, Mato Ska brought his band by on their way into the woods. Mato Ska is another one of my favorite horses on the mountain, and it was exciting to see him! Okomi’s band was there too, and mischievous Udall wouldn’t leave his older brother Sirius alone! Sirius is a good big brother and just patiently walked away.
At dusk, several bachelors galloped up, and Bolder, who had been hiding in the trees near our campsite, ran out to meet them. After briefly sparring, they all raced up the hill. Although we hoped Bolder would stay with them, we saw him the next morning by himself.
As we drove around the next morning, we found Missoula’s band with Rosarita, Payton (BLM name Pegasus), and Traveler. In London’s band, Quaneah, and her filly, Taiga, were close by. Titan (in Grijala’s band) was very interested in us as we walked by. He is a big yearling and it will be interesting to see him grow up!
As we walked over the top of a hill, a surprise awaited us! Doc’s band with Cloud’s daughters, Firestorm and Jasmine, were just below. Ryden and Talulah are looking great. Talulah has big, adorable eyes, and with her fuzzy mane, she reminds me of my miniature horse back home – only the opposite color!
Oro trotted by and we saw that he had just gained Morning Reverie and her filly Usha. There were a lot of changes on the mountain during our short time there!
Pride, Nickle, Quaid, and Okiotak walked by and Gringo raced up to them. I love this photo of Gringo and Okiotak! They didn’t fight, and I wondered if Gringo remembered helping to raise Okiotak. I recently learned there’s some question about whether Chance or Gringo is Okiotak’s father. Gringo and Chance’s longtime mare, Galadriel, have always had a strong sibling bond - and the bands were normally found very close together.
Mandan and Shoshone are close to the road as we approached the two-mile long fence the Forest Service built to block the horses from using the Custer National Forest. We hope that will be removed one day – prayerfully soon.
Mandan (right) with the flashy young dun, Shoshone
Back at our campsite, Doc, Gringo, and London and their bands were there, and Talulah and Brumby were grooming each other. I love seeing the other mares taking on responsibility for caring for a foal or yearling.
Pride, Okiotak, and Quaid were in the distance and that was the last time we saw those feisty bachelors!
About that time, Ms. Zarrello left. We are so thankful for her spending time with us on the mountain!
Oro’s band was nearby and I took the opportunity to sit nearby and watch Usha. Everything is so new for a baby animal, so she was very interested in watching me from behind her mother!
Morning Reverie and her 2020 filly, Usha
We still hadn’t seen Banjo and Sophia, so we decided to hike out to the ridge that they were on in the morning. They were farther away by then, but we finally found them on Burnt Timber Road.
Casper and Gabrielle’s stunning coyote dun son, Banjo Paterson with his young filly, Sophia. Sophia was only a yearling when she left her natal band (Garcia & Greta) to go with the handsome stallion.
On the way back to camp, Encore was nearby. What a lovely mare, who fits her title well – Angel of the Arrowheads! Cloud left an amazing legacy!
Encore, Angel of the Arrowheads
Irial (who has the biggest band on the mountain) was still being dogged by Miguel, who seems convinced that Irial can part with at least one of his many mares.
Later, we saw Mato Ska for the last time, and I hope that there will be a Mato Ska foal galloping in the meadows the next time we come!
Cloud and Feldspar’s blaze-faced blue roan son, Mato Ska
The horses began heading up the mountain, but excitement was just around the corner. Quanah Parker and Inniq came to rouse everyone up. Missoula was the first to battle them and fought Quanah viciously. Gringo came to fight next, but soon had to stop to snake Talia away from them.
There’s never a dull moment when Quanah Parker is around! Here Quanah (roan) and Missoula battle over Missoula’s family
That evening, my brother and I hiked up to where the horses were (about a half-mile away). When we found them, Quanah was challenging each of the stallions in that area (Oro, Knight, Irial, Bolder, and Okomi). Bolder seemed to be trying to teach Quanah a lesson as he continued to fight and race after him.
The foals were feeling more energetic, too, and it was fun to see them playing together. After watching the horses for a while, we hiked back to camp.
Young Usha kicks up her heels as the day cools down
The next afternoon, June 22, when we left the mountain, many of the horses (including Encore) were gathered on the large snow patch near the road – as if to say good bye! Banjo and Sophia, who had been staying secluded before, were nearby, too.
Though it was hard to say good bye and leave the range, I know it won’t be long until we’re back, enjoying the beauty and majesty of God’s creation. I realized later, that although I would’ve loved to see Cloud, he is still there – living through his various offspring. His color on Encore, his iron will in Mato Ska, and his build in Pride.
During our visit, I was impressed to see how vast and healthy the Pryor Mountain Range is. These horses don’t need to be removed! Once while watching several bands of mustangs, I suddenly remembered – the BLM would like to remove half of them. It’s hard to imagine, but I know it strengthened my resolve to do everything I can so that doesn’t happen. These horses cannot do anything to save themselves from management – we are their voice. We can’t let them down.
About the Author
As a life-long lover of God's beautiful creation, Erin Phillips became a wild horse and burro advocate after learning about their plight through The Cloud Foundation and Cloud documentaries. In the beginning of 2018, Erin began volunteering for The Cloud Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving our wild horses and burros. She is 16 and lives on a small farm on 40 acres in rural south-easthern Georgia with her family and horse, Cloud—named after Cloud, Wild Stallion of the Rockies.