Oh! Snow!

19 12 2012

Joy. πŸ™‚

La Sal Mountains

The storm that blew over Colorado last night and this morning did NOT miss Disappointment Valley this time. Nor at least part of Utah, based on the above pic of the La Sal Mountains, which actually are northwest of us in the Beehive State. Close enough!

No pony pix (yet). Although it was cold (mid-20s), the snow was wet, and it did create mud of the earth beneath the snow, so I didn’t drive into the basin. After the snowstorm: clear blue beautiful sky. That promises a colllldddd night – and a frozen-road morning on which to (hopefully) access winter mustang paradise!





Two with spots

19 12 2012

On a cold, windy day devoid of snow and sunshine, these two brightened my day:

121712maikusaka1

Maiku, right, is both S’aka’s older brother (same sire, Copper) and uncle (brother of S’aka’s mother, Reya, through their mother, Kiowa). They look like their sister/mother/grandmother. She left her stamp.





Mustangs at the edge of the world

18 12 2012

Seen any “Pirates” lately? Seems a good reference for this shot:

121712hollscoms

Or was it “end” of the world? Ah well. That’s a mix of Comanche’s and Hollywood’s bands on the “edge” of the second saddle of what I call Lizard Mesa. Young bachelors Hayden, Tenaz and Apollo “ran into them” at the double ponds and sent them running north. I thought maybe they’d end up at Sorrel Flats for a drink, but only the boys were there when I arrived. West of the east pocket, I finally spotted the bands on the yonder ridge, all in a line, silhouetted by the sun just before it dropped into a snow-cloud bank, which has been stalled at the west/southwest ridgeline (the top of the very far tree-covered hill you can see in the background of the above pic) for the last two or more days.

Notice, if you will, the complete and utter lack of snow on the ground.

Gentle admonition to folks within 200 miles who got a foot-plus of the white stuff: Don’t be greedy!

How does EVERYBODY get snow but Disappointment Valley!? Not a speck; not a drop. It’s not even damp.

Weatherman says another wave is coming … Cross yer fingers ‘n toes. We sure need the moisture.





Storm

17 12 2012

Ask and ye shall receive!

Here are a couple of pix of Storm from the day I visited his band.

Storm at ease while grazing.

He was not easily distracted from his grazing.

Storm with the La Sals in the background.

This handsome young mister – he’s only 4 – is ambitious with his two mares (and their foal/yearling). But he’s also one of the most laid-back guys in the basin.





‘Puzzle’ – solved

16 12 2012

It happened awhile ago that David acquired Puzzle, but I hadn’t seen them close enough for pix until this week. I was visiting Ty’s merry little band – with Copper, who, earlier in the week, was with Corazon’s band – when I spied Puzzle away off yonder. I bid grateful fare-thee-well to Ty, Chipeta and Seneca and beat feet for a visit with David.

A slow and cautious approach enabled some photos before Ty’s group followed me down the hill and sent the wary band in search of quieter environs.

David, Shadow and Puzzle

Puzzle – the pretty pinto pony – is the big sister of Asher and Seneca (same dam: Chipeta; different sire: Copper). David, left, has had Shadow since she was a long yearling. They’ve had two colts: Wind and Coal. Both were adopted last year.

Puzzle and Shadow, David's mares.

Puzzle was 2 on Sept. 1. Shadow was born in 2007 and orphaned that winter when her dam, Ceal, died. She returnd to the company of Bruiser’s band until the late summer / early fall of 2008, when the “southside boys” bachelor band stole the band; that’s when David stole Shadow and started his own band. He has had her almost continuously since then (Storm stole her after the roundup; David stole her back; Storm stole her back; David stole her back – and kept her).





From tragedy …

15 12 2012

Seneca

Tragic, senseless heartbreak. Unimaginable to think about what drove anyone to do something so horrific.





