Something was lurking in the grass under the snow. Something I never saw. Something whose danger level apparently melted as Winona walked by. This was one of the only shots I got of her with her head up. Apparently, I wasn’t enough of a danger to merit a raised head. 🙂 She’s such a lovely girl.
Sweet Madison models the snowy mustache she “grew” while brushing snow aside from low-growing vegetation with her nimble lips. Look at her thick, velvety hair. Nature’s perfect winter coat.
Look at that fat belly on Mr. Comanche! He’s well-padded and well-“furred” for winter in western Colorado. The La Sal Mountains, on our northwestern horizon, rise from the canyons of our neighbor Utah. It’s good to see them mantled again in white. The more white stuff we get during winter, the more green stuff we can look forward to during the warm months.
Do you see it? High in the sky above Bounce? Slightly left of center?
This fall, friend Pat Amthor, one of our Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners representatives (from Four Corners Back Country Horsemen), visited the basin, and we saw two of these, one on either side of the setting sun. This one is faint, but it’s there. Bounce was overlooking three bands, who are below him, grazing through the snow. Duke, Kreacher and Hayden also were nearby.
Does anyone know what that iridescence in the sky is called? Pat and I were calling them sun dogs, but I’m not sure that’s right.
And have you heard … 2014 is the YEAR of the horse? It’s about time. 🙂
Interestingly, the resolution originally was sponsored by then-Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado.
About the horse sign in the Chinese zodiac, according to Wikipedia: “These three signs [includes tiger and dog] seek a true lover, and are like-minded in their pursuit of humanitarian causes. Idealistic and impulsive, the Tiger, Horse and Dog follow the beat of their own drum. Defiant against injustice, these three signs wilt without large amounts of physical affection and loyal support for causes. They are productive, enthusiastic, independent, engaging, dynamic and honorable. They can also be rash, rebellious, quarrelsome, hot-headed, reckless, anxious, moody, disagreeable, and stubborn. Although these three signs are loyal, they can be very protective when lied to.”
Just an interesting bit of information. I don’t claim any knowledge about tigers, but some of these characteristics seem particularly human rather than might be attributable to animals!
Enjoy your horses if you have them, give them an extra hug, and think good thoughts for all our mustangs, wherever they are.
Winter has come to Southwest Colorado and left its mark on Disappointment Valley and Spring Creek Basin.
Mustangs are well adapted to handle the rigors as well as bounty of their wild life. But it’s still good to see them taking the cold and snow in stride!
This is Chrome, looking back at his band on another hill. The low light was just right to warm up the late golden grasses against the blues of the shadowed snow and Chrome’s silver coat.
Oh, so handsome.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ~ Nelson Mandela
And so we continue to strive for things that are important, no matter the adversity we face. The simple things we each value are things that, at some level, are important to all living beings. Thank you, Nelson Mandela, for proving that even the impossible can be achieved.
Do you think they know how lovely they are? Chipeta on a windy fall day.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 