Patti Mosbey: A Tribute to a Wild Horse Legend

Patti Mosbey: A Tribute to Lightning, the Wild Horse LegendPatti Mosbey: A Tribute to Lightning, the Wild Horse Legend

Long before the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971, wild horses roamed throughout western Colorado. Old timers can recall the wild horses ranging from the Utah border and far into Moffat County. During those years, the wild horses were often chased and rounded up to be broken and used for ranch horses, rodeo events, and other activities. With the signing of that declaration, the wild horses in Northwest Colorado were assigned the Sand Wash Basin as their range.

Few people paid much attention to these wild ones in the earlier days, but as time went by and with social media, the wild ones of Sand Wash have acquired a large fan base. Sand Wash Advocates organize to assist with the safety and welfare of the horses. Each summer, those advocates gather to remove debris left behind by visitors, repair broken fences and sheep camps, replace signage, and check waterholes.

This last summer, while on one of these missions, a long-time local was there to recount memories of her mother and dad and days they spent at the Two Bar Springs location. Dawn Nottingham fondly remembered days that her mother, Wanda Walker, had cooked on that old stove at the dilapidated cabin at Two Bar.

While she was recounting those memories, she recalled a specific wild colt she had seen in the late ‘70s. She described the colt, expressing how he had such unusual markings, a black and white pinto. She was sure that if she ever saw him again, she would recognize him, wondering what might have happened to him. Well, that wonderment didn’t take long as out of the cedars stepped Lightning, the old black and white pinto with very distinct markings. Needless to say, the group witnessing this story was amazed and thrilled to learn of such history.

Lightning was definitely one horse you would remember. He was born wild and free, and except for the occasional roundups over the years, he was untouched by human hands. He spent his life in the Two Bar Springs area. For those who frequented Sand Wash, we expected to see him there each visit.

My first recollection of him is one of amusement. We were driving down county road 48, and there he stood in the cedars. We stopped to get his photo; he was standing broadside to us facing east. I snapped a couple of photos, and as if on cue, he turned to face west as if to say, here’s my other side. It is a fond memory of him.

One of my last times to see the old guy was at Two Bar Springs. He was there with his buddy, Picasso. Even in his old age, he was squealing over the mud hole where there was water seeping out of the ground. It was evident his body condition was declining, and I suspected this would be our last summer with this wonderful old one.

His progeny lives on, and the meadows where he hung out are becoming fondly known as Lightning Meadow and Lightning Ridge. He has left progeny in Sand Wash as well as with Sombrero offspring; not all fences kept those mares safe. Rest in peace, Lightning, and thanks for the memories.

Originally posted by Craig Daily Press

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