Well, I’ve seen Hollywood recently. Once far and once near.
He’s thin. Really thin. It hurts my heart, and though I want ya’ll to know he’s still gracing the basin with his presence, it may not be for much longer.
Hard time of year for a thin, older horse. Especially one who seems to be alone. Even that picture shows his hips seeming to lack much insulation.
Just because these horses are wild doesnt mean we dont feel for them as they grow old and weaker. Getting to know an animal whether its wild or domestic – brings them into your “family”.
I think we feel even more strongly that they’re part of our family, these older horses. He and I have known each other (on even a superficial level) most of his life. That’s not something I take lightly.
I get that. I remember when Ginger said Cloud was gone – just kind of disappeared – I felt at the time like many here do – he went on his own terms & not someone elses.
Their lives are so much shorter than ours – but they pack so much more into them.
7122024
karenflash3(07:25:26) :
A sad time for this old boy! We all feel for him as we do for older people!
I think HE is OK. He didn’t seem at all upset. In fact, though he acknowledged me when I showed up on his hill, thereafter he basically ignored me and went about his wild business, as independent as always. It’s hard, for sure, for the humans.
🥹 This is so bittersweet, TJ. It’s so good to see him again and know he’s still part of things out there, but so hard to hear how he’s not looking very good. He’s another one of those iconic Spring Creek Basin stallions and like many before him, it will be so sad to lose him.
He’s really the last of the old guard band stallions (since I started documenting, to be clear). It will be heartbreaking. But if he can go on his own terms, another one who has lived his entire life free and wild … ??? I’m OK with that because I know he is.
So sad to hear, TJ, but thanks for letting us know. That’s hard news for sure, especially at Christmas time. Praying for a Christmas miracle… Godspeed dear Hollywood… 😞🙏🏻
Part of the miracle is that he and several others before him have been able to spend their entire lives in the land of their birth. That isn’t common anymore, and it is what we work for every day. 🙂 He is – they all are – so loved.
Since reading this post I’ve been trying to come to terms that this is going to happen to our beloved Hollywood.
He has lived free his entire life on this planet, and when he’s ready to leave us it will be when he’s ready and on his terms. He is a noble beast, and I will grieve his passing when he’s gone from the basin. His memory and offspring will live on.
So well said. To have been afforded the privilege of knowing Hollywood is something I will always cherish, and it does help my heart to know that so many of you feel the same way about this beautiful, amazing wild boy. I don’t want to grieve him until he’s actually gone. … And even then, I suppose, I want to celebrate him and his life and his wild nature. He’s certainly one we’ll never forget.
I hope so, too, but I actually believe that’s how it is. It still hurts and watching it happen is very very hard.
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TJ(13:48:09) :
Yes, very hard. It never, ever gets easier. The amazing thing is that they fill our hearts SO very full … losing them shatters us. … Then we’re refilled. … Curse of animal lives and human lives so closely entwined. I wouldn’t give up the love even for the heartbreak of the loss.
Hard time of year for a thin, older horse. Especially one who seems to be alone. Even that picture shows his hips seeming to lack much insulation.
Just because these horses are wild doesnt mean we dont feel for them as they grow old and weaker. Getting to know an animal whether its wild or domestic – brings them into your “family”.
I think we feel even more strongly that they’re part of our family, these older horses. He and I have known each other (on even a superficial level) most of his life. That’s not something I take lightly.
I get that. I remember when Ginger said Cloud was gone – just kind of disappeared – I felt at the time like many here do – he went on his own terms & not someone elses.
Their lives are so much shorter than ours – but they pack so much more into them.
A sad time for this old boy! We all feel for him as we do for older people!
I think HE is OK. He didn’t seem at all upset. In fact, though he acknowledged me when I showed up on his hill, thereafter he basically ignored me and went about his wild business, as independent as always. It’s hard, for sure, for the humans.
🥹 This is so bittersweet, TJ. It’s so good to see him again and know he’s still part of things out there, but so hard to hear how he’s not looking very good. He’s another one of those iconic Spring Creek Basin stallions and like many before him, it will be so sad to lose him.
He’s really the last of the old guard band stallions (since I started documenting, to be clear). It will be heartbreaking. But if he can go on his own terms, another one who has lived his entire life free and wild … ??? I’m OK with that because I know he is.
So true, TJ. To “go on his own terms” and in a state of wild contentedness in the arms of Spring Creek Basin is just so comforting.
💗thank you Hollywood for being an inspirati
Always inspiring, always will be. 🙂
Poor old Hollywood. Getting old and weak sucks. As does having everything taken away from you that you once had.
It doesn’t seem that long ago when he was my favorite stallion. The king of his domain and the definition of Spring Creek Basin Mustangs.
Ya gotta Love him!
And we do. He is loved by SO many. And that makes my sore heart happy.
So sad to hear, TJ, but thanks for letting us know. That’s hard news for sure, especially at Christmas time. Praying for a Christmas miracle… Godspeed dear Hollywood… 😞🙏🏻
Part of the miracle is that he and several others before him have been able to spend their entire lives in the land of their birth. That isn’t common anymore, and it is what we work for every day. 🙂 He is – they all are – so loved.
Since reading this post I’ve been trying to come to terms that this is going to happen to our beloved Hollywood.
He has lived free his entire life on this planet, and when he’s ready to leave us it will be when he’s ready and on his terms. He is a noble beast, and I will grieve his passing when he’s gone from the basin. His memory and offspring will live on.
So well said. To have been afforded the privilege of knowing Hollywood is something I will always cherish, and it does help my heart to know that so many of you feel the same way about this beautiful, amazing wild boy. I don’t want to grieve him until he’s actually gone. … And even then, I suppose, I want to celebrate him and his life and his wild nature. He’s certainly one we’ll never forget.
Maybe he would tell you it’s OK. The great gift is having lived. 💔
Yes, and I hope so. 🙂 Thanks for that, Martha.
I hope so, too, but I actually believe that’s how it is. It still hurts and watching it happen is very very hard.
Yes, very hard. It never, ever gets easier. The amazing thing is that they fill our hearts SO very full … losing them shatters us. … Then we’re refilled. … Curse of animal lives and human lives so closely entwined. I wouldn’t give up the love even for the heartbreak of the loss.