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00:00:01,466 --> 00:00:06,542
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:00:06,566 --> 00:00:09,509
{\an1}NARRATOR: Here, in America,
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00:00:09,533 --> 00:00:12,000
{\an1}horses helped forge a new world.
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00:00:14,500 --> 00:00:19,642
{\an1}In return, this new world,
created unique horses.
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00:00:19,666 --> 00:00:24,342
{\an8}♪♪♪
6
00:00:24,366 --> 00:00:28,700
{\an1}Each breed has its own story
and legacy.
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00:00:30,900 --> 00:00:32,342
{\an1}MIKE: The quarter horse
and the cowboy
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00:00:32,366 --> 00:00:36,076
have come a long way
through the years.
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00:00:36,100 --> 00:00:38,609
{\an1}And it took both of them
to get there.
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00:00:38,633 --> 00:00:42,709
[ Horses whinnying ]
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00:00:42,733 --> 00:00:46,742
{\an1}YEAROUT: In my family, we've
always had horses as far back
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00:00:46,766 --> 00:00:48,509
as I can remember
with my mother,
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00:00:48,533 --> 00:00:51,442
grandmother, great-grandmother.
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00:00:51,466 --> 00:00:54,542
{\an1}And that love of Appaloosa
is shared by people
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00:00:54,566 --> 00:00:57,076
all over the world.
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00:00:57,100 --> 00:01:00,242
NARRATOR:
Shaped by land...
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00:01:00,266 --> 00:01:03,542
and work...
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00:01:03,566 --> 00:01:06,909
but sustained by
their connection to us.
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00:01:06,933 --> 00:01:10,309
{\an1}These are American horses.
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00:01:10,333 --> 00:01:18,333
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:01:47,066 --> 00:01:48,542
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:01:48,566 --> 00:01:52,909
NARRATOR: America
is the birthplace of legends.
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00:01:52,933 --> 00:01:55,533
{\an1}Some live right among us.
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00:01:59,866 --> 00:02:06,933
{\an7}They come in a profusion of
color, proportion, personality.
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00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:13,142
Spirited, gentle.
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00:02:13,166 --> 00:02:17,466
Willing, wild.
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00:02:19,466 --> 00:02:24,542
With names like mustang, Morgan,
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00:02:24,566 --> 00:02:29,742
Appaloosa, quarter.
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00:02:29,766 --> 00:02:32,333
{\an1}And that's only the beginning.
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00:02:34,566 --> 00:02:36,209
In the five centuries
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00:02:36,233 --> 00:02:38,709
since horses returned
to North America,
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00:02:38,733 --> 00:02:41,233
they've taken
this continent by storm.
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00:02:43,733 --> 00:02:46,676
With over a hundred
registered breeds,
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00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:51,776
{\an1}the United States has the most
variety of equidae on Earth.
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00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:59,242
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:02:59,266 --> 00:03:04,333
{\an1}It began with the mustang that
swept across the continent.
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00:03:07,666 --> 00:03:09,942
{\an1}Soon, the Morgan horse
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00:03:09,966 --> 00:03:12,909
had tamed
the American frontier...
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00:03:12,933 --> 00:03:16,076
{\an8}♪♪♪
40
00:03:16,100 --> 00:03:18,042
[ Thunder crashes ]
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00:03:18,066 --> 00:03:20,309
while first people also created
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00:03:20,333 --> 00:03:24,176
one of the original
American breeds...
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00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,676
The Appaloosa.
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00:03:27,700 --> 00:03:31,976
{\an1}A next chapter gave rise
to the American quarter horse,
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00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,200
molded by cowboys
on the open range.
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00:03:37,533 --> 00:03:40,442
{\an1}These signature American horses
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00:03:40,466 --> 00:03:46,209
{\an1}forged in the old alchemy
of horse-human connection.
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00:03:46,233 --> 00:03:49,466
{\an1}Enough horsepower to fuel
a new nation.
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00:03:51,766 --> 00:03:54,566
{\an1}And it all started from zero.
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00:03:56,766 --> 00:04:01,042
{\an1}Their stories begin here,
in the middle of nowhere,
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00:04:01,066 --> 00:04:06,000
{\an1}with a horse unlike any other...
The mustang.
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00:04:10,300 --> 00:04:13,576
{\an1}In the desert foothills
of the Pryor Mountains,
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00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:17,142
spring is often
the harshest season.
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00:04:17,166 --> 00:04:22,366
{\an1}All winter, these horses rely on
snow as their only water source.
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00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:29,142
{\an1}Despite being one of the most
adaptable mammals on Earth,
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00:04:29,166 --> 00:04:32,133
{\an1}these conditions push them
to the brink.
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00:04:35,166 --> 00:04:37,133
{\an1}But change is in the air.
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00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,809
{\an1}As a wave of green travels up
the mountainside,
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00:04:43,833 --> 00:04:45,709
{\an1}the migration has begun.
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00:04:45,733 --> 00:04:53,733
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:00,376
[ Horse whinnies ]
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00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,909
{\an1}For hundreds of years,
horses have gathered here,
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00:05:03,933 --> 00:05:07,209
near the summit
of East Pryor Mountain.
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00:05:07,233 --> 00:05:10,076
{\an1}And not just any horses.
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00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:12,376
{\an1}Pryor mustangs are noted
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00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,409
for their distinct
conformation...
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00:05:15,433 --> 00:05:20,109
{\an1}V-shaped face, thick neck,
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00:05:20,133 --> 00:05:23,733
{\an1}sloped croup, deep body.
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00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,109
[ Horse whinnies ]
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00:05:27,133 --> 00:05:31,776
{\an1}And, each spring, when
the reunion is in full swing,
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00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,400
{\an1}a familiar guest arrives.
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00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:41,342
{\an1}Naturalist Phyllis Wray
studies individual horses
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00:05:41,366 --> 00:05:45,233
{\an1}to gain a deeper understanding
of mustang behavior.
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00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:54,442
{\an1}Today, she's meeting several
for the first time.
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00:05:54,466 --> 00:05:58,376
{\an1}WRAY: This band just made it to
the top of the mountain today.
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00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,109
We've got a couple
of new fillies.
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00:06:00,133 --> 00:06:03,142
The one on the top
is little Victoria.
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00:06:03,166 --> 00:06:06,609
And her sister, who's
a little bit lower, is Venus.
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00:06:06,633 --> 00:06:08,176
{\an1}She's the life of the party
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00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,709
{\an1}and starts the little fights
and tussles with her sister.
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00:06:11,733 --> 00:06:13,609
[ Horse whinnies ]
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00:06:13,633 --> 00:06:17,042
{\an1}All of the horses, together,
are a herd
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00:06:17,066 --> 00:06:19,876
{\an1}and then they divide up
into individual bands,
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00:06:19,900 --> 00:06:26,409
{\an1}and it's comprised primarily
of a band stallion, like Naolin,
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00:06:26,433 --> 00:06:30,342
{\an1}the lead mare, who is not
always the oldest mare.
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00:06:30,366 --> 00:06:34,909
{\an1}But she's very intuitive
and has experience.
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00:06:34,933 --> 00:06:38,509
{\an1}And then, there's also kind of
a hierarchy within the mares.
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00:06:38,533 --> 00:06:40,776
{\an1}They're like families.
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00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,176
{\an1}NARRATOR: Mustangs have been
coming here for centuries,
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00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,976
but to understand
how they got here,
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00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:52,966
{\an1}you have travel back in time...
Deep... into the fossil record.
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00:06:57,833 --> 00:07:00,109
On this very ground,
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00:07:00,133 --> 00:07:05,066
{\an1}the 'dawn horse' emerged
56 million years ago.
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00:07:07,633 --> 00:07:09,242
These ancient horses
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00:07:09,266 --> 00:07:14,209
{\an1}continued to evolve here
in North America
96
00:07:14,233 --> 00:07:18,842
{\an1}until, finally, the contemporary
horse,equus caballus,
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00:07:18,866 --> 00:07:22,376
became so successful
that it spread...
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00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,000
Across the globe.
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00:07:26,033 --> 00:07:27,842
{\an1}But in the blink of an eye,
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00:07:27,866 --> 00:07:31,842
{\an1}horses disappeared from
the American landscape.
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00:07:31,866 --> 00:07:34,842
{\an1}The root cause of this
widespread extinction
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00:07:34,866 --> 00:07:37,176
is still unknown.
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00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,476
{\an1}But one thing is clear...
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00:07:39,500 --> 00:07:42,966
For 10,000 years,
the horse was gone.
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00:07:45,133 --> 00:07:50,309
{\an1}Until, one day, with a little
help, they returned.
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00:07:50,333 --> 00:07:53,742
Spanish conquistadors
brought European horses
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00:07:53,766 --> 00:07:55,342
to North America,
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00:07:55,366 --> 00:07:59,633
{\an1}back to the cradle from where
they had evolved long ago.
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00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,009
As these Spanish
horses flourished
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00:08:04,033 --> 00:08:07,176
in the wilds
of the American West,
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00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,433
they became known,
simply, as mustangs.
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00:08:12,900 --> 00:08:17,942
{\an1}Pryor mustangs still display
zebra stripes on their legs,
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00:08:17,966 --> 00:08:21,276
dorsal lines running
down the spine,
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00:08:21,300 --> 00:08:23,842
and barring
across the shoulders,
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00:08:23,866 --> 00:08:28,542
all genetic markers
of Spanish blood.
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00:08:28,566 --> 00:08:30,809
These primitive
physical markings
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00:08:30,833 --> 00:08:34,242
unlock the story
of the mustangs' arrival,
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00:08:34,266 --> 00:08:36,609
{\an1}but it's their behavior
that reveals
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00:08:36,633 --> 00:08:42,209
{\an1}how these complex animals
have survived for so long.
