Bounce’s band were up the hill and across the canyon from Wildcat Spring when I visited with them last week. I can identify some of the grasses out in seed – needle and thread, Indian ricegrass – something that grows in green bunches, maybe one of those. Bounce was trying to get maximum scratching power out of a just-barely-tall-enough juniper, and I thought – not for the first time – oh, if only I could help you …
He’d shift forward and backward and – as you can see here – side to side.
Then he gave a whinny and strutted up the hill for a flirty (!?) visit with Miss Gaia.
You can see by their tousled forelocks that we had a bit of wind to keep away the gnats.
Most-lovely Alegre and Whisper were just a few steps up the hill. In addition to the grass, the hills hold much more surface rock and cacti. I always marvel at their ability to make comfortable the roughest places.
And little Liberty investigating a fallen tree …
Steeldust’s band was farther up the hill across a little drainage (at the top of this hill, the land falls off in a rugged cliff to the “canyon confluence” behind Wildcat Spring). I went to visit with them … and Bounce decided that was a good idea, too. He played with Storm for a few minutes until Steeldust chased him away. More to come.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
I am wondering if anyone who has been watching the herd since before the 2007 gather can help me with a little information. I am wondering if there was an appaloosa colt, no more than a few months old that may have been involved in the gather. I was told that he was but haven’t been shown any paperwork to back it up. He is not freeze branded, but i am not sure how recently BLM started doing that.
Thanks,
Great post TJ. I agree, it amazes me how they can lay down in some of the places they do and seem comfortable!
ugg-gnats! We have no shortage of them here either-though flies seem to annoy the horses even worse! Lovely pictures of Bounce lately- he is so beautiful :]
I lay back today on a little shaley patch, my head on my backpack. I have to say, it was pretty darn comfy – except for the buzzing gnats!
The worst bugs I’ve experienced in my life were in the summer in Ohio – deer flies and monster horse flies – BLOOD THIRSTY!