Trip Highlights – Stories to Follow
September 12, 2009
Just a quick note with the highlights of our week-long trip and the day by day updates to follow as I get images processed.
Meet Donnie – a Pryor Mountain Mustang owner I recently met who uses his mare for trail riding, working cattle, roping and as a Pony Express horse on the NPEA Re-Rides. (From their website: NPEA is the National Pony Express Association – an all-volunteer, non-profit historical organization for the purpose of identifying, reestablishing and marking the original Pony Express trail through the eight states it served: California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri).

Donnie and his Pryor mare Maggie.
An update on “Nub Ear,” the stallion from Fifteen Mile HMA near Worland, WY (scheduled for roundup next month).

Band stallion Nub Ear from the Fifteen Mile HMA - September, 2009
Follow our experience at the Pryor Mountain Roundup (Tom and I were there for 4 days – from September 6th through the 9th).

Pryor Mountain wild horses being rounded up - September, 2009

Cloud and his band are rounded up - September 7, 2009
A visit to the McCullough Peaks wild horses outside of Cody, Wyoming (scheduled for roundup next month).

Small band at McCullough Peaks - September, 2009
Photographing the wild horses at Dishpan Butte, Wyoming (the North Lander Complex of wild horses, which includes Dishpan Butte, was gathered earlier this summer – 1053 horses were rounded up, 804 removed and 245 returned to the 4 different HMA’s within the Complex)

Bachelor band - Dishpan Butte HMA, Wyoming - 2009

Band at Dishpan Butte - September, 2009
Going back to the Green Mountain HMA near Bairoil, Wyoming (scheduled for roundup next month). It’s been about 3 years since we’ve visited these wild horses. Unfortunately, we found them midday (harsh lighting) and just ran out of time to be able to go back later in the day. They’re beautiful horses even though photographed in unflattering light. Stewart Creek HMA (scheduled for roundup next month) overlaps the area and we saw many horses there as well.

Two bachelor boys - Green Mountain HMA, 2009
September 13, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Looking forward to reading about your experiences during the Pryor roundup and updates on the other herds! Hate to think about the other roundups.
TJ
September 13, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Maggie is lovely, and I love Nub Ear!
September 13, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Seeing Cloud and his herd run down the chute put tears in my eyes. Waiting to hear the details.
September 13, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Great photos, Pam. Too bad they had to be taken just as the horses were losing their freedom!
September 14, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Pam,
Those horses are beautiful, they took my breath away looking at them. Thank you for the chance to see them. Aunt Dot
September 14, 2009 at 2:01 AM
[…] Photographer and Advocate Pam Nickholes Blog […]
September 14, 2009 at 3:12 AM
Love the pictures.Sad,but historic images of the Pryor Mountain Mustangs.
Love the one of Maggie.Good Lookin’ Cowboy in there also.
September 14, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Oh that picture with the helicopter really got me…I’m so sad for them, I can’t imagine the fear in their minds!! Thank you for taking us on this journey with you, and your pictures ALL OF THEM are fantastic!
September 15, 2009 at 5:56 PM
TJ – I worry about all the other horses too.
Tracey – I love Nub Ear too. I hope he’ll be returned to his home after the gather.
Rene – so many tears were shed over this ordeal.
Craig – Nice to hear from you. I know you’re very busy helping the wild ones. They’re lucky to have you on their side.
Aunt Dot – I’m so glad you enjoyed the wild horses. I hope they’ll always be around to share with you and all the others that love them.
Country Girl – it is very hard to watch. I hope to share more of the experience with all of you soon.
November 10, 2009 at 3:50 PM
oh dear the poor green mountain horses will be destroyed next year with a dredfull round up. its so sad to me and i will do all i can to try and stop it. I hope that everyone else who loves these animals will do the same.