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00:08:42,233 --> 00:08:44,242
[ Horse whinnies ]
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00:08:44,266 --> 00:08:46,342
At the height of
breeding season,
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00:08:46,366 --> 00:08:49,742
{\an1}a band stallion fends off
bachelor stallions
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00:08:49,766 --> 00:08:51,733
eager to claim
mares of their own.
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00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:56,276
{\an1}For Phyllis, it's an opportunity
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00:08:56,300 --> 00:09:01,042
to see how strong
these bands truly are.
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00:09:01,066 --> 00:09:02,742
WRAY:
The grullo is Jupiter.
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00:09:02,766 --> 00:09:04,242
The gray.
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00:09:04,266 --> 00:09:07,842
{\an1}And he is tormenting the band
stallion, Knight, who's a roan.
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00:09:07,866 --> 00:09:10,709
{\an1}And he's keeping the bachelor
away from his mares.
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00:09:10,733 --> 00:09:13,076
{\an1}He's positioning himself
in between them.
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00:09:13,100 --> 00:09:17,809
[ Horses neigh ]
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00:09:17,833 --> 00:09:20,033
This is getting
a little more serious.
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00:09:22,066 --> 00:09:25,676
I can tell you
Knight will not back down.
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00:09:25,700 --> 00:09:28,633
{\an1}He will fight to the end
for that palomino.
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00:09:32,233 --> 00:09:34,642
{\an1}When the stallions confront
each other,
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00:09:34,666 --> 00:09:36,209
you almost know
what's going to happen
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00:09:36,233 --> 00:09:41,742
{\an1}just by watching their eyes,
watching their ears.
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00:09:41,766 --> 00:09:43,142
And here we go.
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00:09:43,166 --> 00:09:46,009
[ Horse neighs ]
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00:09:46,033 --> 00:09:49,009
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:09:49,033 --> 00:09:51,576
{\an1}[ Camera shutter clicking ]
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00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,366
Oh.
Ouch.
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{\an1}Got another band stallion
getting in the mix.
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00:09:59,733 --> 00:10:03,609
[ Horse whinnies ]
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00:10:03,633 --> 00:10:06,342
{\an1}Other bands are getting
drawn into it.
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00:10:06,366 --> 00:10:14,366
{\an8}♪♪♪
147
00:10:15,500 --> 00:10:17,142
{\an1}The band stallions don't know
where to go
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00:10:17,166 --> 00:10:19,042
because they are
being challenged
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00:10:19,066 --> 00:10:21,142
{\an1}from all different directions.
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00:10:21,166 --> 00:10:22,409
Wow!
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00:10:22,433 --> 00:10:24,233
My goodness!
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00:10:28,166 --> 00:10:30,133
{\an1}It's very, very intense.
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00:10:33,300 --> 00:10:35,276
{\an1}NARRATOR: Wild horses,
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00:10:35,300 --> 00:10:37,766
doing what
they've done here for ages.
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00:10:40,266 --> 00:10:46,109
{\an1}Their return set the stage
for an epic comeback...
156
00:10:46,133 --> 00:10:50,542
{\an1}the first equids on American
soil in 10,000 years.
157
00:10:50,566 --> 00:10:55,909
{\an8}♪♪♪
158
00:10:55,933 --> 00:10:59,209
{\an1}As mustangs ran wild out West,
159
00:10:59,233 --> 00:11:01,376
on the other side
of the continent,
160
00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,809
a new icon was born,
161
00:11:03,833 --> 00:11:07,076
{\an1}a breed whose power would shape
the settlement
162
00:11:07,100 --> 00:11:09,776
{\an1}of the New England frontier.
163
00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,342
The Morgan horse...
164
00:11:11,366 --> 00:11:16,642
{\an1}pound-for-pound, one of the
strongest horses in the world.
165
00:11:16,666 --> 00:11:20,342
Bright eyes, small, foxy ears,
166
00:11:20,366 --> 00:11:23,776
{\an1}compact, muscular frame,
167
00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:29,133
{\an1}high head, arched neck...
Regal posture.
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00:11:31,433 --> 00:11:34,576
{\an1}On the University of Vermont's
Morgan horse farm,
169
00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,533
the legacy
of this dynamo continues.
170
00:11:39,933 --> 00:11:44,142
{\an1}Kim Demars sees today's Morgans
as living proof.
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00:11:44,166 --> 00:11:47,342
DEMARS:
So, the mother is UVM Whisper.
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00:11:47,366 --> 00:11:48,942
{\an1}We like this mare a lot.
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00:11:48,966 --> 00:11:50,809
{\an1}And she's turned out to be
a great mom.
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00:11:50,833 --> 00:11:54,476
{\an1}This is her first baby,
so she's really taken to it,
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00:11:54,500 --> 00:11:55,842
which is great.
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00:11:55,866 --> 00:11:57,376
NARRATOR: But to Kim,
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00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:01,976
{\an1}Whisper is much more than
just a successful broodmare.
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00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,242
{\an1}DEMARS: You know, she's got
a lot of presence,
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00:12:03,266 --> 00:12:06,776
{\an1}and she's very curious.
180
00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:10,276
{\an1}This mare is about as pretty
as you can get.
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00:12:10,300 --> 00:12:12,809
She's kind of that
quintessential Morgan size,
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00:12:12,833 --> 00:12:15,909
{\an1}and she's just really graceful
and strong and athletic
183
00:12:15,933 --> 00:12:18,176
and feminine
all at the same time.
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00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,042
NARRATOR:
Whisper has "presence."
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00:12:21,066 --> 00:12:23,442
A posture born out
of conformation
186
00:12:23,466 --> 00:12:27,876
with the ideal traits
of the Morgan breed...
187
00:12:27,900 --> 00:12:32,909
Balance, athleticism,
and typiness...
188
00:12:32,933 --> 00:12:35,442
All rolled into one.
189
00:12:35,466 --> 00:12:40,442
{\an1}Then, there are the intangible
factors, like spirit.
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00:12:40,466 --> 00:12:42,609
{\an1}DEMARS: I want a horse
that's into itself,
191
00:12:42,633 --> 00:12:44,509
{\an1}that's proud, that's ready
to go to work,
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00:12:44,533 --> 00:12:45,909
{\an1}that wants to show off.
193
00:12:45,933 --> 00:12:48,542
{\an1}So having that attitude
sort of ingrained in them,
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00:12:48,566 --> 00:12:52,309
{\an1}we take a lot of pride with that
as well as with the breed.
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00:12:52,333 --> 00:12:55,576
{\an1}And her bloodlines go back
to the government era
196
00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,476
and then eventually
Justin Morgan.
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00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:03,976
{\an1}NARRATOR: It's a pedigree that
traces back over two centuries,
198
00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:09,642
16 generations,
to the year 1789,
199
00:13:09,666 --> 00:13:14,733
{\an1}when a small, unassuming colt
named Figure was born.
200
00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:21,433
{\an1}But, as he grew, so did
the legend of the Morgan horse.
201
00:13:24,033 --> 00:13:29,042
Figure was owned by
a schoolmaster, Justin Morgan.
202
00:13:29,066 --> 00:13:30,676
A little horse,
203
00:13:30,700 --> 00:13:32,633
{\an1}received as payment for a debt.
204
00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:40,076
{\an1}But despite his diminutive size,
Figure was a bundle of energy.
205
00:13:40,100 --> 00:13:47,609
{\an8}♪♪♪
206
00:13:47,633 --> 00:13:51,776
He could ride forever
and never falter.
207
00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,433
Work day and night
and never tire.
208
00:13:58,700 --> 00:14:04,576
{\an1}No matter the conditions,
Figure was unstoppable.
209
00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:09,409
The living embodiment
of the frontier spirit...
210
00:14:09,433 --> 00:14:11,376
No excuses.
211
00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,476
Pure grit.
212
00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:17,833
But he wanted to show
the world who he was.
213
00:14:20,666 --> 00:14:24,376
Figure was more than
just brawn and stamina.
214
00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,476
{\an1}He was versatile, charismatic,
215
00:14:27,500 --> 00:14:30,876
and his reputation
continued to grow.
216
00:14:30,900 --> 00:14:34,776
In time, he became
"The Justin Morgan Horse,"
217
00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:36,400
{\an1}named after his owner.
218
00:14:38,833 --> 00:14:41,342
And when he was bred,
it was discovered
219
00:14:41,366 --> 00:14:44,133
that he possessed
another special quality.
220
00:14:46,733 --> 00:14:50,676
The Morgan horse
had genetic pre-potency...
221
00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:55,709
All of his offspring
looked exactly like him.
222
00:14:55,733 --> 00:14:57,976
{\an1}Each mare was different,
223
00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:04,309
{\an1}but they would reproduce this
phenotype over and over again.
224
00:15:04,333 --> 00:15:08,876
{\an1}A "perfect" workhorse meant
survival on the frontier.
225
00:15:08,900 --> 00:15:13,842
{\an1}And word of this horse
spread like wildfire.
226
00:15:13,866 --> 00:15:18,742
{\an1}From these humble beginnings,
the Morgan breed took off,
227
00:15:18,766 --> 00:15:23,742
and today,
a new generation is on the way.
228
00:15:23,766 --> 00:15:25,009
{\an1}DEMARS: It's always fun to say,
229
00:15:25,033 --> 00:15:27,509
"If the weather drops
or changes,
230
00:15:27,533 --> 00:15:28,942
{\an1}she's going to foal tonight."
231
00:15:28,966 --> 00:15:32,142
{\an1}But these mares really serve
you up a piece of humble pie.
232
00:15:32,166 --> 00:15:35,142
{\an1}I think the more scientific you
seem to get about things,
233
00:15:35,166 --> 00:15:37,476
{\an1}Mother Nature just kind of slaps
you around a little bit more
234
00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:38,576
and is like, "Oh, no.
235
00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,042
You don't have this
figured out."
236
00:15:41,066 --> 00:15:44,576
DYLAN:
Well, we're at milk almost!
237
00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,242
Already darker
than this morning.
