Art Fundraiser to Support the Adoption of the wild horses of McCullough Peaks
April 26, 2024
Ep #32: A Tribute to Thor, Wild Stallion of McCullough Peaks
May 6, 2024
By Carol J. Walker
I began visiting the McCullough Peaks herd in 2004, and I have continued visiting this, my favorite herd, 2-3 times a year since then.
I met Thor for the first time in the summer of 2011. There had been a helicopter roundup in October 2009 where hundreds of horses were removed from the range, and because the BLM had not gotten around to giving birth control to the remaining mares, there was a baby boom in the spring of 2011. Nature compensates for losses in the population, which actually makes it counterintuitive to do roundups and removals. Some of the most colorful wild horses in McCullough Peaks were born that spring and summer, including Thor. Thor’s mother Taboo, a stunning blue eyed pinto mare had been stallion Booker Rose’ mare with her foal Jigsaw for a year and a half, and Booker Rose lost her to another stallion before Thor was born. He continued to stay close to Taboo and Thor, however. Because of Booker’s distinctive Sabino coloring it was clear that Thor was his offspring.
I found Thor napping in the flowers on a summer’s day with several families of wild horses who were normally very hard to get close to – they were some of the wildest on the range. So I walked very slowly and carefully toward them, and immediately I thought that Thor was the most beautiful foal I had every seen with his blue eyes and distinctive faded Sabino pinto markings. I watched Booker Rose be protective with baby Thor, ushering him back to his family when he wandered a little too far. I knew from the first time I met him that Thor was a very special wild horse.
I always looked for Thor when I visited McCullough Peaks. That winter as he grew I found him with a thick woolly coat and mischief in his blue eyes. In the winter of 2013 because there were so many foals in 2011, the Bureau of Land Management decided they needed to remove 20 horses but this time they used bait trapping, which was completed in 2 weeks. I talked to the wild horse and burro expert after the bait trapping and she told me she almost removed Thor but did not, and I told her I was incredibly grateful that she had not.
In 2013 Taboo was with two stallions of the same age – a bay stallion named Hudson Bay, and a bay pinto stallion named Tahlequah. The two confused me a little because I could not tell who was in charge and who was the lieutenant – they both seemed to have equal authority and equal breeding rights. And Thor was kicked out of the family that winter as a 2 1/2 year old which is common in wild horse families. As a three-year-old I loved watching him act as a rowdy teenager, running and playing and practice fighting with other young stallions in preparation for one day having families of their own. Sometimes I would find Thor on his own, and sometimes I would find him near his former family. Because of his small size I wondered if he ever would have his own family since so many of the stallions at McCullough Peaks are much bigger and heavier.
In 2017, I found Thor dogging Utah’s family. Utah was one of the wildest of the wild stallions, often snorting when he saw me and running away He had his longtime mare Shakira, a flashy mainly black pinto mare and their daughter Suki, a black filly with a distinctive squiggly white mark on her face. Thor followed them constantly, getting as close to Shakira as he possibly could until Utah chased him away, but Thor was incredibly persistent. Utah was old, and getting frailer and Shakira was very beautiful. Thor could wait him out. The next time I went to the range in the spring, Thor had finally won Shakira. Utah had disappeared.
But Shakira did not look happy to be around Thor. In fact, she finally joined Tahlequah’s band, and Thor was barely tolerated at the outskirts of the family. He kept trying to stay close to Shakira but she had absolutely no interest in him. But gradually Thor became accepted by Tahlequah’s family, and became an active lieutenant. A lieutenant’s job is to fight off other stallions, keep the family together, and watch out for trouble heading the family’s way. Thor was small but he was mighty in spirit and would diligently drive off rival stallions. Thor’s mother Taboo was in this family, and ironically in 2020, Booker Rose, his father, started following the family, not allowed in as close as Thor was but almost as a secondary lieutenant. Booker Rose and Thor had a respectful relationship, having a few minor dust ups but never a serious fight. It was amazing seeing the two of them together. Booker Rose disappeared in 2021. Thor was always a very active lieutenant and Tahlequah seemed completely content to let Thor do the heavy lifting.
