How do they grow up so quickly? What factors contribute to faster “growing up” in some than others? Why do some fillies have their first foals at 2 when I have at least one 3-year-old and one 4-year-old that haven’t foaled yet (neither ever pregnant, as far as I’m aware)?
Last year, soon after Cinch stole Liberty (I doubt she was a difficult conquest), I saw him breed her – in September. I had cause to look back in my notes to see exactly when that was because there was some question about her being pregnant within the last month or so. I think she must certainly be pregnant – for a normal spring baby.
If it’s the lengthening days that trigger mares to come into heat and become receptive to conception, what about these waning days would make long yearlings come into heat? Winona was practically begging to be bred … and he finally obliged her. I hope she follows the pattern Liberty set – in heat but not yet ready to conceive.
Winona and baby Deniz (Grey/Traveler x Houdini).
What makes some yearling fillies leave their families (Winona … orphan Liberty … Hannah … Sable …) and some stay much longer (Gaia was almost 3 before she left; Reya, 4, is still with her mother)? Band dynamics? Individual hormones? Simple random opportunity (or not)?
Deniz was very curious about the newcomer, and ‘Nona mostly tolerated her. She has quite an attitude, though, and considers herself – already – quite high up the pecking order. Though Houdini ignored her, the only one ‘Nona submitted to was Terra, Grey’s eldest (2). Gemma is the same age and readily backed down to Winona, as did 2-year-old Corona.
From left: Terra (2), Winona (1), baby Deniz and Grey/Traveler.
Whatever else, our beloved Traveler is still in his prime – still stealing mares (Corona and Winona this year)!
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Although I loved seeing Winona with her mother and sister, simply because they looked so good together and Winona’s such a good big sister, it’s nice to see her with them. ‘m glad she joined one of the stable bands- Grey’s band hasn’t been losing members or being too disrupted by other bands, right? And I think it’s nice that Winona can be with other fillies her age and close to her age.
Yes … but with the roundup this week, that could change. Since Jif in late 2009, Grey hasn’t lost anybody but stepdaughters (Two Boots and Iya) and sons/stepsons (Twister and Cuatro – and Hayden with mama Jif).
I’ll tell you one thing, Traveler will leave the basin over howls of protest – which means he’s not going anywhere. And Winona, at least, represents introduced – necessary – genetics … Human-centric-ly, I’d sure like to see the girl grow up before she starts having babies!
Yes, that’s true. Although hopefully, if she can manage to stay with Grey, it shouldn’t be too hard to keep going after the roundup with him. He seems to be very secure stallion, so hopefully his family, and ‘extended family'(Corona and Winona) will be happy to to stay with him.
It depends on the release … and if/when they find each other afterward (the assumption being that they’ll be rounded up and thus will need to be released). If I had my druthers, I’d release the mares with their stallions (and vice versa). I am going to suggest this, but I don’t know whether it will happen. There might be some precedent for it because of a former herd manager, but we’ll see. I wish I could answer these kinds of questions myself, but because of this type of roundup, no one can know. A lot depends on chance and fate. Bait trapping – yes, I’ll say it again – is not only more humane but allows a much more selective approach to management.
A lot is dependent on who and how many they round up … and then who and how many we can choose from those captured to ensure the remaining herd is within AML. And we really can’t know that until the roundup. Too much speculation with this type of roundup … let alone the other issues. 😦