238
00:15:47,266 --> 00:15:48,742
{\an1}NARRATOR: "Foal watch"
239
00:15:48,766 --> 00:15:53,009
is a season
of tremendous risk and reward.
240
00:15:53,033 --> 00:15:56,166
For Kim, it's also
a labor of love.
241
00:15:58,566 --> 00:16:00,342
DEMARS:
I had my first Morgan horse
242
00:16:00,366 --> 00:16:03,009
{\an1}when I was 7 years old.
243
00:16:03,033 --> 00:16:04,176
Her name was Tanner.
244
00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,776
She was 4, unbroke.
245
00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:08,842
NARRATOR:
Her commitment to Morgans
246
00:16:08,866 --> 00:16:11,676
has only grown
stronger with age.
247
00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:14,909
{\an1}But even after a lifetime
of experience,
248
00:16:14,933 --> 00:16:17,642
{\an1}there's always more to learn,
249
00:16:17,666 --> 00:16:20,042
especially during
foaling season.
250
00:16:20,066 --> 00:16:23,609
{\an1}DEMARS: If we can have six
healthy alive mares and foals
251
00:16:23,633 --> 00:16:26,066
{\an1}at the end of a season,
that's all I really want.
252
00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,376
NARRATOR:
Most foals are born at night,
253
00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,476
{\an1}an instinct that can be
traced back to wild horses.
254
00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:40,876
{\an1}Stealth keeps them safe
from predators.
255
00:16:40,900 --> 00:16:45,800
{\an1}But first-time moms like Xena
are notoriously unpredictable.
256
00:16:48,033 --> 00:16:52,009
{\an1}The team checks each mare
in 30-minute intervals
257
00:16:52,033 --> 00:16:53,909
around the clock.
258
00:16:53,933 --> 00:16:56,642
But even under tight
surveillance,
259
00:16:56,666 --> 00:16:59,666
{\an1}it's impossible to know
when labor will begin.
260
00:17:02,066 --> 00:17:04,133
Only time will tell.
261
00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:15,200
{\an8}♪♪♪
262
00:17:25,966 --> 00:17:28,442
[ Horse grunts ]
263
00:17:28,466 --> 00:17:36,466
{\an8}♪♪♪
264
00:17:56,233 --> 00:17:58,776
DEMARS:
Mom's pretty tired.
265
00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,642
{\an1}In that moment, it's so natural.
266
00:18:00,666 --> 00:18:04,942
{\an1}Like, she just laid down,
she pushed, she did her job.
267
00:18:04,966 --> 00:18:07,676
{\an1}The whole act of pushing
that baby out
268
00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:09,842
only took 16 minutes.
269
00:18:09,866 --> 00:18:13,642
{\an1}This is about as perfect
as it can go.
270
00:18:13,666 --> 00:18:16,142
It's not something
you get tired of.
271
00:18:16,166 --> 00:18:17,642
The first thing
I'm worried about
272
00:18:17,666 --> 00:18:21,276
{\an1}is obviously if it's healthy,
and then what the gender is.
273
00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:22,642
If this is a female,
she could be
274
00:18:22,666 --> 00:18:24,142
the next replacement
for her mother,
275
00:18:24,166 --> 00:18:26,709
and, like, your brain
just goes crazy.
276
00:18:26,733 --> 00:18:28,376
It's really cool.
277
00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,076
And it just kind of
brings it all back of, like,
278
00:18:30,100 --> 00:18:33,042
{\an1}"This is why we're here,
this is why we're doing this."
279
00:18:33,066 --> 00:18:35,942
I'm not your mom.
280
00:18:35,966 --> 00:18:36,976
You know that, right?
281
00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:41,642
I'm not your mom.
282
00:18:41,666 --> 00:18:43,666
{\an1}I want you to go see your mama.
283
00:18:46,733 --> 00:18:49,242
{\an1}Once we know that this filly
can nurse by herself
284
00:18:49,266 --> 00:18:53,842
{\an1}and stand by herself, we'll let
them just bond and be alone.
285
00:18:53,866 --> 00:18:56,076
{\an1}Best case scenario is the foal
just gets up,
286
00:18:56,100 --> 00:18:58,142
{\an1}is hungry, wants to nurse.
287
00:18:58,166 --> 00:18:59,776
{\an1}The mare will stand quietly,
288
00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,133
and then the baby
just kind of latches on.
289
00:19:04,133 --> 00:19:05,509
You are a big baby.
290
00:19:05,533 --> 00:19:07,733
{\an1}No wonder your mom was tired.
291
00:19:09,933 --> 00:19:12,909
{\an1}Hopefully, the stars align
and she'll kind of latch on.
292
00:19:12,933 --> 00:19:14,533
Good girl.
293
00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:17,742
This is huge.
294
00:19:17,766 --> 00:19:20,609
{\an1}This is a great success story.
[ Chuckles ]
295
00:19:20,633 --> 00:19:23,809
This is awesome.
296
00:19:23,833 --> 00:19:27,742
{\an1}The more you get to be around
them, you learn more about them.
297
00:19:27,766 --> 00:19:29,509
{\an1}They all have their own
personalities,
298
00:19:29,533 --> 00:19:31,876
which will develop,
and we'll learn more about.
299
00:19:31,900 --> 00:19:36,709
{\an1}Even in a few days or a week,
she'll be full of it.
300
00:19:36,733 --> 00:19:40,076
You're curious.
Hi.
301
00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:43,742
{\an1}NARRATOR: As horses repopulated
the new world,
302
00:19:43,766 --> 00:19:45,442
{\an1}they were increasingly
sought after
303
00:19:45,466 --> 00:19:49,509
in every corner
of the continent...
304
00:19:49,533 --> 00:19:52,276
including by people
who had lived here
305
00:19:52,300 --> 00:19:54,542
{\an1}for thousands of years.
306
00:19:54,566 --> 00:20:02,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
307
00:20:14,466 --> 00:20:16,533
ABBY:
Poppy, don't scare my horse.
308
00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:21,600
FAITH: Here, horses.
309
00:20:24,900 --> 00:20:27,800
ABBY:
I'll go tie Poppy up.
310
00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:34,376
NARRATOR:
On the M-Y Sweetwater
311
00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,742
Appaloosa Ranch,
horses are like family...
312
00:20:38,766 --> 00:20:41,409
{\an1}the legacy of a close kinship
with these animals
313
00:20:41,433 --> 00:20:44,566
{\an1}since long before the time
of Lewis and Clark.
314
00:20:53,500 --> 00:20:56,376
{\an8}So my Nez Perce name is Wi'Cesa,
315
00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:00,809
{\an8}and Wi'Cesa
means born and reborn.
316
00:21:00,833 --> 00:21:02,442
{\an7}We're always told, "Who are you?
317
00:21:02,466 --> 00:21:03,876
{\an1}Where do you come from?"
318
00:21:03,900 --> 00:21:07,176
{\an1}And that is so important.
319
00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,309
This is our home base
right here,
320
00:21:09,333 --> 00:21:11,242
these 50 acres.
321
00:21:11,266 --> 00:21:13,509
{\an1}We are located down here
in the valley,
322
00:21:13,533 --> 00:21:19,142
{\an1}pretty much, and on top
is what they call the Palouse.
323
00:21:19,166 --> 00:21:22,309
{\an1}At one time, a particular
Nez Perce man
324
00:21:22,333 --> 00:21:24,709
{\an1}was the owner of these horses.
325
00:21:24,733 --> 00:21:28,809
{\an1}And they started calling them
"A Palouse Horse."
326
00:21:28,833 --> 00:21:32,366
{\an1}And then that gradually became
"Appaloosa."
327
00:21:36,766 --> 00:21:40,042
He's a gelding,
and we named him "See-uk-its,"
328
00:21:40,066 --> 00:21:42,309
which is "beautiful."
329
00:21:42,333 --> 00:21:43,976
{\an1}He's just put together
really nice.
330
00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:48,276
{\an1}Yeah, you're pretty...
You're a pretty handsome guy.
331
00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:50,009
NARRATOR:
The hallmark of the Appaloosa
332
00:21:50,033 --> 00:21:56,476
{\an1}is unmistakable... spots.
Lots of them.
333
00:21:56,500 --> 00:21:58,509
{\an1}Controlled by a single gene
334
00:21:58,533 --> 00:22:02,209
known as the
"leopard complex," or "LP,"
335
00:22:02,233 --> 00:22:06,076
{\an1}spotted horses may have been
selected for camouflage,
336
00:22:06,100 --> 00:22:09,576
useful during hunts
or in battle.
337
00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,576
Or perhaps,
simply for their beauty.
338
00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:15,242
YEAROUT:
They call it a raindrop.
339
00:22:15,266 --> 00:22:18,809
{\an1}It kind of filters out
and turns gray.
340
00:22:18,833 --> 00:22:20,576
NARRATOR:
But these "raindrop horses"
341
00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,442
{\an1}are characterized by several
342
00:22:22,466 --> 00:22:24,042
{\an1}distinctive features...
343
00:22:24,066 --> 00:22:26,509
{\an8}striped hooves,
344
00:22:26,533 --> 00:22:29,342
{\an8}mottled skin,
345
00:22:29,366 --> 00:22:32,909
{\an7}light and sturdy frame,
346
00:22:32,933 --> 00:22:36,233
{\an1}and white sclera around the eye.
347
00:22:38,266 --> 00:22:40,209
{\an1}Hundreds of years ago,
348
00:22:40,233 --> 00:22:46,409
{\an1}Rosa's ancestors innovated their
own form of selective breeding.
349
00:22:46,433 --> 00:22:53,276
{\an1}These were trail horses,
prized and bred for endurance.
350
00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:56,109
{\an1}In time, their fitness brought
wealth and power
351
00:22:56,133 --> 00:22:58,342
to the Nez Perce,
352
00:22:58,366 --> 00:23:01,833
{\an1}allowing them to trade
and travel far and wide.
