Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

After I left Duke and the boys and Luna’s band and Hook’s band, I walked on up and along the ridge until I saw the band I’ve mentioned briefly previously.

Houdini, Terra and Gemma coming to see what I’m doing – or, perhaps, coming to see *better* what I am and what I’m doing. It happens rarely, but it still surprises me and fills me with unreasonable joy when it happens.

I had just come within sight of them and stopped to wait for them to see me. Most of the time, they make some determination – usually favorable, I assume – and go back to grazing. This area slopes down from the highest ridge in the area toward a big arroyo that cuts through the greater area, which is dissected by shallow-ish arroyos that feed into the bigger one. I hiked through two to eventually get out to where they stopped and went back to grazing. They could have stayed where they were or gone anywhere if they had any fear. Yet they came *toward* me, and I can’t explain that. Though Houdini came running up with her daughters, she hung back during my entire time with them, which was glorious.

Keeping an eye on me … carrying the next generation. Wise Houdini … not as easy with me as Alpha and Luna but easily as much a queen among mustangs. I’d give this elder girl a break, too. This year’s foal will also be the fifth since I’ve known her (all fillies!) and been documenting the horses. Like Luna, all surviving. Like Luna and Alpha and the rest, a fantastic mother.