My journey with El Mariachi has run the gamut of emotions. From feeling completely awestruck when this magnificent stallion came running with his band to the edge of the mesa above me, to fearful and teary when I found out he'd been rounded up, captured and likely destined for a life in long-term holding just 8 months later. What's happened after finding out about his capture, is what I share on this page.

From the first day I saw El Mariachi at the White Mountain Wild Horse Management Area in Wyoming, I felt there was something special about him. He had such presence - so alert and so elusive. He was truly majestic and he was set on protecting his band . I told myself (and my husband who was with me at the time) that if I ever found out this horse had been captured, I would do my best to save him. Based on what I had observed, I just didn't think this stallion would do well in captivity. I had no idea how soon I would have to act on that promise.

On Thursday, December 6th, 2007, I contacted the BLM in Canon City, CO after hearing from a friend that there had been a roundup in the White Mountain HMA in November. I was fortunate to have e-mailed a very helpful and concerned BLM employee who told me that 600 horses had been taken off that range and it might be hard to find the particular stallion I was inquiring about, but that he'd do his best to see if he was there. So, I sent the photos above in hopes that they might help identify him. They did and the next day, I was told El Mariachi was indeed at their facility. That set about a franctic flurry of e-mails through the "horsey network" to see if anyone could help house, transport or otherwise offer suggestions on how to save this stallion. With alot of luck and help from horse lovers I knew and some that I had never met, but who had gotten my e-mail, I found out about a Mustang Outpost located in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. I contacted the ranch owner, Jason Meduna (pronounced Medna), and after we talked for several hours, we agreed that the best place for El Mariachi would be Jason's 2000 acre ranch where he could continue to live free with other Mustangs. I felt a great deal of relief at having found what I thought was the best possible solution to the wild stallion's dilemma.

I told the BLM I wanted to adopt El Mariachi on Monday, December 10th, 2007. That's when I was told that because El Mariachi would be turning 11 on January 1st, 2008, I'd be able to purchase, rather than adopt him if I wanted. They knew his age, because El Mariachi was a recapture. He'd been rounded up with his mother as a foal and freeze branded for adoption. However, since El Mariachi was such a nicely built, colored stud colt, the BLM eventually decided to turn him back out in hopes he would improve the quality of the herd. Though I didn't see any of his foals at the time I photographed him, I was told he produced some nice horses with alot of color throughout the years.

Below are links to pre-capture images and periodic updates following my decision to purchase/rescue my first wild horse:
(El Mariachi is also featured in the "Buckskin Lady" song on my new DVD - "Our Wild Horses")

03/27/07: El Mariachi and the White Mountain HMA wild horses (pre-capture web album)

12/14/07: El Mariachi at the Canon City, CO BLM facility

01/11/08: El Mariachi goes "home" to Nebraska

02/09/08: El Mariachi is fully released

03/21/08: El Mariachi's growing family

06/21/08: El Mariachi's first summer at the 3-Strikes Ranch

In 2005, El Mariachi captured the attention of Wyoming artist, Dwayne Tanner, who painted an image very similar to one of my photos above. It was Dwayne who called the portrait "El Mariachi" and as I told Dwayne recently, I've always called this stallion El Mariachi...and I always will. Dwayne shares his thoughts about his encounter with El Mariachi below. (http://tannersrodeoart.com)

Printed with permission:

"My wife and I first saw El Mariachi several years ago on a photo trip on White Mountain looking for wild horses.  We saw several brown dots on the horizon about a mile away. Luckily we found a two track maintenance road beneath a power line that took us right to them. The dots turned out to be El Mariachi and several mares. We both marveled at his beauty, he was much more powerful than the other stallions.  First he chased away his mares, then challenged us. We could only get about 500 feet from him. He would throw back his head, snort and kick up dirt. He was more protective of his mares than we had seen before. That was the first and only time we saw him, he was very elusive. He was so magnificent, I had to paint him.

When I was trying to come up with a title for the painting, a friend suggested a few. She liked Antonio Banderas in the movie "El Mariachi."  I liked it, so that is what I titled the painting."



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