353
00:23:04,500 --> 00:23:07,909
{\an1}It also nurtured a reverence
for horses
354
00:23:07,933 --> 00:23:10,409
that passed
through the generations.
355
00:23:10,433 --> 00:23:12,842
FAITH:
These saddles are kind of heavy.
356
00:23:12,866 --> 00:23:14,609
YEAROUT:
In my family, we've always
357
00:23:14,633 --> 00:23:15,976
{\an1}had horses as far back
358
00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:17,476
as I can remember
with my mother,
359
00:23:17,500 --> 00:23:20,176
grandmother, great-grandmother.
360
00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,776
{\an1}Our story of the native
people is so complicated.
361
00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,642
{\an1}People have talked about
the generations ahead
362
00:23:26,666 --> 00:23:29,609
what legacy do we
as a people want to see.
363
00:23:29,633 --> 00:23:33,042
{\an1}And so every family seems
to have certain things
364
00:23:33,066 --> 00:23:35,542
{\an1}that they specialize in,
365
00:23:35,566 --> 00:23:37,442
and so our heart
is with the horses,
366
00:23:37,466 --> 00:23:40,100
{\an1}carrying on the tradition
of the horses.
367
00:23:44,466 --> 00:23:48,342
That family,
that's the center of our lives,
368
00:23:48,366 --> 00:23:51,342
and it always
comes back to family.
369
00:23:51,366 --> 00:23:56,509
{\an8}♪♪♪
370
00:23:56,533 --> 00:23:59,509
{\an1}That does bring a warm
feeling to my heart.
371
00:23:59,533 --> 00:24:05,042
{\an8}♪♪♪
372
00:24:05,066 --> 00:24:10,542
{\an1}NARRATOR: But this traditional
horse culture was nearly lost.
373
00:24:10,566 --> 00:24:14,876
{\an1}In 1877, after being forced
from their homeland
374
00:24:14,900 --> 00:24:18,676
{\an1}and refusing to settle
on the reservation,
375
00:24:18,700 --> 00:24:21,876
a group of Nez Perce
fled over a thousand miles
376
00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:26,042
{\an1}across the northern Rockies.
377
00:24:26,066 --> 00:24:30,909
{\an1}They took their greatest
possession... their horses.
378
00:24:30,933 --> 00:24:36,233
{\an1}Months later, only miles from
Canada, they were surrounded.
379
00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:40,709
{\an1}Following the conflict,
380
00:24:40,733 --> 00:24:42,409
the great herds
of spotted horses
381
00:24:42,433 --> 00:24:44,966
were rounded up and destroyed.
382
00:24:47,300 --> 00:24:51,476
But, in secret,
a few bands survived.
383
00:24:51,500 --> 00:24:57,209
{\an1}YEAROUT: The Nez Perce tribe
received a call from ranchers.
384
00:24:57,233 --> 00:24:58,809
They had these horses
385
00:24:58,833 --> 00:25:01,876
{\an1}that had been in their family
for generations.
386
00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:05,642
{\an1}And they said that these horses
were descended from the herds
387
00:25:05,666 --> 00:25:09,476
{\an7}that Chief Ollokot had.
388
00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:11,609
{\an8}NARRATOR:
Ollokot was a warrior...
389
00:25:11,633 --> 00:25:16,409
{\an8}the younger brother
of legendary Chief Joseph.
390
00:25:16,433 --> 00:25:19,476
{\an7}Following the Nez Perce war,
Joseph's leadership
391
00:25:19,500 --> 00:25:22,309
{\an7}helped his exiled people
return to the northwest.
392
00:25:22,333 --> 00:25:27,309
{\an8}♪♪♪
393
00:25:27,333 --> 00:25:29,042
{\an1}YEAROUT: His Indian name
394
00:25:29,066 --> 00:25:31,509
is "Thunder
Rolling Over the Mountains,"
395
00:25:31,533 --> 00:25:35,609
and people conjure up
that image of Joseph's spirit
396
00:25:35,633 --> 00:25:37,176
being with us.
397
00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,042
NARRATOR:
But Chief Joseph's brother,
398
00:25:39,066 --> 00:25:41,709
{\an1}Ollokot, never returned.
399
00:25:41,733 --> 00:25:44,142
{\an1}But long after his death
400
00:25:44,166 --> 00:25:46,776
{\an1}during the final battle
of the Nez Perce war,
401
00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:52,242
{\an1}Ollokot's lost band of horses
was about to return home.
402
00:25:52,266 --> 00:25:55,276
YEAROUT:
And so Ollokot asked a rancher
403
00:25:55,300 --> 00:25:58,076
to keep his horses,
expecting to come back.
404
00:25:58,100 --> 00:26:01,576
{\an1}So then the family decided
they'd like to find out,
405
00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:03,509
{\an1}"Is there a descendant
of Ollokot?"
406
00:26:03,533 --> 00:26:06,200
{\an1}and some of our family
is connected.
407
00:26:08,733 --> 00:26:11,942
{\an1}We ended up with a lot
of those horses in our herd.
408
00:26:11,966 --> 00:26:14,409
They gave us a lot
of good horses.
409
00:26:14,433 --> 00:26:16,776
{\an1}They really were strong.
410
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,076
{\an1}And some of our horses
from that particular line
411
00:26:20,100 --> 00:26:23,466
{\an1}have ended up all over,
all over the United States.
412
00:26:26,466 --> 00:26:28,742
NARRATOR:
Today, a new generation
413
00:26:28,766 --> 00:26:32,176
{\an1}is becoming caretakers
of this tradition...
414
00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,233
And doing it in their own style.
415
00:26:37,966 --> 00:26:41,709
{\an1}YEAROUT: To have the horse as
our common thing in our family,
416
00:26:41,733 --> 00:26:46,076
that's been amazing
to watch over the years.
417
00:26:46,100 --> 00:26:49,609
{\an1}But it's these younger girls who
have really taken an interest
418
00:26:49,633 --> 00:26:52,509
in learning
about training horses.
419
00:26:52,533 --> 00:26:54,509
{\an1}And it's fun to see them
have fun.
420
00:26:54,533 --> 00:26:56,476
{\an1}They want to learn how to stand
on their horse
421
00:26:56,500 --> 00:26:59,509
{\an1}and sit on it backwards
and do all of these things.
422
00:26:59,533 --> 00:27:00,842
Fun things like that.
423
00:27:00,866 --> 00:27:03,776
You really take time
to become close to the horse
424
00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:05,109
{\an1}and connected with it,
425
00:27:05,133 --> 00:27:07,942
{\an1}you know, and you can control
the horse with your body.
426
00:27:07,966 --> 00:27:10,609
My great-grandmother
was doing things like that
427
00:27:10,633 --> 00:27:13,609
{\an1}you know, a long time ago.
428
00:27:13,633 --> 00:27:15,642
{\an1}Yeah, I guess after a while,
you do call it wisdom.
429
00:27:15,666 --> 00:27:17,942
[ Laughs ]
430
00:27:17,966 --> 00:27:19,042
FAITH:
Oh, my gosh.
431
00:27:19,066 --> 00:27:20,666
Okay.
Whoo!
432
00:27:23,866 --> 00:27:27,309
{\an1}NARRATOR: As American settlers
drifted into the wild West,
433
00:27:27,333 --> 00:27:33,742
{\an1}new cultures and new livelihoods
arrived on the open range.
434
00:27:33,766 --> 00:27:37,642
{\an1}Destiny brought another breed
to these oceans of grass,
435
00:27:37,666 --> 00:27:42,376
mountains, and sage:
the American quarter horse.
436
00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,142
MIKE:
Should we score one, rope one?
437
00:27:45,166 --> 00:27:47,133
{\an1}He looks like a runner.
438
00:27:56,566 --> 00:27:58,676
Wooahhh.
439
00:27:58,700 --> 00:28:01,942
{\an1}MIKE: We roped him pretty quick,
but I got out really quick.
440
00:28:01,966 --> 00:28:06,442
{\an1}She's got a little speed.
441
00:28:06,466 --> 00:28:07,909
[ Whistles]
Yeah, buddy!
442
00:28:07,933 --> 00:28:09,509
[ Chuckles ]
443
00:28:09,533 --> 00:28:17,533
{\an8}♪♪♪
444
00:28:20,666 --> 00:28:22,109
{\an1}The quarter horse and the cowboy
445
00:28:22,133 --> 00:28:25,009
have come a long way
through the years.
446
00:28:25,033 --> 00:28:28,242
{\an1}And it took both of them
to get there.
447
00:28:28,266 --> 00:28:34,609
{\an8}♪♪♪
448
00:28:34,633 --> 00:28:37,009
Horses are our life.
449
00:28:37,033 --> 00:28:40,609
We just love them
and always have.
450
00:28:40,633 --> 00:28:43,642
{\an1}Always looking for how we can
make a better one,
451
00:28:43,666 --> 00:28:47,709
{\an1}by either breeding or training.
452
00:28:47,733 --> 00:28:50,933
{\an1}Seems horses are on our mind
most of the time.
453
00:28:53,666 --> 00:28:55,709
NARRATOR:
For Mike and Tara Miller,
454
00:28:55,733 --> 00:28:59,209
{\an1}ranch life has been a calling.
455
00:28:59,233 --> 00:29:01,342
{\an1}TARA: You told me since
you was this high,
456
00:29:01,366 --> 00:29:03,242
{\an1}you knew you always wanted
to be a cowboy.
457
00:29:03,266 --> 00:29:05,633
MIKE:
Well, I did and still do.
458
00:29:08,433 --> 00:29:11,042
{\an1}Started out, you know,
I rodeo'd.
459
00:29:11,066 --> 00:29:13,176
You know, I'd been
on the ranch all my life,
460
00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:19,076
{\an1}and I was dumbfounded by what
a person could do with a horse.
461
00:29:19,100 --> 00:29:22,676
{\an1}Made the right choice.
It's been a good life.