In 2022 it became clear that no one every left this family. The fillies grew into mares and stayed, whereas usually they will go off with stallions and form their own families, or a stallion would steal them. The colts grew up and stayed, and eventually there was another colorful lieutenant -Tupi who took the mare Totsi but stayed with the family – and two stallions dogging the band and frequently sparring with Thor – stunning black pinto Sorcerer and black stallion Dale. In 2022 the black and white mare Takoda gave birth to a little filly who was clearly Thor’s because of her almost identical markings, but she did not survive more than a few days. Often a lieutenant stallion may be allowed to breed one mare in the family, which explains this and then in late August of 2023 Thora was born, and she not only survived but thrived. She looked just like her dad, and had a spunky personality to match. She was the darling of the family, jealously guarded by her aunties, especially Shakira.
But tragedy was in store for the McCullough Peaks Herd. In January 2023 the BLM announced plans to remove 40 wild horses from the herd using bait trapping and the plan was to remove mainly horses 5 or under, leaving the older horses alone. We were very concerned because it is an ageing herd and many of the older horses died over the summer and fall. In a herd with this small a size, maintained genetic health is precarious. Despite all the comments and the calls and concerns of the public the bait trapping started in January.
But the BLM was having a hard time capturing horses. One of the first horses removed from the eastern part of the range was Thora. There was a huge public outcry and calls to release Thora from the public, because she was such a favorite but the BLM would not relent and in fact removed 4 more young horses from Tahlequah’s family. Then at the beginning of March as time was running out for the bait trapping the BLM came in and removed 25 horses including many horses over 13 who never should have been removed. Entire families were wiped out, stallions without their mares, mares without their stallions. And whole important genetic lines were removed, putting the genetic health of the herd in jeopardy.
Two weeks ago I went to McCullough Peaks. It was incredibly sad to look for horses I had known and not be able to find them. It was also unnaturally quiet for spring, usually one of the most active times of the year, with babies being born and stallions vying for mares.
When I was driving toward the east side of the range, I saw Tahlequah’s family right near and inside the fence not far off the road. I found a safe place to pull over and got out and walked toward the fence. I stood and watched the family napping and grazing and then noticed Theya getting up and then laying down, and I wondered if she were colicking. Then water gushed out of her and I began to see a leg! She was giving birth. I stood very still and the horses seemed unaware of my presence. I called my friend Sandy who was on another part of the range and said, you need to come, a mare is foaling! I watched with fascination and concern, hoping the little one would come as soon as possible with no complications. The whole process only took about 30 minutes, with Theya’s mom Taboo and the other mares standing around her and then there was a little pinto filly who looked just like Tahlequah! Thor had been standing back behind Theya and the mares during the birth. But eventually he ran in to take a look. Theya was very protective of the little filly who was trying to stand and Thor backed off and watched. Eventually the colt that I named Tamlin got up on wobbly legs and figured out how to nurse from his mother.
That afternoon the snow had melted and the family had moved to an area that was more accessible. They were moving and grazing, and nearby was Splaash and his family and Dale with Totsi and Tupi. Tamlin looked very tired and lay down for a nap. The rest of the family continued moving and grazing, and soon Splaash was getting a little too close to Theya and Tamlin Theya started turning around, agitated and stressed, and I wondered when Thor or Tahlequah would notice. Finally Thor ran over and chased Splaash off, and got Tamlin and Theya moving to join the rest of the family.
The next morning I met my friend Sandy and we drove out to watch the family and see how Tamlin was doing.
Splaash was in the area but not too near. Dale ran up and started sparring with Thor. The two of them reared up against the blue sky. I had seen them spar like this many times so was not concerned. They stopped after a couple of minutes and Dale backed off with Totsi and Tupelo.
As the family continued to move and graze, I drove to go see Tuff and Tully before heading to Rock Springs to visit the 39 captured McCullough Peaks horses that were at the corrals.
The next day after I had been out with the Salt Wells Creek horses, I heard that Thor had died. My first thought was “no that can’t have happened.” Then I was in shock. I had just seen him. I had been sure when I left that I would see him again in July. But he was gone. A blow to the head in a fight with Dale was what I heard was the cause. It seemed impossible. But it was true, he was gone. I was devastated.
When I recorded the video for the fundraiser for the McCullough Peaks horses to help them get adopted and have a safe landing while I was at the corrals, I had to stop and record it 4 different times because when I mentioned that I was dedicating the fundraiser to Thor I kept crying. He has been such a big part of my life and time with the wild horses. His memory and spirit are so strong, they will always be with me, and with so many other people who were privileged to spend time with him in the wild, and with all the people who followed his adventures on social media. Thor lived his entire life wild and free, never captured, never away from his home, and all of our wild horses deserve to live their entire lives on our public lands the same way.
If you would like to help the 39 McCullough Peaks wild horses (plus 4 new foals) who were removed from their homes and are now awaiting adoption at Rock Springs Corral, the mares in the Online Corral May 6-13 and the geldings in the Online Corral July 8-15, get a soft landing in good adoptive homes, you can donate to For the Love of Aria: https://www.fortheloveofaria.org/donate and mark your donation for the McCullough Peaks horses. Thank you.
These images and many more are available on my website: https://www.livingimagescarolwalker.com/thor
26 Comments
What a beautifully written tribute to the magestic Thor.Bless you🥰
A beautiful written,heartfelt tribute to the majestic Thor
I’m still crying what a beautiful horse .A life well lived.I want him on my living room wall going to see if someone can do a canvas print. All my love to these beautiful horses.
I just wanted to read Thor’s story as I’ve been following Skydog for so many years. You so beautifully told his story. He was a stunning boy, a stallion who loved his family and died for them. I am sad but am so glad his freedom was not ever taken away. He knew no corrals. Thora is going to be his legacy, not free but safe and loved.
Thank you Carol, what a beautiful tribute 🥰Thora is copy she’s dad Thor 🥰. Bless you ❤️
Carol how can we get a copy of this tribute? If you publish, I would buy it🙏🏼🥹💔
Let me think about it. I’ll get back to you.
It’s not my way to say this Carol… If you publish these heartfelt, really beautiful
Photographs within your tribute… Well, you could possibly help Thors captive Family even more than you already have… I
believe they illusrate Thors life in a way I hadn’t experienced…. So, so special and
Precious 💕… Now I shall read your words 💕… With our best wishes to you, Carol
From Jackie and John xx
Oh, Carol – I weep as I read your moving tribute. My grief is palpable – but NOTHING compared to the grief that you and others who had a personal connection to this incredible stallion must be experiencing. Thank you for sharing this amazing animal with those of us who were never fortunate enough to see him in person. Nature is not always kind. It is often brutal. But Thor was wild and free to the end – something that many of the McCullough Peaks horses (including Thora) were robbed of. Thank you again for sharing and my only consolation is in knowing that Thor WILL be reunited with his family one day – to run in the expanse of heaven to be healthy and whole once again… <3 <3 <3
I am sitting here with wet eyes following your beautiful pics and this wonderful tribute to the one and only majestic Thor. He will always be in our minds. Never be forgotten.
Thank you so much 🧡
Beautiful tribute to Thor he was so magical unquie different . Had his own personality know what he wanted. He also had one Beautiful family all where gorgeous and each one of them had a unquie personality . My heart just got to his family and to his daughter Thora looks much like her dad. I hope a good person.takes care of.her love her ect. She is one amazing foal ❤️❤️❤️. Thank you Carol for what you do. ❤️❤️❤️ Iam so heartbroken
Such a beautiful and well spoken tribute to such a magnificent icon.
