Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Refuge
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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.
For more Information contact: Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center 5 Avenue B, P.O. Box 7458 Fort Smith, MT 59035-7458 (307)-548-5406 |
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,
and 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.
Born Survivors on the
Eve of Extinction.
Here are a number of other fine books on Mustangs:
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The Mustangs by J. Frank Dobie University of Texas Press ISBN 0-292-75081-1 |
America's Last Wild Horses by Hope Ryden Dutton Paperback ISBN 0-525-47505-2 |
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Mustangs A Return to the Wild* by Hope Ryden Mountain Press Publishing Co. ISBN 0-87842-176-9 |
The Wild Horse of the West by Walker D. Wyman University of Nebraska Press ISBN 0-8032-5223-4 |
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Roaming Free Wild Horses of the American West* by Skylar Hansen Northland Press ISBN 0-87358-337-X |
Wild Horses of America* By L. Edward Purcell Portland House ISBN 0-517-63116-4 *Primarily photos |