Untamed Majesty: The History of Mustangs in Wyoming
"A horse loves freedom, and the weariest old work horse will roll on the ground and break into a lumbering gallop when he is turned loose into the open."-—Gerald Raferty
The wild Mustangs of Wyoming are not just symbols of the untamed spirit of the American West; they are living links to a storied past. These resilient horses have roamed the rugged landscapes of Wyoming for centuries, embodying freedom and fierce independence. Given this information, it makes perfect sense why the Western Wyoming Community College (Western) mascot is a mustang, a true representation of the campus population and environment. Many may not realize the history of Mustangs in Wyoming and how significant their impact has been, even beyond Sweetwater County. From their origins to their current challenges, the history of Mustangs in Wyoming is a compelling tale of survival, conflict and preservation.
Wyoming's wild horses are descendants of Spanish horses brought to the area in the 1500s, as well as horses that were released from ranches or lost by travelers. Horses had previously been on the continent but went extinct until their reintroduction by the Spanish. Horses are present across Wyoming, in Lovell’s Pryor Mountains, Mustangs numbered well in the hundreds in the 1600s, and by the 1800s their numbers had swelled to over a thousand. The Mustangs in the Pryor Mountains were eventually rounded up to make way for domesticated horses in the early 1900s. In 1964 the Bureau of Land Management wanted to remove wild horses in the area, but due to a public outpour of support for the horses decided to intern them within The Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range, one of only four wild horse ranges in Wyoming. In Sweetwater County, horses were introduced by ranchers in the 1800s, and eventually would go on to become the wild Mustangs we can see in Pilot Butte. The Wild Horse Program is another contributing factor to the mustang population and serves to protect and control the mustang population across the state of Wyoming.
The Mustangs in Wyoming are more than just a key part of the state’s wildlife, but also serve as a symbol of Wyoming’s commitment to the environment. For Western, the Mustangs are emblematic of the institution’s spirit and history. Anyone wishing to watch the Mustangs in their environment can participate in a self-guided tour of the Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop
