North American Horse Encyclopedia

A herd of these horses was discovered in Wyoming in 1950. They have blood from Spanish Barbs, Portuguese Sorraia, Ukranian Tarpan and even Arabians. Their orgin is unclear. They may have been brought there by Crow Indiians or descend from horses that were stolen or escaped from the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

show horse on the right.

In 1950 Velma Johnston was driving behind a stock truck and noticed blood dripping out of the back. She followed the truck to a shipping yard where captured mustangs where gathered for later transport to a pet food factory. Through investigation she learned that wild horses where being legally harvested by commercial mustangers, licensed by the Bureau of Land Management, a federal agency charged with the oversight and protection of range lands. Mustangs were hunted using trucks, airplanes (equipped with sirens), and shotguns, killed outright or shipped for slaughter. Angered by what she saw, Velma began a one woman crusade to save the wild horses.In September, 1968, Secretary of State Stewart Udall announced the creation of the Wild Horse Refuge in the Pryor mountains. Through the diligent efforts of the Lovell, Wyoming Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Association, and many other concerned citizens, this area was set aside to help preserve the unique breed of American mustang found here. Spotted by Native Americans long before the arrival of European settlers, wild horses can still be seen by visitors.

Ancestors of the Pryor Mountain Mustangs Breeding & Color

The Barb

The Barbary horse originated in northwestern Africa, in what is now Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Historically Barbs have been prized for their endurance and quick bursts of speed. They were imported and bred for racing and hunting throughout Europe. The pure Barb stands approximately 15 hands high, with flat shoulders, low tail and a "ram shaped head". Able to carry large loads and subsist on poor forage, they make ideal military mounts.

The Arab

The Arabian horse was originally bred by Bedouin tribes. This northern African desert horse is known for its rare beauty. The dished face, arched neck, hardness of foot, great muscular strength, outstanding eyesight and hearing, courage, intelligence, longevity, and stamina make this breed especially sought after. Arabs stand approximately 14 to 15 hands and come in all colors.

The Sorraia

The Sorraia is a Portuguese plains horse renown for its hardiness and ability to thrive in a poor environment. They are small horses, between 12 and 13 hands with a dorsal stripe and leg stripes They are always either dun or grullo in color with heavy black manes and tails, and often have black tipped ears.

The Tarpan

The Tarpan is an ancestor of the Polish Konik, as well as the mustang. Tarpans ranged in the steppes of the Ukraine and Eastern Europe. These horses were hunted for their meat by early Europeans. Standing between 12 and 14 hands high they were grullo in color with a dorsal stripe and black mane and tail. They became extinct in the late 1800s.

The Andalusion

The Andalusion horse was bred by three different Monasteries in Spain. Now primarily chestnut or black in color, they are the descendants of an Iberian breed and lack the dish face of the Arab. These horses are prized for their pure breeding. They are strong and sturdy with a smooth gait