"It has always seemed a bit ironic to me that while Frank Hopkins was in Arabia, proving how great a horse Hidalgo was, the U.S. Army was trying its best to wipe out any trace of the Mustang/Indian Horse herds in North America. Repeated cases of shooting whole herds, or the stallions, and replacing them with draft or Thoroughbred stallions, is testimony to this attempt. I hope that wherever Frank Hopkins' spirit is today, it is pleased with the efforts of all of those who work so hard to promote and preserve these very horses. They are worth preserving."

Nanci Falley grew up in South America and South Texas. Always interested in western American history, she moved to Central Texas in 1965 and has lived there since that time on her ranch, Rancho San Francisco. In 1979 she took over management of the American Indian Horse Registry and she additionally assists the Horse of the Americas Registry with their tribal strains.

"I have always loved the history of the American west. I thought the Spanish Mustangs were extinct when I found the Spanish Mustang breed. Owning Spanish Mustangs is like stepping back in time. I have authentic Spanish Mustangs, including two cream and white pinto mares that were probably the same color as Frank Hopkins' Hidalgo. Preserving the Spanish Mustang breed is a priority for me. These horses are wonderful, they are very versatile, great communicators, and trusted friends. For fun we love to take our Spanish Mustangs pleasure driving."

Don Pomraning and his wife Mona are owners of NW Painted Ponies Spanish Mustangs. Don is pictured here driving his Spanish Mustang mare Chickasaw Cochise.

"We Spanish Mustang cowboys and breeders have all known about Frank Hopkins and his long rides. Just part of our Mustang lore. I don't even know when I first heard about him. He has always just sort of been there in the background. He is the guy they said did these incredible things with our horses and helped prove them out in modern times to be the horses that always tough it out, just like it says in the history books. So he is a challenge to us, and like the horses themselves, he sort of helps bring out the good stuff in us. Every time we survive something crazy or deadly on these horses, out in the Wallowa Mountains and those steep ridges around Hell's Canyon, places we probably shouldn't even be riding, well that's just kind of chalking one up for these horses, ourselves, and Frank T. Hopkins—whoever he was."

Barry Cox has been ranching and training horses in Northeastern Oregon for over 25 years with his wife Cheryl and their sons, Marshall, age 13, and Forrest, age 10. They raise Registered Spanish Mustang horses and have a herd of cattle. His life is devoted to working with horses and he is an avid student of natural horsemanship. Several years of cowboying and packing in the most rugged country in Oregon has gained him a wealth of experience. For several years he has been sharing his knowledge by offering horse training workshops in his area..

Photo - J.C. Leacock.