462
00:29:22,700 --> 00:29:27,909
{\an1}We enjoy it together, and
we're partners in this ranch.
463
00:29:27,933 --> 00:29:30,676
{\an1}TARA: I had a crush on him
for a long time.
464
00:29:30,700 --> 00:29:32,342
You thought I was
kind of ornery, though.
465
00:29:32,366 --> 00:29:34,609
{\an1}I'd flirt with him, he couldn't
even tell it was flirting.
466
00:29:34,633 --> 00:29:37,509
MIKE: Yeah,
it didn't seem like flirting.
467
00:29:37,533 --> 00:29:39,042
[ Laughs ]
468
00:29:39,066 --> 00:29:42,276
{\an1}NARRATOR: For the Millers,
partnership is the bedrock
469
00:29:42,300 --> 00:29:45,976
that supports
a working cattle ranch.
470
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,209
Together, they know
how to breed for success,
471
00:29:49,233 --> 00:29:51,676
{\an1}one quarter horse at a time.
472
00:29:51,700 --> 00:29:59,700
{\an8}♪♪♪
473
00:30:04,033 --> 00:30:07,009
{\an1}The American quarter horse
was first celebrated
474
00:30:07,033 --> 00:30:08,966
{\an1}for quick bursts of speed...
475
00:30:11,433 --> 00:30:14,609
{\an1}up to 55 miles per hour...
476
00:30:14,633 --> 00:30:17,676
{\an1}consistently the fastest horse
in the world
477
00:30:17,700 --> 00:30:19,709
in the quarter mile.
478
00:30:19,733 --> 00:30:21,376
All that speed comes
479
00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,366
{\an1}from the quarter horses'
unique conformation.
480
00:30:27,566 --> 00:30:29,976
TARA:
This is Chicken Hawk, he's 5.
481
00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,109
{\an1}I'll just point out some of
the reasons
482
00:30:32,133 --> 00:30:35,376
that I would like him
even if I didn't know him.
483
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:37,876
{\an1}He's well-balanced, overall.
484
00:30:37,900 --> 00:30:39,342
That's nice.
485
00:30:39,366 --> 00:30:43,976
{\an1}He's got a nice thick girth
for his respiratory system.
486
00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:45,109
He has a...
487
00:30:45,133 --> 00:30:48,209
{\an1}His neck comes out of his body
real nice.
488
00:30:48,233 --> 00:30:50,209
{\an4}NARRATOR: A quarter horse's neck
489
00:30:50,233 --> 00:30:51,942
{\an4}joins its sloping shoulders
490
00:30:51,966 --> 00:30:54,009
{\an5}at a 45-degree angle
491
00:30:54,033 --> 00:30:57,476
{\an4}to allow it to work head-down.
492
00:30:57,500 --> 00:30:59,776
{\an4}Resting stance is balanced.
493
00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:01,209
{\an4}Supported by straight,
494
00:31:01,233 --> 00:31:04,542
{\an5}powerful legs.
495
00:31:04,566 --> 00:31:07,176
{\an5}Body is well-muscled,
496
00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,576
{\an4}especially in the hindquarters.
497
00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,842
{\an1}TARA: He has what you want
to call saddle bags.
498
00:31:13,866 --> 00:31:17,842
{\an1}That's more muscling in the hip
to hold those stops and turns
499
00:31:17,866 --> 00:31:20,676
{\an1}and helps him use his hind end.
500
00:31:20,700 --> 00:31:23,276
{\an1}NARRATOR: A quarter horse
generates incredible power
501
00:31:23,300 --> 00:31:24,776
{\an1}from these haunches...
502
00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:31,342
{\an1}not only speed but the ability
to stop and spin on a dime.
503
00:31:31,366 --> 00:31:33,776
{\an1}But for all it's physical power,
504
00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:36,376
it's the trainability
of the quarter horse
505
00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:38,842
that sets it apart.
506
00:31:38,866 --> 00:31:41,109
{\an1}TARA: One of the wonderful
things about quarter horses,
507
00:31:41,133 --> 00:31:43,276
they're so trainable.
508
00:31:43,300 --> 00:31:45,276
{\an1}And they want to please you.
509
00:31:45,300 --> 00:31:46,542
You know,
that's one of the things
510
00:31:46,566 --> 00:31:47,942
{\an1}that made quarter horses great.
511
00:31:47,966 --> 00:31:51,276
{\an1}They have great heart and try.
512
00:31:51,300 --> 00:31:52,609
Yeah.
513
00:31:52,633 --> 00:31:54,509
{\an1}I've had perfect horses.
514
00:31:54,533 --> 00:31:56,076
They might not even
look perfect,
515
00:31:56,100 --> 00:31:59,742
but who cares
when they're great?
516
00:31:59,766 --> 00:32:03,976
{\an1}NARRATOR: The great ones
fuse strength, trainability,
517
00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:07,909
{\an1}and heart into a horse
built to perform,
518
00:32:07,933 --> 00:32:09,876
out on the range
519
00:32:09,900 --> 00:32:12,509
or under the lights.
520
00:32:12,533 --> 00:32:14,209
ANNOUNCER:
Now entering the arena,
521
00:32:14,233 --> 00:32:18,676
{\an1}number 146, Mike Miller
and Playboy's Buck Fever.
522
00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:23,276
{\an8}♪♪♪
523
00:32:23,300 --> 00:32:24,842
NARRATOR:
For Mike and Tara,
524
00:32:24,866 --> 00:32:28,600
{\an1}no horse did it better
than Playboy's Buck Fever.
525
00:32:31,766 --> 00:32:33,409
MIKE:
He was just, from day one,
526
00:32:33,433 --> 00:32:36,276
so trainable
and easy to be around
527
00:32:36,300 --> 00:32:40,142
and athletic
and plenty of speed.
528
00:32:40,166 --> 00:32:42,709
{\an1}Made the finals at the
World's Greatest Horseman
529
00:32:42,733 --> 00:32:44,142
on him.
530
00:32:44,166 --> 00:32:45,576
NARRATOR:
But to become a champion
531
00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:51,509
{\an1}requires something deeper...
A conversation with no words.
532
00:32:51,533 --> 00:32:57,509
{\an8}♪♪♪
533
00:32:57,533 --> 00:32:58,742
{\an1}MIKE: When I'm reining,
534
00:32:58,766 --> 00:33:02,609
it's total
communication with the horse.
535
00:33:02,633 --> 00:33:05,276
You're controlling
every movement.
536
00:33:05,300 --> 00:33:07,109
{\an1}Your legs, your hands.
537
00:33:07,133 --> 00:33:08,733
That's how you talk.
538
00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:15,342
{\an1}It's a total communication
without using your mouth,
539
00:33:15,366 --> 00:33:19,009
but they understand,
and you understand.
540
00:33:19,033 --> 00:33:20,609
{\an1}You know to do it right,
541
00:33:20,633 --> 00:33:22,142
{\an1}to get along with your horse,
542
00:33:22,166 --> 00:33:25,476
{\an1}you need to kind of think
like one.
543
00:33:25,500 --> 00:33:27,976
{\an1}It's basic, basic stuff.
544
00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:30,776
But it is amazing.
545
00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:32,876
NARRATOR:
Once the communication develops,
546
00:33:32,900 --> 00:33:36,142
{\an1}it's easy to pursue any target.
547
00:33:36,166 --> 00:33:39,476
But nothing focuses
a quarter horse
548
00:33:39,500 --> 00:33:40,700
quite like a cow.
549
00:33:44,866 --> 00:33:47,542
{\an1}MIKE: My great-grandfather
came to this country
550
00:33:47,566 --> 00:33:51,642
to Wyoming in 1875.
551
00:33:51,666 --> 00:33:55,276
{\an1}They ran cattle from Western
Wyoming to Eastern Wyoming.
552
00:33:55,300 --> 00:33:57,776
{\an1}They'd start out on the desert
in the Spring,
553
00:33:57,800 --> 00:33:59,576
work their way up
through the summer,
554
00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:01,676
and in the fall,
they'd come down this
555
00:34:01,700 --> 00:34:04,676
Wyoming range.
556
00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:08,076
{\an1}NARRATOR: This landscape brought
cowboy, quarter horse,
557
00:34:08,100 --> 00:34:10,676
and cattle together.
558
00:34:10,700 --> 00:34:12,309
{\an1}And as all three evolved,
559
00:34:12,333 --> 00:34:16,809
{\an1}they became more and more
specialized for the job.
560
00:34:16,833 --> 00:34:18,176
TARA:
We spend more time on a horse
561
00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:19,309
{\an1}working than anything else
562
00:34:19,333 --> 00:34:21,342
and what horse
you're on determines
563
00:34:21,366 --> 00:34:23,009
{\an1}how much you enjoy your work.
564
00:34:23,033 --> 00:34:24,742
{\an1}Definitely some horses
have a lot more
565
00:34:24,766 --> 00:34:27,076
{\an1}cow sense than others.
566
00:34:27,100 --> 00:34:29,109
NARRATOR:
A horse with "cow sense"
567
00:34:29,133 --> 00:34:32,876
{\an1}has a natural instinct
to anticipate, track,
568
00:34:32,900 --> 00:34:35,976
{\an1}and direct a cow's movement.
569
00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:40,976
{\an1}Horses claim space and control
movement to assert dominance,
570
00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:43,676
{\an1}normally with other horses.
571
00:34:43,700 --> 00:34:47,976
{\an1}A quarter horse is wired
with one key difference...
572
00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:51,409
It will show a cow who's boss.
573
00:34:51,433 --> 00:34:53,676
MIKE: Quarter horses
seem to excel in it.
574
00:34:53,700 --> 00:34:55,376
That's their forte.
575
00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,409
We go into the herd,
see the cow we want.
576
00:34:58,433 --> 00:35:01,176
Cow goes this way,
steer them over there,
577
00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:02,842
{\an1}then the cow goes that way.