I’ve only been following you since summer of 2023 but you have a special place in my heart. I can’t wait to read your posts and see all your amazing photos.
Thank you ❤️
Beautifully written, Carol, and I feel your pain. Those of us who have followed Thor through your eyes also weep for him but rejoice in the fact that he lived him life wild and free. Beautiful boy, his spirit forever running the Peaks and protecting his mob.
Gorgeous tribute. Thank you.
Thank you for telling Thor’s story. I only started getting to know him and the other McCullough Peaks horses less than a year ago through your and Sandy Sisti’s social media posts. I certainly thought Thor’s story would go on and after Thor’s was taken, of course I hoped he would sire another foal. But, as sometimes happens in the uncertainty of this world, he was cut off so abruptly. This blog, in a way, helps to extend his too short life, by sharing it with others.
I’m so very sorry….more than heartbreaking. Between you and Sandy, what a wonderful documentary this would make… sad ending, but as others noted… he stayed wild and free. Thank you all for doing everything you can to help the McCullough Peaks horses. Through your and Sandy’s photography, Thor will remain in hearts and memories… until you meet again!
Carol, I came to know and love Thor and little Thora and all the Mccullough Peaks horses through you and Sandy and Tony. This tribute is so incredibly beautiful that I can’t keep from weeping myself. His loss is immense and will be felt forever. We are only grateful he never had to suffer being captured. He lived and died wild and free. Thank you for such a exquisite and compelling story of his life.❤️😢
Thank you for this wonderful tribute to Thor, I was not aware of much of his story and the photos are stunning. Like many others I am quite new to the story of the McCullough Peaks herd which began with a submission to stop the bait trapping. Through your posts and those of Sandy and Tony I have developed a love for these horses and particularly Thor and his family. I felt the devastation when Thora was taken and now the utter heartbreak of losing Thor. He was magical and it brings me to tears that he is gone. The unnecessary destruction of this herd by the BLM angers me so much. Long live America’s wild horses!
So many are saddened at the loss of Thor, & before that Thora & the others that were taken!! The horses of McCollough Peaks are so very beautiful!! The loss of Thor is truly devastating. You have done a beautiful job of documenting his life!! Thank you!!
Thank you for your heartfelt and most wonderful tribute to Thor. We all feel so sad and broken over his tragic death, but by you memorializing him with beautiful photos and compassionate words of someone who obviously loved him so well, it helps us all to process this huge loss of him on the range. I loved seeing him as a small colt, as I’m less than a year in to this herd and group of fellow McCullough Peaks Mustang lovers, and I loved the story you told of his life, which brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing your grief with those of us who never had the opportunity to meet him in person nor develop the relationship you had with him, as it brings us all closed together, and more determined to do all in our power to help preserve the McCullough Peaks herd, and to help those who were sadly removed. 💔💔💔💔💔
I have been following the wild horses for many years, and advocating for them every change I got, so the loss of Thora hit me very hard as I know the lives and hardships, the unknown factors such as then losing Thor. All these things decimate the families in these herds and push our wild horses one step closer to being truly extinct, because no matter how many are “rescued” they are never truly the same. They deserve respect, and protection from greedy people including the BLM. Your tribute to Thor was so beautiful and heartfelt, showing new and old just how important it is to stop the roundups, trapping and removal of the horses. So many natural factors are at play that keep the herds thinned out that humans do not need to meddle. The only reason our wild horses keep being removed is for ranchers, mineral excavators and land speculators to over run what is suppose to be OUR public lands and set aside for the wild horses for us to see and enjoy in their natural state. Lots of money is passing through hands in way too many places to take what last of our Heritage we have left. I am pushing my representative but it seems to not fizzle on them, so I have to wonder whose pocket they have their hands in. I will keep pushing and if comes to it, I will work against them being re-elected, personally go to their offices and work to get rallies outside their offices so they will see we are serious about them passing laws to totally protect ALL our wildlife including all wild horses. Once our wildlife is gone, we will soon cease to exist as they are one of the most important parts of our ecosystem to keep it balanced, and our National Treasure to be honored and respected. Thank you again for telling Thor’s story, a magical horse that gave so many a glimpse of how special the wild horses are, and the great need to protect all of them. The BLM decimated that family and if they had a decent bone in their bodies, they would return the ones they took back to the wild, but time and observation of their actions has shown me that not one in the BLM has a true decent bone in their body nor any ethics about them. Those bloodlines will be lost forever which is a crime against the horses and we citizens.
