REMOVED - A Second Chance for Garcia

Garcia - wild and free on the PMWHR - August 2025
Photo © TCF

Garcia's Future Looked Uncertain—

Until a Creative Solution Changed Everything

After stepping in to help Jesse James, Penn, and Yule find safety and a future together, we weren't expecting to be calling the Wheatland Off-Range Corrals again so soon.

The adoption of the Pryor family had been an emotional journey, and we were looking forward to watching them settle into their new lives. Then another notification caught our attention.

Another Pryor horse had been removed.

This time, it was Garcia.

At 20 years old, Garcia is one of the most senior stallions of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. Over the years, countless visitors have watched him navigate life on the mountain, enduring harsh winters, rival stallions, drought, and the many challenges of life in the wild. Reaching twenty years of age is no small feat for a wild stallion, and Garcia had earned the admiration of many who follow the Pryor horses.

After leaving the boundaries of the range, Garcia was permanently removed and transported to the Wheatland Off-Range Corrals in Wyoming.

When we first contacted the staff at Wheatland, the outlook wasn't encouraging.

Because of the timing of Garcia's removal, it appeared unlikely that he would be able to participate in the facility's final adoption event of the year, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. Instead, he would likely move directly into long-term holding.

We were devastated.

The adoption event was only a few weeks away. With thousands of horses scheduled for removal across the West this year, space needed for incoming horses, and only days remaining before the event, the math simply wasn't on Garcia's side. Under normal circumstances, there wasn't enough time to prepare him for adoption.

Then we learned something else.

When Garcia arrived at Wheatland, he was thin. Very thin.

For a twenty-year-old wild stallion coming out of winter, that wasn't surprising. Pryor stallions live demanding lives, and winter can be especially hard on older horses. Still, Garcia's condition raised concerns. Before any adoption could be finalized, he would need to undergo gelding—a procedure that carries increased risks for senior horses, particularly those that are underweight.

As we discussed Garcia's situation and worried about his future, an idea began to take shape.

What if Garcia could be offered during the adoption event—but with a mandatory delayed pickup?

Such an arrangement would give him additional time to regain weight and strength before undergoing any procedures. It would also allow interested adopters the opportunity to bring him home rather than see him disappear into long-term holding.

We reached back out to Wheatland with the proposal.

To our immense relief, Wheatland Facility Manager JJ Nolan agreed that the idea was both feasible and in Garcia's best interest.

Suddenly, there was hope.

The Cloud Foundation, working alongside the Pryor Mustang Center and many dedicated Pryor advocates, began preparing for the adoption event. Garcia's story had touched many people over the years, and there was a shared determination to give this senior stallion the future he deserved.

Then Memorial Day weekend arrived.

TCF Executive Director Kerry Ferguson and Board Member Jaime Wade traveled to Wheatland with a single goal: bring Garcia home.

And they did.

There may have been a few hugs.

There may have been a few happy tears.

After weeks of uncertainty, paperwork was signed and Garcia's future was secured.

The story isn't over yet.

Garcia remains at Wheatland for now. The delayed pickup arrangement is allowing him additional time to gain weight and improve his condition before he undergoes gelding. The extra time already appears to be helping, and we are encouraged to hear that he has begun putting on some much-needed weight.

BLM will continue to keep us informed regarding Garcia's schedule. Once he undergoes the procedure, he will need approximately 30 days of recovery before he is cleared to leave the facility.

We know many people care deeply about Garcia, and we are incredibly grateful to the Pryor Mustang Center and the many Pryor friends and supporters who have followed his journey and shared concern for his future.

We'll continue to provide updates as Garcia's story unfolds.

For now, we ask that you keep this beloved senior stallion in your thoughts and prayers as he prepares for the next chapter of his life.

We'll be sharing future Garcia updates here and through our email list as we learn more.