Next year, this date – Sept. 19 – will mark 20 years since I started documenting Spring Creek Basin’s mustangs.
TWENTY. YEARS.
Sometime next fall (I don’t remember that exact date now), I’ll mark *25* years since the first time I visited Spring Creek Basin – in the rain, in a van full of people I didn’t know, and we didn’t see horses because we never actually got *into* the basin (even if it had been dry, a van might not have been the best choice of vehicle?!). I went back soon after that by myself … and, well, now it’s been 24 years *this* fall. You know that saying “blood, sweat and tears”? Yeah … it’s been ALL of that … a whole lotta alla that.
That means this fall marks my 19th (today) and 24th anniversaries. I still find that pretty shocking to say out loud.
Two thousand seven was a roundup year in Spring Creek Basin. It was the third that decade (and we still had 2011 to come). BLM said the stallion known to most as Traveler (to me as Grey) would stay. They promised. … One guy broke that promise. … One guy made it right. Grey went to Cañon City, and about a week after he had been removed, we brought him back to Southwest Colorado, where his two-week quarantine turned into three weeks (courtesy of the promise-breaker). Four weeks after he left Spring Creek Basin, David and Pati Temple returned Grey/Traveler to the basin, Pati opened the trailer door, and he returned to his wild life, where he lived until his passing a few years ago.
Photo print of Grey by Claude Steelman moments after he was released Sept. 19, 2007, into Spring Creek Basin
“He’ll never have a band again,” the BLM promise-breaker said dismissively at the time. Within a month and a half, Grey had a band again.
Grey’s Return Day was Sept. 19, 2007. After the pomp of Grey’s momentous release (a couple of other people also were there, including renowned Durango-based wildlife photographer Claude Steelman), I stayed in the basin to start documenting every mustang I found. It took three months of weekends. Nineteen wild and crazy – and now, immensely satisfying – years ago.
So today, I celebrate both the anniversary of Grey’s return and release and the day I started documenting my beloved mustangs, what has become the path of my heart through this lifetime.
My *wall of Grey*; photos of Grey by me circa 2003-2004? Gorgeous painting of Grey by talented Colorado artist Teresa Irick (@tiartcreations on Instagram) based on a photo by me
When I first started this mustang-advocacy journey, 20 years into the future felt like some random date that would never arrive. Now, wow.
I want to do something kinda fun to mark the occasion next year, and this is a head’s up. A few of you have read and commented and shared the mustangs for a lot of years now, and I’d like to send you each a photo print of the mustangs. I probably haven’t taken it yet, but I have a year (!), and I’ll let you choose. You might know who you are. 🙂 I thought I’d also ask readers – on that date, and don’t worry, I’ll remind ya’ll ahead of time – to leave a comment on that post, and I’ll put all your names in a hat and mix ’em all up, and I’ll have a mustang friend pick a name and send that person a pic, too. I want to celebrate YOU who support and love these mustangs, too! There also are a handful of people who have been with me for long years on this mustang journey, and I want to recognize them, too (more about them next year).
Hollywood and his mares, 2019; Hollywood and Houdini are both gone now … Shane, Alegre and Maia are still together
When you’re starting a thing, you never know where that thing is going to go, how it’s going to go, how long it’ll go on. When you have a burning desire to do something strong, something worthwhile, again, you just never know. That’s the future. … That’s LIFE.
So many people have had a hand (even just some fingers) in the accomplishments realized for bettering the management and preservation of Spring Creek Basin’s mustangs, and I can’t even imagine (and I don’t wanna) what path my life would have followed if I hadn’t discovered this herd and all the amazing people I’ve met along the way. We’ve all shared something: love of horses. Love of WILD horses. Love of mustangs.
Remember that promise-breaker? I realized several years ago that I’m *grateful* to him. I definitely couldn’t see it at the time of what felt like deep betrayal by the system, but if not for that guy, would my Irish stubbornness have come to the fore and would I have dug my boots and heart so deep into ground I’d never known but has become my rooted ground?? As I said: *grateful*.
Winona with sons Cheveyo and Lyra; Lyra is gone now, and Cheveyo is a band stallion; Winona, of course, is one of our wise ones
And you know what? Holy … horse. 🙂 Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area today is one of the best managed herds in the country (if not the best? forgive me a tiny bit of bias, please, but I don’t know of any others quite like ours). I am so grateful to the BLM folks at Tres Rios Field Office who made that happen and continue to work with our shared goal in mind.
Because we shared a dream and a goal and got to work doing it, not sitting by waiting for someone else to come along and dig in and get ‘er done. I sure didn’t start that dream for Spring Creek Basin, but I tip my visor to those who did … those who welcomed me to the fold so I could join the journey to the goal. And in that time, we have gotten done EVERYTHING we’ve aimed to achieve … bar one that we haven’t gone full force on, and that’s in the hands of bureaucrats, really, which is unfortunate, but it’s still possible.
Comanche’s band in the dust of early summer, 2020
I’ll probably (of course I will) write another long-winded post about this on my actual 20th anniversary, but on this, my 19th, *thank you* to every single person who has given even the tiniest bit of love to Spring Creek Basin’s mustangs. My love and gratitude to each one of you.
And hang on for (at least!) another year, with the mustangs and me, to celebrate the big 2-0. 🙂 No worries: The 20th won’t be anywhere close to the end. To paraphrase something I heard someone say someone told him: I will continue to make as positive an impact as I can in all the time I’m given in and for Spring Creek Basin and its mustangs.
I’m so glad you’re here, with us.
*Grateful*
Comanche’s band, under the rainbow, 2020; Comanche also is gone now
Wonderful accomplishment. You are a role model for me. The roads are rocky sometimes.
Keep on living and loving the mustangs.
