{"id":6635,"date":"2015-05-21T06:38:51","date_gmt":"2015-05-21T12:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lastbestnews.com\/site\/?p=6635"},"modified":"2015-05-22T06:49:03","modified_gmt":"2015-05-22T12:49:03","slug":"miles-city-wagon-train-is-a-sprague-family-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/2015\/05\/miles-city-wagon-train-is-a-sprague-family-tradition\/","title":{"rendered":"Miles City wagon train is a Sprague family tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

<\/a>
Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

A sign on Sheffield Road directs wagon train participants to the chuck wagon camp hosted by the Coffee Ranch just north of Miles City. <\/p><\/div>

<\/a>
Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Roger Sprague\u2019s restored Peter Schuttler roundup wagon with water barrel attached to the side. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

A bucket of axle grease swings from the bottom of Sprague\u2019s roundup wagon.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

A team of two large Percheron draft horses owned by Pat Breene of Mildred, Montana, being \u201cled\u201d to water before the Thursday wagon train.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

The first ride on Thursday was fast-paced. The horses were excited and the teams were ready to pull. The only shots Alexis could get were with her tiny GoPro camera, since she was on horseback. This shot shows Bart Bilden, a rancher from Lavina, and his horse Whiskey from the first stop on the trail to let the horses rest. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Whiskey and Buddy check in on the wagon train ride. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Here's a group shot of the wagon train, shot Thursday with the GoPro, from horseback again.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Roger Sprague relaxes next to his wagon for a short nap after lunch on Thursday. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Shortly after Roger lies down, another rider, Brad Sauer from Forsyth, decides that seems like a pretty good idea.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Roger Sprague\u2019s horses graze on their pickets after Thursday\u2019s wagon train. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Sprague gets his team ready Friday morning for the wagon train ride into Miles City. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Janet Haughian, of Kinsey, waters her Halflinger team Friday morning. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Bart Bilden and a group of riders move one of the wagons into position.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Mike Scott of Billings, Reyer Rens of Miles City, Gary Haughian of Kinsey and Bart Bilden of Lavina move the stove and break down camp Friday. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Two teams of Halflinger horses are hitched up and ready to go Friday morning. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

A team Percheron horses and their driver Pat Breen are ready to go Friday.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Gusty Sauer, 18, gets ready to ride into Miles City.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Wendy Fordyce, of Manhattan, watches the train as it begins moving. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

The train prepares to climb the longest hill of the ride.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

The train emerges out of Sunday Creek valley four miles outside of Miles City. Roger Sprague has the lead wagon. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Roger Sprague has the lead wagon and Bonnie Sprague serves as his outrider. An outrider\u2019s job is to steady and gentle the horses and to be extra eyes for the driver, to make be sure the horses aren't having any problems.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Sprague leads the wagon train on the final stretch before entering Miles City.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

The Percheron team has no trouble pulling its wagon up the hill. \n<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

The wagon train takes a short break at the top of the hill. Two family members are along for the ride in the back of Janet Haughian\u2019s wagon. \n<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

After the rest, Sprague starts the train again for the last push.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

The wagon train enters Miles City with a police escort.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

The train makes its way toward Main Street.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Welcome to town.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

On the home stretch, headed for the fairgrounds. <\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Off they go, the horses and mules all well-behaved.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Taking it easy in the camp after a long ride.<\/p><\/div>

Alexis Bonogofsky permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Good night!<\/p><\/div>

<\/a>
permalink<\/a><\/h6>

Bonus photo: This photo shows Roger Sprague's grandfather, Ernest Sprague, pulling into Miles City on July 4, 1913, with the same wagon that Roger uses. He had just delivered a herd of remount horses to Fort Keogh and was bringing the boys into town for a drink. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>