Is that a phrase that get used much anymore? There was quite a bit of disbelieving “huh” on my part when I realized Mahogany did NOT have a foal and WAS in heat and clearly HAD had her foal. And it refers also that the big band that had fractured had come (together) again … if perhaps only temporarily.
And whoever coined the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” clearly hadn’t met these ponies. I think it took me a thousand pictures to try to convey the goings-on.
These three – Comanche, Kestrel and Winona – are clearly “together” now … but not far from the others.
Um, Hollywood?! Where’d you come from? His band wasn’t all that far away, but they weren’t close.
While the other horses graze, Steeldust sees his duty to keep away the intruder (Hollywood). All the other horses are seen here, left to right: Luna, Gideon and Butch in the group at left; Storm, with Mahogany and Sundance directly behind him; Steeldust looking at Holls and Mouse directly behind him; Alpha; and Aspen at the back. Comanche, Kestrel and Winona were up a bit to the right.
Storm and Alpha
This was after Steely Dan had come back from chasing Holls away – which didn’t entirely work.
Gideon laid down … and there’s Mahogany and her hangers-on behind them now. While Winona was able to get several minutes at a time of shut-eye, Gideon was up and down several times because of the commotion all around.
Close-up of the sleepy boy.
When they weren’t fired up chasing her or fending each other off, this was a common sight – Mahogany grazing and Sundance and Mouse right behind her.
Close but far enough away to be out of the commotion – though Comanche did go down to have a chat with Hollywood at one point.
Even tough-guy manly stallions like to take some time to stop and smell the globe mallow.
Finally, it seemed he had had enough and was headed back to Piedra and the gang …
… but not before a stop to say hello. “What ARE ya doing?” “No, what are YOU doing?!” Funny boy. Then away he went.
When I turned back around, I realized the commotion had sent Gideon to his feet. Even Luna woke up long enough to watch him go.
Then this was really interesting – talk about stallions being very tolerant of babies. Gideon swung his butt around and then backed up so his butt was right up against Butch’s chest. I don’t know if you can quite tell it from the picture, but he is literally butt-to-chest with Butch, who now has his nose right at the crest of Gideon’s neck. He stood solid as a rock for a few moments, but it was like he didn’t quite know how to take it, this tiny little thing “cuddling” up to him, and he soon stepped aside and went to pursue “manly” things – like running off Sundance and Co. 🙂
So Gideon turned to mama for comfort …
One of my very favorite images from the whole day.
With all the commotion, these horses in particular seem to nap often.
Storm and Alpha – even though he kept getting a wild hair and going off to try to breed Mahogany, he kept coming back to mama. You can see he’s still shedding out a bit of reddish baby fuzz.
Love their relaxed faces.
Winona, Kestrel and Comanche …
… right before Winona laid down again. 🙂 She was mostly flat out on the ground, her little side heaving in the warm sunlight … and her front leg would occasionally “wave” out in circles … I think she was dreaming of racing the wind.
Kestrel and Comanche napping over baby Winona, clearly not his baby. He didn’t even acquire Kestrel until after she had foaled. He had been low man on the totem pole in the bachelor hierarchy. And yet he now *protects* her as if she were, indeed, his own. I repeat again, stallions do NOT go around willy nilly killing foals that aren’t theirs.
After about half an hour, Winona still stretched flat out, Kestrel and Comanche started to graze – away from sleeping babe.
She looked up a couple of times, then back down … until she finally realized she was “alone.” I don’t know if you can quite tell here, but she’s whinnying for mama to come back and “rescue” her – which mama Kestrel completely (as far as acquiescing to baby’s plaintive demands) ignored. Obviously, she wasn’t THAT far away.
When it became apparent that mama was not, in fact, coming back for her, Winona got up and headed over … Check out the sweat on her flank.
And reunited. 🙂
She had a snack …
… and down she went for another nap! On her opposite side. 🙂
And that was my cue to farewell the ponies for another day.
One big – calm for now – family …
Thanks for reading … ya’ll “come again,” ya hear? 🙂
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Love all the pics, especially the ones of Hollywood! So… How is Shadow and Wind? I’m always wondering about them :] – have you seen them?
great post TJ. Everyone looks wonderful.
Hi and thanks for taking time to do this magical blog! You are an absolutely wonderiferous writer, and I feel like I’m right there in that little-slice-of-heaven basin for a few minutes whilst viewing your photos and comments. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
How do I donate to the wild horse cause?
Roxanne
Some wonderful pics and another nice day’s “outing” for us all!
Rochlia – I haven’t seen David, Shadow and Wind for a few weeks. They like to stay out of sight and are one of the warier bands, so I usually count my blessings when I see them and don’t go looking for them too specifically. But I am due to see them, so hopefully soon!
Roxanne – See Pam Nickoles’ recent post about the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros: http://nickolesphotography.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/ispmb-needs-our-help/. That comes to mind off the top of my head.
Billie – Yep! Your horses are looking fabulous, too!
Thanks, Janet. 🙂
Hi,
Great Blog.
Is Hollywood from Spring Creek or is he a transplant?
It seems he has a Pryor Mountain look to him.
Scott
We just LOVE the pics of Winona and Mama Kestrel – it’s great to see that color continue on… and the photo of Holls running is one to be framed!! He’s elegant and will always be a favorite of many, many in this wondrous place!!
Thanks, TJ!!!!
Lynn and Kathy
M&M
Scott – Great question about Hollywood. I’m pretty certain he didn’t come from Pryor Mountain, but I think he is a “transplant” in terms of his genetics. Because of some photos from a friend I’ve seen, I think he’s a son of the grulla mare that died the winter after the roundup, and SHE was a transplant from Sand Wash Basin in 2001, along with a dun mare and Luna. Our dun girls Mona and Kootenai also came from Sand Wash Basin (October 2008), but I’m not sure where our final dun girl – Jif – came from. It’s possible she’s a daughter of the original dun mare (no idea what happened to her – when I started documenting the horses, she was already gone). Given that we don’t have any “homebred” duns or buckskins (or grullas or roans or other “odd” colors), I’m sure his genetics are from elsewhere and, therefore, important to stay in the basin to boost our local stock (because the herd is so small).
L&K – I have the same thoughts about Kestrel and Winona. 🙂 Silly Holls. He reminds me of a pic of “Spirit” I saw in that same part of his stride with his nose stretched out. I have a pic from that sequence I like better, but this one reminded me of another wild one, so I used it!
I just love that photo of Luna and her foal…so sweet.
What sweet caring and wonderful pics and commentary! I miss you and the horses. So wish I lived closer but do not! Keep up the great work.
Nancy – Me, too. It’s cropped from a larger image. I love how she’s nuzzling him with his tiny muzzle pressed right into her neck.
Pat – We miss you, too, and I’m sure I speak for the group in sending you lots of healing wild horse “medicine”! We should plan a trip to the basin together sometime. 🙂
I like the one of Hollywood stopped to look at you! And all the baby pix… they are always calming.
See ya’ soon!!!!!!! Getting anxious!
Luv ya’
Mom