Norman Dills

Rancher and mustanger who used his curlies to do hard work

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In 1989 or 1990 I first met Mr. Norman Dills.  He was living in Janesville , California at that time.  He still had his very first curly horse with him.  It was a mare named Princess Curl.  She was a brown as I remember, although she may have been considered a bay by some.   She stood about 14.2 hands. She had a stocky build, like that of Peacock D.  She looked very much like pictures that I had seen of Peacock D.

     He told me the story of how he got her.  This is what he said:     At this time he was still ranching in the Wild Rose Canyon area of Nevada .  He was at work and not on the ranch when his wife Betty phoned him at work.  She told him that one of their quarter horse type mares had foaled.  The foal was a filly.  It was also CURLY coated, from the tip of it's nose to the feet.  Mr. Dills did not believe her because the dam was straight and had no curly blood.  There also was no curly stud on his land that he know of.  It should be mentioned that Mr. Dills rode his range often because he worked and ran his own cattle, as well as working for the BLM.  He told his wife that what she saw was simply the wet coat of a new born foal and that she was mistaken.  When Mr. Dills got home at the end of his work day, he went and looked at the new foal.  Mrs. Dills had been right.  It was a CURLY coated filly.  He named her Princess Curl. I saw this same mare myself.  She was a bay, she had the same kind of physical appearance as the Damele curly horses of that time did and she was CURLY. I rode this Princess Curl.  She had the calm and thinking curly disposition.  She was also gaited, doing a running walk.

   Mr. Dills ranched in the Winnamucca area of Nevada .  This is a long way from the Roberts Mountian area or from the Dry Creek ranch where the Damele horses were.

   I hope that this historical account is of some help to the curly horse research.  I also hope that it is of help to all sincere curly lovers.

  The picture is from the book "Curly Hall of Fame" and shows Princess Curl with Dale Johnson riding her in the Pasadena Rose Parade.

Photo courtesy of Marnie Mallett

   When I met Princess Curl in about '89 or '90, she was already in her teens.  She was a good horse who worked hard for Mr. Dills and earned her keep.

   It was an interesting ride when I rode Princess Curl.  After I had ridden in the hills, I returned to Mr. Norman Dills ranch.  I then dropped the reins just to see what this mare would do.  I did not know what to expect, but I wanted to find out.  What she did really won my heart.  She took me on a tour of Mr. Dills' ranch home pasture area.  She literally talked to me.  She showed me all of the places at the home ranch that she loved.  I have never known any thing like that tour before or since.  She went very quietly and she really was showing me the things that she called her home.  What a real Princess she was.

   Let NO ONE ever tell you that curly horses are not special.  They really are.

   One last thing that I want to mention about Mr. Dills.  He was half American Indian. This was one thing that he was always very proud of. 

Sincerely,

Penny

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