As I go through the images from the other day, I just want to share them all NOW. It takes longer to tell the stories that go with them … and the stories are what I most love to share. Oh, the dilemma.
Here are some that don’t have a particular story … almost between stories, if you will … just lovely.
Hook’s had been moseying along the top of the arroyo where the boys’ play was happening, and when mama Luna led the way away, Hook’s meandered on away, too. Another band was beyond not too far, so I moseyed along after Hook’s as the trail led – they diverged low, and I continued on the trail high up the spine of the ridge. The other horses are behind me, but there’s something that always gets me about a horse looking – somewhere, at some thing beyond your vision or ken to notice … The cloud was still over us, but stray sheets of light were randomly hitting the far hills. You can’t tell at all, but it was another windy day. 🙂
Taken about the same time. Most of the horses were grazing with their butts to me. Fierro was broadside, gorgeous lit Knife Edge providing a stunning backdrop to his handsome little self.
Looking back as I went on up the trail … Hannah, looking at me, framed by half-siblings Pinon (left) and Hannah – who are (likely) full siblings.
Share now or wait till the play discussion? Hmm. When I came back from visiting the other band (all in good time), Hook’s had wandered lower from the trail that took me back to my destination. Little Fierro, who had watched the play with great interest but not been allowed to join in – by protector Steeldust and then right away by stepdaddy Hook – was practicing his moves with his best bud-“big brother”-favorite Uncle Pinon. 🙂 I wish I’d been close enough for pix of THAT! Cuter ‘n heck! Such a progression … baby to colt to stallion … so much he has to learn.
As I jump from subject to subject, bear with me. It was a full, full, full day!
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Awesome photos. I especially love the first one of the gray. For my birthday yesterday I checked out the local free-roaming horse population just an hour south of me on the Yakama Reservation. It was just an amazing way to spend the day tracking horses and taking photos! However, it made me realize that I need a new lens…There certainly was no shortage of them. 12,000! I wrote a description in my blog if you are interested in more information.
I think I have joined the ranks of following horses! I’m hooked and can’t wait to go again!
Happy birthday … and welcome to the addiction!
Wow – 12,000 horses?! How big is the Yakama Reservation? How are the horses managed now?
I’m interested to follow your travels there and among the Kiger horses this summer. For others who may also be interested, Jessie’s blog: http://mustangmanagement.blogspot.com/
Yeah – 12,000! I’m not sure what the acreage is, but I read somewhere that their range manager suggested that area can sustainably manage about 2500…They’ve been wreaking havoc on the environment from wildlife impacts to damaging cultural root crops of the tribe. Management? I think they try to round them up and are exploring fertility control, but they just don’t have the funds or capability that the BLM does. It will be interesting to see what happens with these horses in the near future..It makes me appreciate the care of horses and the range on public lands.
They’re promoting horse slaughter.
http://www.ynwildlife.org/Wildhorsecoalition.php
Jessie – They’re bad off if they don’t have the funds or capability of BLM … BLM doesn’t, either! People figured out in the beginning (1971-2) that it was going to become an overpopulation problem, and some actually set out to do something about it – starting on the reproduction end (including BLM, apparently). National Park Service – succeed; others – fail. What happened? (rhetorical question … I’m sure I know at least part of the cultural/political answer …)
Equus5 – Thanks for that URL. It says they gelded 35 stallions … 35 with a population of 12,000?! The site also says 20,000 horses in a three-state area (does that include BLM or all tribal land?).
That’s just all overwhelming to me … and to the tribe?? Wow. 😦
Completely overwhelming! The 20,000 includes the Warm Springs, Yakama, Colville…possibly other Northwest tribes with horses? Yakama by far has the most…not sure what they can do about it…The Warm Springs are looking to open a processing facility, but I’m sure that will be met with opposition. If that is so, hopefully another solution will present itself.