...about Mustangs
THE PRESENT
Why tell this story? It is symbolic of the resourcefulness and self-reliant independence that characterizes the greatness of the American western spirit. But the story is more than a tale of rags to riches. The mustangs of the McCullough Peaks are as much a part of American western culture as the pioneers who gathered, trained, rode, drove, and sometimes lost them back to the wild bunch. Some of these mustangs are believed to descend from horses brought to the New World by the conquistadors in the sixteenth century, later ridden by Shoshone, Crow, or Sioux Indians in the region.
Why tell this story? It is symbolic of the resourcefulness and self-reliant independence that characterizes the greatness of the American western spirit. But the story is more than a tale of rags to riches. The mustangs of the McCullough Peaks are as much a part of American western culture as the pioneers who gathered, trained, rode, drove, and sometimes lost them back to the wild bunch. Some of these mustangs are believed to descend from horses brought to the New World by the conquistadors in the sixteenth century, later ridden by Shoshone, Crow, or Sioux Indians in the region.
Old timer, Art Holman, who rode in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
talked of rounding up horses with Buffalo Bill's "94" brand from the Peaks. It is likely that Buffalo Bill pastured some of his stock
there during the off season.
One mustang adopted by Ada Inbody (a FOAL Board Member) was DNA tested and showed some Cleveland
Bay background. The Cleveland Bay bloodline traces back to horses owned by England's Royal Family. This horse could be descended from
one of the Wild West Show horses acquired in England.
Local residents also remember helping round up Peaks horses to
be used as U.S. Cavalry mounts in WWI.
As more information is researched about the Peaks herds we will share it with you.
Mustangs
From Indian pony, to pioneer sod buster, to cow puncher,
to show pony, and war hero, to symbol of the west,
the McCullough Peaks Mustangs have endured and inspired!
Working together,
we can keep them wild and free to inspire future generations!
to show pony, and war hero, to symbol of the west,
the McCullough Peaks Mustangs have endured and inspired!
Working together,
we can keep them wild and free to inspire future generations!
