Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

(I don’t mean that as a political statement … at least not in this case!)

Welcome to installment 3 of last week’s visit (we’re getting close to the day’s conclusion).

Bounce with his “babies” …

… and mama Alegre, who is working to feed the belly and barely looked up during our visit.

Don’t they look fabulous? From left, Gaia and sticking-like-glue Liberty, Whisper and Bounce. Only Whisper is Bounce’s offspring, but he is a good and just daddy, and they all clearly adore him.

This next series of pictures cracks me up:

To get to them, I caught a ride on a wild pony superhighway, then stopped as I got to a little rise by some pinon trees. Bounce is on the superway now, walking toward me …

Then he stopped … and the babies had to peek around him, so curious are they three …

He decides that’s close enough and starts to browse again, while the babies are right behind him, deciding on their next move. 🙂

Here he’s checking his most recent “territory marker.”

Whisper and Liberty decide to walk a little closer … Daddy is right behind them, after all.

Hello, my lovelies! 🙂 Whisper, right, is Alegre and Bounce’s son; he was born last May 7. Liberty is Molly and Seven’s daughter; she was born last May 25. Baby girl is healthy, but she’s half Whisper’s size.

All three babies eventually walked past me. I’m not sure what Liberty and Gaia were looking at here … Hollywood’s and Steeldust’s bands were way off yonder to their right.

When the babies moved past me to graze and play – and look back at me every once in a while – I thought Bounce and Alegre would follow them. But they didn’t, so I sat down on a dead tree and watched them for a bit. If ‘Legs was a bruin, I’d say she was in hyperphagia … but nope, she’s just feeding that baby in the belly, helping him or her grow strong and healthy before her or his big debut!

It was an incredibly peaceful visit with these ponies, and I was so happy to see that not only did they accept Liberty after her mama (Molly) passed the great beyond, they have embraced her.

🙂

I had a visit with one more band … pictures to come.