The last few weeks have been a whirlwind – not all connected to mustangs and mustang endeavors (well, in my world, it’s all connected, really, but some of it was more tenuous than usual).
My Internet crashed (there may or may not have been an incident involving my tractor, the shredder and my dad … !), my ankle rolled (which may definitely have involved the tractor and me being in a hurry), which led to an ER visit (thanks, family, for being here!), a brace and crutches … family and friends visited … and left (LOADS of thanks to you all for doing what I couldn’t and felt like poop for not being able to do!) … and more friends visited … and I had only cell service, which, for me, involves driving out of the draw in which I live and up on the road to catch a signal – and thank goodness I’d just/already a week before replaced my phone (!), whose battery decided to give up the ghost (was it really THAT old?!) – and then there was a call, the most important call … which leads us to this post, to whet your appetites for another post. For now, a teaser and an introduction. (Whew!)
As many of you know, a roundup was conducted recently in Sand Wash Basin (a polite warning: no negativity of any kind will be tolerated here). Because Spring Creek Basin is relatively small in size (22,000 acres) with a correspondingly small herd (AML of 50 to 80 adult horses), in accordance with a recommendation years ago from equine geneticist Dr. Gus Cothran, we introduce mares periodically to help keep our herd’s genetics strong, healthy and viable.
A quick history lesson: In the mid- to late 1990s, three stallions were introduced. For various reasons, that didn’t go so well, though they contributed enormously to the current herd’s genetic and color makeup. In 2001 and again in 2008, three mares were introduced (six total), all from Sand Wash Basin, it being a Colorado mustang herd with characteristics similar to our herd. Now, in 2021, with our herd management area plan updated last year, which continues our PZP program and increased our appropriate management level (among other things), and the Sand Wash Basin roundup, it was time for another introduction.
We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to welcome these three young mares to Spring Creek Basin from Sand Wash Basin, to enable them to stay wild and to contribute their lovely and unique genetics to our herd.
Please welcome palomino yearling Rowan, dun pinto yearling Aiyanna and 2-year-old dun Dundee! The above photo of the girls was taken about 15 to 20 minutes after they stepped off the trailer into their new forever home in Spring Creek Basin.
Thank you to Spring Creek Basin’s BLM herd manager Mike Jensen and to BLM Colorado’s on-range wild horse and burro specialist Ben Smith. I have such enormous respect for you both.
Thank you to Stella Trueblood and Linda West with Sand Wash Advocate Team for picking these beauties for us and providing us with their names, ages, lineages and other information … and for being stalwart champions for Sand Wash Basin mustangs and our sisters in advocacy.
Thank you to Tif Rodriguez, who made the run with me to Sand Wash Basin and back on absolutely last-minute notice, and to Kat Wilder, who was in Spring Creek Basin to welcome us home and swing wide the trailer door!
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Three true beauties to add to the loveliness of Spring Creek Basin. I heard there was a young stallion thrilled to meet these young ladies….any idea who was the greeting committee?
Oh, yes, indeed. 🙂 That’s coming in a future post.
How lucky these 3 fillies are to come live at Spring Creek with the care and management this herd gets. If only….. (not negative, just saying)
We are so happy and grateful to welcome them here. 🙂
That is awesome that new blood was introduced to the herd in Spring Creek Basin. I pray that they will be fruitful and multiply and give their genetics to the betterment of all of us who love and admire God’s creation.
They should deliver some beautiful babies to Spring Creek Basin – in the future! We’re in no rush. 🙂
Thanks for the history and for alway being present to jump into whatever needs to be done.
Good looking horses.
We do have a long history, don’t we? 🙂 And look at all we’ve done! This is another beautiful chapter!
Love, love, love this!!! ❤️
Love is the word. 🙂
TJ, Congratulations for getting all of this put together and executed! Your team is awesome. Brent and I are so happy to have shared time with you, your mustangs and friends.
Laura
Our team is the best team! 🙂 I’m so glad you and Brent were here for the excitement – and thanks again to Brent for the cable fix! As you can see, I’m back in business! 🙂 I’m SO glad ya’ll visited and were able to meet my beloved wildies.
Welcome to the three new ladies. they will have a great life.
That’s the plan! 🙂
Whew, TJ; not a “whirlwind” but a tornado for your last few weeks. So sorry you sprained your ankle, and I’m so glad your family was there – and friends – to help you out. Wish we knew so we could’ve added something if you needed it. As for Sand Wash Basin, I’ve been monitoring that for awhile…with a broken heart. But you know, I wondered if we might get to take a few of those wonderful mustangs and voila – it became reality. So, so cool, TJ! And what pretty additions they are! Thanks to you, the Sand Wash people, Tif and Kat for making these precious mustangs part of the Spring Creek Basin herd!
Tornado, indeed! Fortunately, it was short-lived. And the upside is way up on the crest of the rainbow! Some other good news coming soon, too … ! 😉
How do they move the mustangs? Horseback? I don’t see them being trailered but I’m no expert. I hope your crazy interval is calming down.
To bring the mares from Sand Wash Basin to Spring Creek Basin, they were loaded from the pens into our trailer, and yes, we brought them here on a trailer. It was about a seven-hour drive.
Wow. Amazing
Beautiful additions to such a special place.
I already imagine some enthused stallions and some lovely foals all in good time of course.
Hey, I hope you’ll be healed up enough to take a hike around the Basin if I decide to pop in, TJ!
Get well soon.
You’ve got quite a good support system for sure!
Their new stallion is a youngster, too, and yes, he’s got to be feeling pretty studly. 🙂 I won’t be doing my usual hiking for a while, I think, but I’m hobbling around better than I’d expected! I hope you’ll be able to pop in for a good visit, Lynn!! We do have good support here. 🙂
Thank you so much for this site. My daughter and I would love to come see the herd. How do we get info on finding them?