Sweet and dark

15 12 2012

Our herd manager, Kiley Whited, has moved on from BLM to a job with NRCS, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

He leaves big shoes to fill, as we valued his management style and always-positive demeanor. We couldn’t have been happier with his friendliness, level of professionalism and genuine interest in the Spring Creek Basin mustangs. We were able to get the fertility control program started with his involvement. It will continue in no small part because of his encouragement. He also championed the future use of bait trapping as a safer method of gathering horses in this small herd.

Our Cassidy Rain – possibly a great-granddaughter of Traveler – was named in tribute to Kiley’s baby daughter, Cassidy. These photos were taken earlier this week.

Cassidy Rain

She’s as dark as her sire, Cinch, with none of his spots.

Cassidy Rain and Roja

With “auntie” Roja.

Cassidy Rain

Sassy girl flirting with the afternoon light. On the hill behind her is some of the snow we got Sunday.

Cassidy Rain

Lovely girl.

We wish Kiley and his family well, though we will miss him!





Of horses and mountains

14 12 2012

Seneca and Chipeta, Filly Peak and the La Sal Mountains in the background.

You can’t imagine this land without them, can you?

That’s Asher’s mama, Chipeta, and his little sister, Seneca. In the background: Filly Peak (within Spring Creek Basin, Colorado) and the La Sal Mountains (Utah). The snow on the mountains is from the last snowfall that left just an inch in Disappointment Valley. More coming – today?! Our fingers and hooves are crossed!





Rockin’ steady

13 12 2012

We pick up our story of Asher and Vern after they had left the round pen and walked through the pine forest to the “arena,” which contains obstacles from a past Craig Cameron “cowboy race” in the area. I had heard that Vern had had Asher on the “teeter-totter” and thought, “WOW! Have I got to see THAT!”

But first:

Asher and Vern on the pallet.

Put your left foot in … or up, as the case may be. Vern shows Asher how to step up on the pallet.

Asher and Vern on the pallet.

There’s a little mister proud of himself and looking back to mama Jeri (Vern’s wife, Jeri) for approval!

Asher and Vern on the pallet.

That’s it, kid!

You can really see his grey streak in these pix. It’s only on this side, not his other side.

Asher and Vern on the bridge.

Next, it was on to the “bridge.” Vern coaxes him onto the surface step by step.

Asher and Vern on the bridge.

And he’s up! That’s Jeri in the background.

And then, the moment I was waiting for: the teeter-totter!

Asher and Vern on the teeter-totter.

Watch the end closest to the camera …

Asher and Vern on the teeter-totter.

It’s not a huge teeter.

Asher and Vern on the teeter-totter.

Almost all on board.

Asher and Vern on the teeter-totter.

Watch the end of the teeter again.

Asher and Vern on the teeter-totter.

Back and forth, up and down. Asher rode it like a pro!

Asher and Vern on the teeter-totter.

Are they cute or what? πŸ™‚

Asher and Vern on the teeter-totter.

Asher: I’m sure you didn’t feed me enough for breakfast.

Asher and Vern

Jeri wanted me to see Asher show off his tail-flagging trot, so Vern released him in the pasture. His gal pals, Vern and Jeri’s Rocky Mountain mares, were still in their pen up the hill by the barn. This little mister, like little misters everywhere, is a slave to his belly. He much preferred eating to showing off, but we did get to see some moves.

Asher

Super cute!

Asher

He kept coming back to Vern.

Asher

Morning sunshine!

Asher

Asher

There’s our little show-off!

Asher and Vern

And he was no trouble at all to catch.

Asher and Vern

Love.

Asher and Vern

Love these two. πŸ™‚





Growing, flowing with the wind

12 12 2012

The header for the blog features Mariah and Houdini,Β Gaia, Alegre, Aurora and Corona. I got to looking at it, and how tiny baby Mariah looks … and what a big girl she now is! Decided ya’ll would like to see a pic of the girl. It’s from a few weeks ago, an evening visit with stunning light.

Mariah

Red girl going grey. Just like a Grey/Traveler daughter: bright, curious, bold. Perfection!

If the world ends today – 12/12/12! – I go happy to have wandered among such wild beauty. πŸ™‚