HORSE OF THE MONTH

Slatey Lady of Wild Side Ranch

Slatey Lady as a foal

Prairie Warrior as a foal

Slatey Lady is my dream horse and I got her quite unexpectedly. I have had BLM Mustangs for a number of years and had been researching wild horses when I came upon an article about Spanish Mustangs, the Brislawn family and their Cayuse Ranch in Wyoming. The Brislawn family started the quest to preserve the Spanish Mustangs in 1925. I was planning a trip to the Pryor Mts. to see the wild horses there and thought as long as I was that close to the Cayuse Ranch I should make arrangements to see these horses. So with a friend, the middle of June, we headed for the Pryors and then the Cayuse. The Cayuse encompasses about 3500 acres where the horses run in bands much like in the wild. We were taken out that day to view the horses in the back of a pickup truck with some grain to temp them closer to us. I have seen many horses in the wild, but this was a sight I'll never forget. As the horses came running over the prairie hills to greet us, long tails and manes flying, babies in tow, I felt as if I had traveled back in time. As we watched these horses and talked with the Brislawns I knew I had found something very special and I had to be a part of it. I found many horses I wanted that day, but as we approached one of the last herds, there she was, barely a month old, curious, proud, and beautiful. She had not yet been spoken for so I put my name on her and nicknamed her Brissy, (short for Brislawns to me). As we headed for the last herd, I decided Brissy needed a boyfriend. When we found the last herd there he was, a little bay roan overo stud colt. Sadly, I was told he was already spoken for. Well that was OK, I would wait a while to get Brissy a boyfriend. So we headed home and I planned for Brissy's arrival in the fall. A month later I got a phone call from the Cayuse. The lady who had spoken for the stud colt I wanted had changed her mind and he was available if I were still interested. Brissy had a boyfriend after all! I named him Prairie Warrior, ( I call him Warrior). The Brislawns are WONDERFUL folks. I sent them film for their camera and they went out and took pictures of Brissy and Warrior for me and sent the film back to me for developing. I was able to see my kids grow up even tho they were hundreds of miles away. I went to get them in early October that year, came home and sold all my domestic horses to make room for more Spanish Mustangs. They have proven to be the best horses I have ever owned and I feel privileged and proud to be a part of the Spanish Mustang Registry and the efforts to continue preserving these magnificent horses.  

Nancy Pearson
Wild Side Ranch