Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Yesterday (of course) was a much different weather story in Spring Creek Basin: Sunshine and a high temp probably in the 40s. I didn’t venture into the basin’s interior but drove up alongside the southwest boundary to see the snow on the interior buttes and ridges and peaks and points. The contrast between snow there and still-brown ground down-valley was kinda crazy.

Above, Bia pauses her grazing while Dundee grazes in the background.

And the focus on Dundee beyond Bia. Part of Spring Creek canyon is still visible in the background, and the big-flake snow was just starting to stick. Not long after this, visibility dropped to just our own little circle of the world. The horses were never very bothered by either the wind or the snow blowing on the wind. They continued their grazing up the slight hill and across the road, at which point I took the road back to my buggy and headed for shelter. 🙂

I was in a shallow little arroyo, focused on Rowan, when Buckeye photobombed us.

They’re quite a bit tighter and different from my usual offerings … but I quite like both images. Of course, I adore both mustangs, and that might have a bit to do with it. 🙂

It’s not often that I find the horses in wooded areas, so it’s always a treat to photograph them among the pinon and juniper. Corazon indulged me – maybe because he thought I couldn’t see him, or maybe he thought I was farther away than I was (behind trees and my very long lens). 🙂 Rarely does he pose so nicely for pix.

Corazon was named by me (he was one of the original herd members when I started documenting) for the *heart* in his pinto pattern on his left side. Naming him was fairly easy because of that. 🙂

Sweet Bia is looking even more grown-up these days.

Gorgeous, fuzzy, ready-for-winter (the temps arrived, now we need the snow) girl. 🙂

Bia (daughter of Buckeye and Aiyanna, one of the three Sand Wash Basin mares introduced in 2021) was named by good friend and also long-time mustang advocate (and adopter!) Tif R. “In Greek mythology, Bia is the personification of force and raw energy,” according to Nameberry, and it is that meaning Tif wanted to bestow on this beautiful girl! Bia did need that strength and raw energy as a baby, and she is a strong, lovely filly – a joy to her family. 🙂

Taken the same day – later – as the previous pic posted of Skywalker, the snow clearly has melted by this time, which was my last hike-out-to-horses of the day. The snow was gone, but the sun still was dramatically lighting some of the far ridges.

Skywalker was named by good friends and long-time mustang advocates Pat and Frank A. (and maybe some other Four Corners Back Country Horsemen members?). I’m not entirely sure how they decided on it for his name; maybe they’re fans of the Force?! We found Skywalker as a brand-new black-and-white foal during the annual foal count that year, and I asked them to name him. 🙂