578
00:35:02,866 --> 00:35:04,842
Just loose reins.
579
00:35:04,866 --> 00:35:07,776
{\an1}NARRATOR: It's no accident
that "cow sense"
580
00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:09,142
{\an1}has become one of the single
581
00:35:09,166 --> 00:35:13,442
most desirable traits
of the breed.
582
00:35:13,466 --> 00:35:17,342
{\an1}MIKE: They started the quarter
horse for that kind of work.
583
00:35:17,366 --> 00:35:20,200
{\an1}It's been a part of us
for a long time.
584
00:35:24,500 --> 00:35:26,109
Horses are our life.
585
00:35:26,133 --> 00:35:29,276
{\an1}We've spent a lot of our life
around them
586
00:35:29,300 --> 00:35:31,576
{\an1}and have enjoyed it all.
587
00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:34,842
{\an1}Just glad we could do it.
588
00:35:34,866 --> 00:35:36,009
{\an1}NARRATOR: As the quarter horse
589
00:35:36,033 --> 00:35:39,242
{\an1}became the most popular horse
in America,
590
00:35:39,266 --> 00:35:43,242
{\an1}an old star was quietly
fading out of view...
591
00:35:43,266 --> 00:35:45,166
The mustang.
592
00:35:47,233 --> 00:35:51,333
But sooner or later,
everything old is new again.
593
00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:57,576
{\an7}And for Kaelynn Clark,
adopting and training mustangs
594
00:35:57,600 --> 00:35:59,700
{\an7}has been her lifelong passion.
595
00:36:02,500 --> 00:36:05,842
{\an1}She remembers every milestone,
every breakthrough,
596
00:36:05,866 --> 00:36:11,676
every inch of forward
progress along the way.
597
00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:14,909
But the journey
has also led her back...
598
00:36:14,933 --> 00:36:19,176
{\an1}to discover the mustang's
special place in history.
599
00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:22,742
{\an1}Today, she'll experience that
heritage firsthand
600
00:36:22,766 --> 00:36:25,076
{\an1}with her mustang, Spartan,
601
00:36:25,100 --> 00:36:30,609
{\an1}on one of the oldest proving
grounds in the American West...
602
00:36:30,633 --> 00:36:33,576
{\an1}the Pony Express Trail.
603
00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:37,976
{\an1}CLARK: Gopher holes, washouts,
gullies, badger holes...
604
00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:40,242
These are just
some sketchy spots
605
00:36:40,266 --> 00:36:43,409
{\an1}that you can get caught up in.
606
00:36:43,433 --> 00:36:45,476
We're out here
in the middle of nowhere,
607
00:36:45,500 --> 00:36:48,376
{\an1}and it does take a minute
to get out here,
608
00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:50,609
{\an1}and if anything did happen
it would take a minute
609
00:36:50,633 --> 00:36:52,709
{\an1}to get out of here, too.
610
00:36:52,733 --> 00:36:54,476
Yeah.
611
00:36:54,500 --> 00:36:57,366
He could just decide
he's wild again and be gone.
612
00:37:00,833 --> 00:37:02,942
NARRATOR:
But the road that led them here
613
00:37:02,966 --> 00:37:04,966
began many years ago.
614
00:37:08,300 --> 00:37:10,176
{\an7}CLARK: It was just surreal.
615
00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:11,609
{\an7}You're like, "Oh, I'm really
going to do this.
616
00:37:11,633 --> 00:37:13,309
{\an1}I'm really getting a wild horse
617
00:37:13,333 --> 00:37:16,842
that's going to come
and live at my place."
618
00:37:16,866 --> 00:37:20,642
{\an1}When I first met Spartan,
I was 14 years old.
619
00:37:20,666 --> 00:37:22,142
He was the very first
mustang I did
620
00:37:22,166 --> 00:37:25,976
through the 4-H
BLM gentling project.
621
00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:27,876
NARRATOR:
For hundreds of years,
622
00:37:27,900 --> 00:37:31,409
{\an1}American mustangs have been
adopted from the wild,
623
00:37:31,433 --> 00:37:36,409
{\an1}their genes infusing countless
other breeds along the way.
624
00:37:36,433 --> 00:37:41,276
But doing so
requires a leap of faith.
625
00:37:41,300 --> 00:37:43,609
{\an1}CLARK: You get the butterflies,
and you look at him,
626
00:37:43,633 --> 00:37:45,533
and you're like,
"What's the next step?"
627
00:37:51,566 --> 00:37:52,776
Throughout the ages,
628
00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:55,409
people have built
relationships with animals.
629
00:37:55,433 --> 00:37:58,809
That's kind of our
human heritage, in a way.
630
00:37:58,833 --> 00:38:01,809
{\an1}You are carrying on a tradition
that many,
631
00:38:01,833 --> 00:38:03,866
many people
have done before you.
632
00:38:10,500 --> 00:38:13,576
{\an1}NARRATOR: A lone mustang
is a prey animal,
633
00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:18,309
ruled by instinct,
adrenaline, fight or flight.
634
00:38:18,333 --> 00:38:21,342
But inside the herd,
they develop close
635
00:38:21,366 --> 00:38:26,142
{\an1}and long-lasting social bonds...
Relationships.
636
00:38:26,166 --> 00:38:31,142
{\an1}A special quality that horses
share - with humans.
637
00:38:31,166 --> 00:38:33,442
{\an1}CLARK: After they come home,
one of the first things
638
00:38:33,466 --> 00:38:36,642
is building trust.
639
00:38:36,666 --> 00:38:38,709
{\an1}They're looking at you,
they're respecting you.
640
00:38:38,733 --> 00:38:41,342
{\an1}They're looking to you
for leadership.
641
00:38:41,366 --> 00:38:43,809
{\an1}In the wild, most of the time,
you have your lead mare
642
00:38:43,833 --> 00:38:45,642
{\an1}that's taking care of the herd.
643
00:38:45,666 --> 00:38:47,776
And so I need to make
myself a leader,
644
00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:49,776
and by doing that,
I gain their respect,
645
00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:52,409
I gain their trust.
646
00:38:52,433 --> 00:38:56,576
{\an1}NARRATOR: Once a leader emerges,
trust begins.
647
00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:59,342
{\an1}And with it comes opportunity:
648
00:38:59,366 --> 00:39:03,276
a horse known only
as number 1512
649
00:39:03,300 --> 00:39:06,276
now becomes Spartan.
650
00:39:06,300 --> 00:39:11,709
{\an1}CLARK: That's that point
where they're no longer wild.
651
00:39:11,733 --> 00:39:13,809
Now we can dive
into the deep stuff...
652
00:39:13,833 --> 00:39:18,809
{\an1}the leading, the pressure
and release, the rope work.
653
00:39:18,833 --> 00:39:22,009
{\an1}NARRATOR: Spartan will always
be the first,
654
00:39:22,033 --> 00:39:23,342
but for Kaelynn,
655
00:39:23,366 --> 00:39:28,142
the list of names
is growing longer every year.
656
00:39:28,166 --> 00:39:32,376
Each mustang has
its own personality.
657
00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:34,542
{\an1}And each training program
is designed
658
00:39:34,566 --> 00:39:39,042
to test individual
strengths and weaknesses.
659
00:39:39,066 --> 00:39:41,176
{\an1}CLARK: Lots of people use
the term breaking the horse.
660
00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:43,009
I like to think of it
as the horse
661
00:39:43,033 --> 00:39:45,076
is always learning
something new.
662
00:39:45,100 --> 00:39:46,209
{\an1}You're going to work on things
663
00:39:46,233 --> 00:39:48,076
that might scare them
a little bit,
664
00:39:48,100 --> 00:39:49,876
and you're going
to build that trust.
665
00:39:49,900 --> 00:39:52,776
{\an1}That's why our tack shed
is full of such weird things.
666
00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:55,476
{\an1}Pool noodles with tissue paper
on the top of them.
667
00:39:55,500 --> 00:39:57,676
Kiddie pool for water
to lead them through.
668
00:39:57,700 --> 00:39:59,309
We've got hula hoops.
669
00:39:59,333 --> 00:40:01,442
Just anything to
keep them engaged
670
00:40:01,466 --> 00:40:03,842
and to keep their mind thinking.
671
00:40:03,866 --> 00:40:09,109
{\an8}♪♪♪
672
00:40:09,133 --> 00:40:12,009
{\an1}NARRATOR: After countless hours
of overcoming fear
673
00:40:12,033 --> 00:40:14,609
and doubt together,
674
00:40:14,633 --> 00:40:17,033
it's time to take
the biggest step of all.
675
00:40:19,266 --> 00:40:20,542
CLARK:
It's a good feeling to know
676
00:40:20,566 --> 00:40:23,309
that I have prepared
this horse for this step,
677
00:40:23,333 --> 00:40:25,476
{\an1}I've done all the work,
and I can get on,
678
00:40:25,500 --> 00:40:29,742
{\an1}and he'll still be connected
to me when I'm under saddle.
679
00:40:29,766 --> 00:40:31,476
{\an1}Yeah, you can break them,
680
00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:33,909
but it implies that
you're breaking their spirit,
681
00:40:33,933 --> 00:40:38,442
and Spartan still has
very much of that spirit.
682
00:40:38,466 --> 00:40:43,542
{\an1}NARRATOR: Trust opens the door
to a world of possibility.
683
00:40:43,566 --> 00:40:46,533
But, eventually,
you have to ride through it.
684
00:40:48,833 --> 00:40:50,976
{\an1}On the Pony Express Trail,
685
00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:53,009
{\an1}the mission for Kaelynn
and Spartan
686
00:40:53,033 --> 00:40:56,676
{\an1}is the same as it was in 1860.
687
00:40:56,700 --> 00:40:59,509
Expert riders wanted.
688
00:40:59,533 --> 00:41:03,476
{\an1}Willing to risk death daily.