What a wonderful but tragic story of Thor’s life. He was so beautiful as was his daughter Thora. Just so heartbreaking it brought me to tears. I have been advocating for the wild horses for many years and just do not understand why they continue roundups. Roundups are useless and only injure, maim or put many beautiful horses in holding pens to languish until they die. Roundup defeat their own purpose because horses will do compensatory breeding to build up their herds again and again. BLM removes them and the horses immediately breed for more to fill the void. It is their nature. We need to get the Rolex Ranchers like Tom Abbot and several other government employees to remove their cattle from the ranges which they pay pennies on the dollar for – which does not in any way compensate for the cost of the roundups or the care and feeding of the wild horses in captivity. As for the mineral miners they could easily co exist with the wild horses as long as they aren’t stealing water from them. They need to bring their own water in at their own expense. Leave our wild horses alone to live free and wild like they were meant to. I had hoped that when Deb Haaland was appointed over BLM that she would see the folly in their ways of managing the wild horses and switch to birth control which is easier on the horses and less expensive to the tax payers. But I am not seeing much from her to help the wild horses or any wild animal. My representative Dina Titus (Nevada) has done more than Deb to bring this to public notice and try to stop the roundups . I have written letters to BLM, State and Federal Government Agencies for years and I still don’t see any changes. Even after some private groups did some birth control and followed the results and provided those results to BLM they still ignore the positive outcome of those results. Still doing cruel and unnecessary helicopter roundups.
Remember Sunshine the beautiful Palomino Stallion who tried to escape and broke his leg and they had to shoot him. That never would have happened if they were using birth control. So many beautiful wild horses, foals and colts have died in the useless BLM roundups. I truly believe their goal is total annihilation of our national treasure the Wild Horses of the West and the Burro’s as well. I pray every day that we can stop BLM from eradicating our Wild Horses. They are on my public land and I and many others should have the say in what goes on, on our Public Land.
I enjoyed reading your post. I didn’t know Thor but my eyes are so full of tears for a horse that was so beautiful and free. BLM what is that ?? I know what it means in the City. I understand horses roaming free have to be thinned out once every 10=15 years, but with all the free land, unless it has been bought up by “people” to put up solar or man made meat factories, leave well enough alone. look forward to reading a new chapter in your quest to free the wild . Thanks.
BLM is Bureau of Land Management
Dear Carol, I was 2 days short of meeting Thor. I could feel the dispare amongst some of the community. I want to have a coffee table book made of your stories. Or at least Thor’s. It should have all your amazing photos in it. How can this be done and possibly be sold to the public? Your stories are totally captivating and beautiful. I remember reading stories about horses as a young girl but not like yours. Our children and grand children need to have these true stories to understand the importance and truth of what is happening. A long term intrest is required to this cause. What about publishing a book? There’s got to be a way to do this. Mobile book stores are going to thousands of schools elementary through high school every year. Could an LLC be set up and look for donors and once we have the funds, find a ghost writter? The money could be used and managed by a board of directors. It’s a sham for your work not available to all. Heck your talent is worthy of a TV series in my opinion. I will work hard in my life time to help you and others in this cause.
Hi Becky,
I don’t know if I will do a book on Thor or not but I do have 3 coffee table Books on wild horses already, Blue Zeus, Galloping to Freedom, Wild Hoofbeats. They are available here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/products