Long-time readers of this blog know that pix like this show up rarely on this blog, and they know why – because while photos of this typically provoke comments of oohs and ahhs, the actual behavior of this is, in reality, fairly rare. And this blog is all about slices of beautiful, calm, normal, wild life.
The coolest thing about this pic really is the backstory, which goes something like this: Maiku and Copper and Ty were feeling good on a beautiful day, and this was the wild-equine-boy equivalent of a game of pickup among human boys.
Sitting on the ground with the perfect 50-yard-line tickets to the show (did I just mix sports?), watching them nip and squeal and kick, I thought oh-so-happily to myself: “Oh, how cool – the boys are playing with the stunning, snow-covered La Sals in the background!” Um. See the sliver of the La Sals? Imagine how stunning are those snow-covered peaks while the boys photobomb them. Well, it’s only right that the boys steal the show! (Snow-covered Northeast, we’d also like to steal some of your snow.)
Note that no injuries were incurred during this slice-of-life play date. Tomorrow: the rest of the story. It’s ordinary, and that’s what’s so extraordinary about these moments with the wild.
P.S. See the white in the background behind Copper’s tail? That’s not snow. That’s the salt in our soil, brought up by the bitty bit of moisture we have had.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
TJ, Great photo! Thank you for the background info – reminds me of my grandchildren roughhousing… There are many things to take in within this photo – one that I noticed, look how well trimmed Maiku’s hoofs are!! a reminder that when in your natural habitat, you can take care of yourself…
They have the best hooves, trimmed by their environment.
Glad this was just ‘fun n’ games’. Maiku has really grown and now is practicing what big boys do.
They learn by doing, for sure!
I love watching the boys play. Bunch of rowdy teenagers is what they are!!
Ha! They *are* fun to watch!
I’m glad I don’t see photos of horses fighting here. There is so much more to them then fighting and that is what you share with us. Thank you.
Agree – and I’m glad you like to see the horses doing what they usually do. 🙂
Blame it or praise it, there is no denying the wild horse in us.
Virginia Woolf
Now that’s a great quote! I certainly praise it. 🙂