689
00:41:03,500 --> 00:41:07,676
{\an1}Mail from St. Joseph, Missouri,
to California
690
00:41:07,700 --> 00:41:11,709
in 10 days or less.
691
00:41:11,733 --> 00:41:15,142
{\an1}Kaelynn is one of over
700 riders
692
00:41:15,166 --> 00:41:19,909
who will re-create
this 2,000-mile journey,
693
00:41:19,933 --> 00:41:22,476
{\an1}to experience a vision
of America
694
00:41:22,500 --> 00:41:28,809
{\an1}connected only by horseback...
Vast, untamed,
695
00:41:28,833 --> 00:41:33,009
the way it was before
the telegraph or the railroad.
696
00:41:33,033 --> 00:41:36,776
For 10 days straight,
24 hours a day,
697
00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:40,176
{\an1}a single replica mail-bag,
called the mochila,
698
00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:42,442
is relayed
across the continent...
699
00:41:42,466 --> 00:41:46,276
{\an1}and "The Pony" rides again.
700
00:41:46,300 --> 00:41:47,676
CLARK:
When I saw the rider coming,
701
00:41:47,700 --> 00:41:49,276
{\an1}my heart started to race
a little bit,
702
00:41:49,300 --> 00:41:50,542
and I was like, "Oh, here we go.
703
00:41:50,566 --> 00:41:51,709
{\an1}We're about to do this."
704
00:41:51,733 --> 00:41:53,442
HOWARD: Got it.
Get on the other side,
705
00:41:53,466 --> 00:41:54,476
{\an1}and then I'll flip it over.
706
00:41:54,500 --> 00:41:56,042
CLARK: Realizing
that he was ready to go,
707
00:41:56,066 --> 00:41:57,010
{\an1}he knew what his job was,
708
00:41:57,034 --> 00:42:00,342
{\an1}that helps relax me down a lot.
709
00:42:00,366 --> 00:42:04,509
{\an1}NARRATOR: The time is now...
Get the mail to the next post,
710
00:42:04,533 --> 00:42:06,109
{\an1}and ride like the wind.
711
00:42:06,133 --> 00:42:07,476
CLARK: Thank you.
712
00:42:07,500 --> 00:42:13,109
{\an8}♪♪♪
713
00:42:13,133 --> 00:42:16,109
[ Horse whinnies ]
714
00:42:16,133 --> 00:42:24,133
{\an8}♪♪♪
715
00:42:31,900 --> 00:42:33,276
That moment
when you just get on,
716
00:42:33,300 --> 00:42:35,042
{\an1}you just feel so alive.
717
00:42:35,066 --> 00:42:37,742
{\an1}Running at full speed,
you get to feel the power
718
00:42:37,766 --> 00:42:40,176
that animal has.
719
00:42:40,200 --> 00:42:41,742
{\an1}Knowing that I'm on a mustang
720
00:42:41,766 --> 00:42:43,376
and I'm in
their natural habitat,
721
00:42:43,400 --> 00:42:46,466
{\an1}on a horse that I trust...
I know he's sure-footed.
722
00:42:48,500 --> 00:42:50,109
{\an1}This is where he's from.
723
00:42:50,133 --> 00:42:53,342
This is his heritage.
724
00:42:53,366 --> 00:42:54,976
{\an1}NARRATOR: Then and now,
725
00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:58,976
{\an1}mustangs are uniquely adapted
for this harsh terrain...
726
00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:01,109
{\an1}they were born for this.
727
00:43:01,133 --> 00:43:08,509
{\an1}Hard hooves, keen senses,
heat tolerance,
728
00:43:08,533 --> 00:43:13,842
endurance for days.
729
00:43:13,866 --> 00:43:15,276
CLARK:
You're re-enacting something
730
00:43:15,300 --> 00:43:17,809
{\an1}that's such an important part
of human history
731
00:43:17,833 --> 00:43:19,342
along with the horse.
732
00:43:19,366 --> 00:43:21,076
That partnership
of being together,
733
00:43:21,100 --> 00:43:22,866
{\an1}it's just an amazing feeling.
734
00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:29,942
{\an1}NARRATOR: A partnership
that reveals horses
735
00:43:29,966 --> 00:43:32,376
{\an1}still connect America,
736
00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:37,342
one horse, one rider,
one ritual at a time.
737
00:43:37,366 --> 00:43:39,242
CLARK:
At the end, I kept telling him
738
00:43:39,266 --> 00:43:40,742
{\an1}that I knew he could give me
a little bit more
739
00:43:40,766 --> 00:43:42,942
because I know
he has that extra gear.
740
00:43:42,966 --> 00:43:44,909
{\an1}And he did give it to me
there a couple of times,
741
00:43:44,933 --> 00:43:47,366
{\an1}so I'm really proud of him.
742
00:43:50,100 --> 00:43:52,076
{\an1}NARRATOR: While mustangs
were preferred stock
743
00:43:52,100 --> 00:43:54,876
{\an1}for pony riders out West,
744
00:43:54,900 --> 00:43:59,742
{\an1}another breed was favored
by riders in the east...
745
00:43:59,766 --> 00:44:01,676
{\an8}the Morgan.
746
00:44:01,700 --> 00:44:05,342
{\an7}It's easy to understand why,
during the biggest showcase
747
00:44:05,366 --> 00:44:08,076
{\an8}of the year
at the Morgan horse farm,
748
00:44:08,100 --> 00:44:11,742
{\an1}when all the sleepless nights,
early mornings,
749
00:44:11,766 --> 00:44:16,842
and endless training,
could finally pay off.
750
00:44:16,866 --> 00:44:19,142
{\an1}DEMARS: Since the beginning
of the Morgan breed,
751
00:44:19,166 --> 00:44:23,042
{\an1}they've been known for
their incredible work ethic,
752
00:44:23,066 --> 00:44:25,209
their tractability,
their demeanor,
753
00:44:25,233 --> 00:44:27,209
and their prettiness,
and I think Vermont Day
754
00:44:27,233 --> 00:44:29,209
{\an1}is a great example of that.
755
00:44:29,233 --> 00:44:31,509
{\an1}NARRATOR: It's an exhibition
of versatility
756
00:44:31,533 --> 00:44:35,576
that shows off
the true range of the Morgan...
757
00:44:35,600 --> 00:44:38,376
{\an1}and the attitude to match.
758
00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:40,542
{\an1}DEMARS: They like a crowd.
They like to be out there.
759
00:44:40,566 --> 00:44:42,109
They like to flip
their tails up,
760
00:44:42,133 --> 00:44:44,200
{\an1}and they like to be expressive.
761
00:44:47,133 --> 00:44:48,476
{\an1}This mare is very special to us.
762
00:44:48,500 --> 00:44:49,876
{\an1}She's an exceptional mare.
763
00:44:49,900 --> 00:44:52,976
{\an1}Very tractable, extremely
athletic and beautiful.
764
00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:56,942
{\an1}Just sort of the essence
of a Morgan mare for us.
765
00:44:56,966 --> 00:44:59,876
{\an1}Her foal was born in April.
766
00:44:59,900 --> 00:45:02,076
{\an1}It was a cold, wet, rainy day.
767
00:45:02,100 --> 00:45:04,042
All of a sudden,
the mare's laying down.
768
00:45:04,066 --> 00:45:07,409
{\an1}It was an amazing feeling
and just an amazing thing
769
00:45:07,433 --> 00:45:08,609
to be a part of.
770
00:45:08,633 --> 00:45:09,876
We just could not be
more excited
771
00:45:09,900 --> 00:45:11,909
for the future
of this little foal.
772
00:45:11,933 --> 00:45:14,942
{\an1}So I wanted to take a moment
today to present to you
773
00:45:14,966 --> 00:45:16,942
UVM Denali.
774
00:45:16,966 --> 00:45:21,009
{\an1}[ Cheers and applause ]
775
00:45:21,033 --> 00:45:22,176
She is sassy.
776
00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:23,942
{\an1}She is just happy to be there.
777
00:45:23,966 --> 00:45:26,209
{\an1}You know, she just sort of
embodies exactly
778
00:45:26,233 --> 00:45:28,242
{\an1}what we hope to have here...
779
00:45:28,266 --> 00:45:31,709
Pretty little Morgan
with a fiery attitude
780
00:45:31,733 --> 00:45:34,109
and really just wants
to be in front of people.
781
00:45:34,133 --> 00:45:36,109
[ Horse whinnies ]
782
00:45:36,133 --> 00:45:42,133
{\an8}♪♪♪
783
00:45:47,800 --> 00:45:49,476
She's doing well.
She's wearing a halter.
784
00:45:49,500 --> 00:45:51,276
{\an1}She's learning how to lead,
785
00:45:51,300 --> 00:45:54,376
and she's learning
some patience, which is good.
786
00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:55,909
{\an1}No matter what breed you have,
787
00:45:55,933 --> 00:45:57,709
{\an1}if you're a horse person,
you're a horse person, right?
788
00:45:57,733 --> 00:45:59,542
The Morgan people,
or the thoroughbred people,
789
00:45:59,566 --> 00:46:00,942
{\an1}or the quarter horse people.
790
00:46:00,966 --> 00:46:04,409
{\an1}Horse people are their own
unique kind of group.
791
00:46:04,433 --> 00:46:06,509
{\an1}And there's a lot of pride
that goes in with that,
792
00:46:06,533 --> 00:46:10,076
and their horses
are part of their families.
793
00:46:10,100 --> 00:46:12,676
{\an1}Their horses are part of them.
794
00:46:12,700 --> 00:46:14,300
They're pretty cool.
795
00:46:16,600 --> 00:46:19,376
{\an1}NARRATOR: After so much
time and tradition,
796
00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:25,176
{\an1}the lines between a people
and their horses begin to blur.
797
00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:27,909
{\an1}For the McFarland-Yearout
family,
798
00:46:27,933 --> 00:46:30,042
gathering with
the Appaloosa herd
799
00:46:30,066 --> 00:46:34,076
{\an1}is an opportunity to honor
something timeless.
