Four for four

7 05 2012

Kestrel’s baby has unfurled her wings!

Lovely little!

Still a bit wobbly on those long legs, and can you even stand the cuteness of those curled little ears?

And check the ‘tude! It’s tempered, though, by ultimate sweetness.

The little bay girl has not a speck of white. She might stay bay? Her teeny little fetlocks are black. She still may go grey, like daddy.

Isn’t she just the most exquisite little thing? Do you see the kindness in her eyes? Mirrored in her mother’s eyes?

Another beautiful addition to our Spring Creek Basin family.





Corona and Gaia bellies

5 05 2012

Raven and Kestrel are pretty hugely pregnant. Either or both might foal before I get back into the basin. They’re due May 10 and May 9, respectively.

But there was a request to show Corona’s and Gaia’s bellies, so here you go!

Corona is fairly small, even as mustangs go. The foal’s sire is Grey/Traveler, with whom she has been since last spring. I’ve gone back and forth all spring about whether I think she actually is pregnant. Some days she looks more pregnant than others. Her udder is fuller than normal, though, so I think she has a baby in the belly. Corona is out of Raven, from Sand Wash Basin, and by that range’s stunning stallion Corona – hence her name. (This is known from documentation by an HSUS employee during that time.) Raven, Kootenai and Mona came from Sand Wash Basin in 2008, part of an introduction to keep our Spring Creek Basin genetics healthy.

Gaia at rest. What? You say you can’t see the belly?

Gaia grazing. Her mama is the lovely Alegre; her sire is unknown (she was born in 2008, the year after the 2007 roundup). Her foal’s sire is Cinch.

They both are currently in Grey/Traveler’s band. This will be the first foal for both mares, so due dates are unknown. Neither one looks particularly close, eh?

Speaking of the gorgeous guy … While his girls (and yes, they’re all girls so far!) were napping, he took advantage of the calm morning and warm sunshine to catch a few winks himself. Here, he’s looking at Maia, up from her nap and nursing from mama Alegre. Just a bit later, he was off to treat with Poco, who was poking about alone, having left Duke and Kreacher to themselves (Kreach was much more interested in the stranger than was Duke). Roach was most recently seen with Tenaz … but Hayden seems to have left or been kicked out of Chrome’s band and may be nearby. Poco and Roach seem to split up every spring to go on walkabout, but they always find their way back to each other.





Miss Temple

4 05 2012

Pati and David Temple are long-time friends, supporters and warriors for Spring Creek’s Basin mustangs. They have served on the National Mustang Association/Colorado’s board almost since its formation in 1998. Pati, in particular, is a walking historical encyclopedia of Spring Creek Basin’s mustang herd and past management. Their hard work and dedication often flies under the radar because they’d rather DO than be recognized for all they do and have done.

During Pati and David’s involvement with NMA/CO, major accomplishments have been made for the herd: fence building, repair and maintenance; buying and retirement of cattle AUMs – and reducing the remaining AUMs and changing the season during which cattle are permitted to graze in the basin; construction of the invaluable water catchment; calling for the use of fertility control as a management tool since the early 2000s; tamarisk cutting and spraying in riparian areas; observation and suggestions to BLM during previous roundups. And plenty of “minor” projects that all benefit the horses.

How do you really thank such folks who, for nearly 15 years, have led the charge to protect these amazing Colorado high-desert mustangs?

Pati came West right after high school with her best friend. This feisty little girl takes after her! She’s always on the move, getting things done, the strongest woman I know.

David is our rock of support. His patient, thoughtful approach balances the “strong personalities” of the ladies in our groups!

Miss Temple is named in honor of these mustang angels we love and value so much.





Well, Roja

4 05 2012

It’s sad news I have. Bound to happen, I tell myself – and you – but it’s wild reality. I’m pretty sure Roja had and lost her foal.

Above is a pic of the girl taken April 23.

And here she is the evening of April 30.

I noticed that she didn’t seem nearly as heavy … and then I noticed that her tail was all stringy. When I got home and compared pix on the computer, I’m pretty sure. She wasn’t actually due until May 15.





Meet Maia

3 05 2012

Alegre had her baby!

Do you see what I see?

Now?

Shy baby.

There’s the little miss!

She is the spitting image of her big sister Aurora and their daddy, Bounce – except! Maia has two hind pasterns to ‘Rora’s and Bounce’s right hind pastern! I still don’t know whether Aurora will eventually turn grey like mama or stay black like daddy. Sable was jet black until her second summer, when she started to turn grey, and I first documented Ty as black – and look at him now!

Napping biggest sister Gaia watches her mama and new little sister.

Gaia is an Earth Day baby; Maia is a May Day baby!

Another feisty little girl, she kept her mama hopping to keep up with her!

Running …

running …

running …

running! 🙂

Mariah and Maia, Houdini and Alegre.

Mariah is 3 weeks old now.

Grey/Traveler is Mariah’s daddy and Maia’s stepdaddy.

Another sweetheart for Spring Creek Basin!