800
00:46:34,100 --> 00:46:37,509
{\an1}YEAROUT: We come together today
for a short prayer on this land
801
00:46:37,533 --> 00:46:41,442
{\an1}where we keep our horses,
our sik'him,
802
00:46:41,466 --> 00:46:45,176
{\an1}and just so grateful that we
are able to use our horses,
803
00:46:45,200 --> 00:46:46,576
{\an1}to dress up and parade,
804
00:46:46,600 --> 00:46:50,042
{\an1}to bring out our things
that some have been handed down
805
00:46:50,066 --> 00:46:52,009
{\an1}and some are brand-new.
806
00:46:52,033 --> 00:46:53,633
{\an1}FAITH: This is my mom's hat.
807
00:46:59,266 --> 00:47:02,976
{\an1}DAVI JO: I think this dress
is from my great-grandmother.
808
00:47:03,000 --> 00:47:04,442
{\an1}It makes me feel cool.
809
00:47:04,466 --> 00:47:05,576
I don't know why,
but it just does.
810
00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:07,509
{\an1}Like, I feel cool in it.
811
00:47:07,533 --> 00:47:12,142
{\an1}YEAROUT: Everything that's
put together, it has a story.
812
00:47:12,166 --> 00:47:14,409
{\an1}When you're doing this,
you're doing honor
813
00:47:14,433 --> 00:47:17,442
{\an1}not only to the Sik'him,
the Appaloosa, the Maa'min,
814
00:47:17,466 --> 00:47:21,509
{\an1}and remembering our ancestors
who raised horses
815
00:47:21,533 --> 00:47:24,976
{\an1}and taught us of horse way
but everybody who contributed
816
00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:27,333
{\an1}to what you're wearing
and to who you are.
817
00:47:29,333 --> 00:47:32,109
{\an1}It brings to mind so many
memories of my childhood,
818
00:47:32,133 --> 00:47:34,076
taking those journeys
with my grandmother
819
00:47:34,100 --> 00:47:37,842
and my mother on horseback.
820
00:47:37,866 --> 00:47:41,866
{\an1}These trails have been used
for centuries by our ancestors.
821
00:47:44,066 --> 00:47:46,476
We're just a part
of the big creation's puzzle.
822
00:47:46,500 --> 00:47:50,742
{\an1}We have something to share,
something important to continue.
823
00:47:50,766 --> 00:47:52,509
{\an1}We have that language in common,
824
00:47:52,533 --> 00:47:54,700
{\an1}and we have our homeland.
825
00:47:58,033 --> 00:48:01,342
{\an1}But the horses are always
a part of that effort
826
00:48:01,366 --> 00:48:04,409
{\an1}to really bring us together.
827
00:48:04,433 --> 00:48:05,709
{\an1}And, of course, for us,
828
00:48:05,733 --> 00:48:09,842
{\an1}it's been the Appaloosa
that's been the binding.
829
00:48:09,866 --> 00:48:11,676
{\an1}And that love of the Appaloosa
830
00:48:11,700 --> 00:48:14,266
is shared by people
all over the world.
831
00:48:20,600 --> 00:48:23,142
{\an8}MIKE:
Sagebrush, badger holes,
832
00:48:23,166 --> 00:48:25,142
{\an7}it's really wild and western.
833
00:48:25,166 --> 00:48:26,242
{\an8}It's not arena.
834
00:48:26,266 --> 00:48:29,176
{\an8}Anything can happen.
835
00:48:29,200 --> 00:48:31,442
NARRATOR:
For a certain breed of cowboy,
836
00:48:31,466 --> 00:48:35,342
pasture roping
is the ultimate test.
837
00:48:35,366 --> 00:48:38,076
For the Millers and
their top quarter horses,
838
00:48:38,100 --> 00:48:42,376
it's the culmination
of another year of hard work.
839
00:48:42,400 --> 00:48:44,209
MIKE:
I'm roping with my son, Wes,
840
00:48:44,233 --> 00:48:46,909
{\an1}and I'm riding Texas Red.
841
00:48:46,933 --> 00:48:50,442
I think he'll rise
to the occasion.
842
00:48:50,466 --> 00:48:55,342
{\an1}It's super-ranchy team roping
is what it is.
843
00:48:55,366 --> 00:48:59,942
{\an1}Some guy horseback brings
that cow at a run up that chute.
844
00:48:59,966 --> 00:49:02,742
{\an1}And then when he blasts
by you...
845
00:49:02,766 --> 00:49:04,209
{\an1}[ Whistles ]... off you go.
846
00:49:04,233 --> 00:49:06,476
{\an1}You chase a cow down, rope it.
847
00:49:06,500 --> 00:49:10,442
You're seeing why
the quarter horse was invented.
848
00:49:10,466 --> 00:49:12,776
{\an1}NARRATOR: Once the quarter horse
was invented,
849
00:49:12,800 --> 00:49:15,842
competition added
fuel to the fire.
850
00:49:15,866 --> 00:49:18,776
{\an1}The winning horses were bred,
and, over time,
851
00:49:18,800 --> 00:49:20,776
{\an1}the breed itself was refined.
852
00:49:20,800 --> 00:49:22,542
{\an1}FEMALE ANNOUNCER: This is going
to be team 15,
853
00:49:22,566 --> 00:49:24,042
{\an1}Mike Miller, Wes Miller.
854
00:49:24,066 --> 00:49:25,676
You guys are up.
855
00:49:25,700 --> 00:49:33,700
{\an8}♪♪♪
856
00:49:50,433 --> 00:49:52,033
MIKE:
Well, shucks.
857
00:49:55,166 --> 00:49:57,566
We tried.
[ Chuckles ]
858
00:49:59,200 --> 00:50:03,209
{\an1}Times are changing, for sure.
859
00:50:03,233 --> 00:50:05,176
{\an1}I think there will always
be horses.
860
00:50:05,200 --> 00:50:08,576
{\an1}Whether there's going to be
cowboying like I do,
861
00:50:08,600 --> 00:50:11,142
I don't know.
862
00:50:11,166 --> 00:50:13,742
You know, very proud
that our kids want to do
863
00:50:13,766 --> 00:50:16,509
what we want to do,
and our grandkids.
864
00:50:16,533 --> 00:50:19,242
{\an1}Kinda makes you smile.
865
00:50:19,266 --> 00:50:21,909
The quarter horses,
which we raise,
866
00:50:21,933 --> 00:50:25,209
{\an1}they're friends, you know?
867
00:50:25,233 --> 00:50:30,176
{\an1}I hope that my family continues
to have an interest in horses
868
00:50:30,200 --> 00:50:32,076
{\an1}and love them like we do,
869
00:50:32,100 --> 00:50:35,666
and, you know,
just keep the deal going.
870
00:50:39,100 --> 00:50:40,576
{\an1}NARRATOR: For millions of years,
871
00:50:40,600 --> 00:50:45,542
{\an1}American horses developed
in tandem with this continent.
872
00:50:45,566 --> 00:50:48,409
{\an1}An evolution that flows,
in modern times,
873
00:50:48,433 --> 00:50:52,276
through human hands.
874
00:50:52,300 --> 00:50:56,676
{\an1}But deep in the Pryor Mountains,
horses continue to flourish,
875
00:50:56,700 --> 00:50:59,342
as they have
for countless generations...
876
00:50:59,366 --> 00:51:02,809
In the wild.
877
00:51:02,833 --> 00:51:05,609
{\an1}After a season of plenty
on the mountaintop,
878
00:51:05,633 --> 00:51:10,742
another long winter
is bearing down.
879
00:51:10,766 --> 00:51:15,176
{\an1}For Phyllis, the transition
is bittersweet.
880
00:51:15,200 --> 00:51:17,676
{\an1}WRAY: It's the very beginning
of a really long,
881
00:51:17,700 --> 00:51:19,709
{\an1}tough winter for them.
882
00:51:19,733 --> 00:51:23,142
{\an1}Hundreds of years of living
up here, they've adapted,
883
00:51:23,166 --> 00:51:25,142
{\an1}and they're survivors.
884
00:51:25,166 --> 00:51:29,776
{\an8}♪♪♪
885
00:51:29,800 --> 00:51:34,076
{\an1}Their strength, their ability
to survive against all odds
886
00:51:34,100 --> 00:51:37,576
{\an1}in an environment that
pushes them to the limits,
887
00:51:37,600 --> 00:51:40,176
{\an1}and they're still here.
888
00:51:40,200 --> 00:51:43,009
{\an1}These are truly a different
type of horse,
889
00:51:43,033 --> 00:51:44,376
{\an1}a very valuable horse.
890
00:51:44,400 --> 00:51:46,576
Their genetics need
to be carried forward,
891
00:51:46,600 --> 00:51:50,642
{\an1}because if we lose what we have
here on this mountain,
892
00:51:50,666 --> 00:51:52,466
{\an1}we won't ever get it back.
893
00:51:56,433 --> 00:51:59,742
{\an1}NARRATOR: Since the return
of American horses,
894
00:51:59,766 --> 00:52:03,266
{\an1}we've become a country
moved by horsepower.
895
00:52:07,633 --> 00:52:11,276
{\an1}Breeds will come and go.
896
00:52:11,300 --> 00:52:15,309
{\an1}Times will always change.
897
00:52:15,333 --> 00:52:18,409
But the horse is here to stay.
898
00:52:18,433 --> 00:52:23,733
{\an8}♪♪♪
899
00:52:26,433 --> 00:52:34,433
{\an8}O0 C1♪♪♪
900
00:52:34,833 --> 00:52:42,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
901
00:52:58,300 --> 00:53:00,276
To learn more
about what you've seen
902
00:53:00,300 --> 00:53:01,976
{\an1}on this "Nature" program,
903
00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:04,176
visit pbs.org.
904
00:53:04,200 --> 00:53:07,233
{\an8}♪♪♪