Love ya
Thanks, Barb! You have done and are doing amazing things for the Jicarilla mustangs, and you, in turn, are a role model for me. 🙂 The roads can be *incredibly* rocky … but on each of our ranges, we are doing good work for our mustangs. Thank you, and love YOU!
Congratulations with 19 years of following your heart and documenting the life of these amazing mustangs 🩷🎉🐴 I’m sure, at some level, they understand all the good work you’re doing on their behalf too 💟
Thanks so much. 🙂 Somehow, it went from interest to my life’s work. How do these things happen?? I am so blessed and so grateful.
I love this article! We talk about you being the only person that is truly living their dream. We are so happy and proud for you! That last pic shows your potential of gold under the rainbow! ❤️❤️
Thanks, Nancy, I appreciate that so much. 🙂 I am one lucky gal!
What an accomplishment! You have done wonders down in your neck of the woods. Hats off to you. Cheers for many more.
I have been at it for 21 0r 22 years, I forget now. LOL I keep saying I am going to give it up, I am too old….but I just can’t quite let go yet and the horses haven’t let go of me yet!
Oh, Billie, what a road! You and Marty are two of my major inspirations from the very beginning. I’ll never remember attending your roundup a month after ours and thinking to myself, “THIS is how we should be doing things … with documentation and fertility control and a good partnership with BLM.” I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am that ya’ll were doing everything for the Little Book Cliffs mustangs that I aspired to do. Congrats on YOUR 21-22 years (it tends to run together, eh?), and I hope you keep it up for years to come. As Barb said, the way is rocky (and you know that as well as any of us), but the horses need us. And no, they never let go, do they? 🙂 Keep on keepin’ on!
We who admire you and are grateful to you for all of your work and advocacy for our Spring Creek Basin mustangs thank YOU, TJ! I enjoy knowing about your history with these ponies, twenty years of extraordinary accomplishments and an HMA that is the crown jewel of them all in my opinion. I can’t believe it’s been twenty years for you! This was truly your destiny and we are all so very fortunate it was. Congratulations, TJ, and we look forward to your celebration next year. ❤️
Thank you so much, Sue (and Denny!). 🙂 You’ve been steadfast these last many years, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your dedication to the mustangs (and your mom’s before!). Thanks so much for sticking with us. Keep an eye out for pix you particularly like. 😉
And TJ, what would we and our precious Spring Creek Basin mustangs have done without YOU!!! You have made these dear horses a living documentation of just how successful herd management can be when done well. You are the leader at the helm and I thank you, as I know all do, with all our hearts. Remembering the “promise breaker,” well, there might not have been SCB mustangs beyond him, without your lasting dedication and determination.
With love and gratitude, Karen
Thanks so much, Karen. 🙂 Wow. We’ve been at it for a lot of years, haven’t we? We started our journeys to Spring Creek Basin separately, but we still met a long time ago! I’m so incredibly thankful for your friendship and all you have done and continue to do to keep Spring Creek Basin’s mustangs in the public eye with your stunning, heart-forward art. Thank you, thank you!
So thankful too
As far as I’ve read or heard – Spring Creek Basin IS the best example of an HMA! I havent been “here” from the beginning – only past few years, I guess. I think any HMA that has someone looking over them (like you) means a much higher level of care and protection. The Pryors and Ginger come to mind, but even there – removals and issues. For these horses at Spring Creek, you can continue to be there for them. Of course, the fact that the local BLM guys and gals are of the same mindset makes a huge difference. Keep on keeping on, TJ!
Maggie
Thanks so much, Maggie. 🙂 Our proven success with PZP isn’t to say that we’ll never have a roundup here, but I think (I hope!) we’ve shown what can be done with consistent fertility control and a commitment to actual management, for the benefit of the mustangs, the other wildlife, the range. It’s hard to overlook 15 years of success and an alternative to constant roundup/removal. 🙂 Thanks so much for following our mustangs!
I love your blog, the work you do, and the horses (of course). This was wonderful to read.
Thanks, Martha. 🙂 I’m so glad you’ve found the mustangs and are following our journey from our same great state!
You have made a lasting impact.
We have all benefited from your efforts.
Congratulations and Thank you.
Thank you so much, Uncle Tom! 🙂 We share the love of horses. Thank you for all the encouragement!
I think I started following you about ten years ago! Time sure does fly! Thank you so much for all your work and time!
Wow, Karen – that’s amazing. Thanks so much for following us all that time! 🙂 I can’t keep track of time (for most things), and I wouldn’t have guessed you’ve been following for *so* long. I do look forward to your comments every day, and thank you for your engagement! 😉
I am grateful for you and your efforts to protect these beautiful personalities and preserve their essence in your amazing photography! So glad to have virtually met you via a fire and a mystery mountain and hope to maybe visit during year #20! Keep on keepin’ on. You are amazing!
Thank you, D! 🙂 It always amazes me how small the world is among people who value the same things in this wild, natural world. It would be awesome to meet you and introduce you to the mustangs and this part of the beautiful world!
Thank you TJ. A small reminder to you from me of the joy and education you share with your pictures and posts. I’m grateful for your work and passion.♥️🫶🏻♥️
Thank you so much. 🙂 I’m very glad my joy in the horses and the passion I *still* feel for them continues to shine through. All the other happens from the foundation of finding such absolute joy in spending time with them – and I absolutely DO!
Grateful for the education and joy your posts deliver daily and the passion and satisfaction for you! Thank you again.
Thank YOU! 🙂
When I first learned about what was happening to our mustangs here in the West I began a search to find out more about the HMA’s. Your blog was what I found. I am so happy to follow along on your journey. And, so very glad you’re still doing the hard work.
All the hard work you and your local friends have done to keep the mustangs of Spring Creek Basin in the basin is so appreciated.
Celebrating 20 years! Wow! Your dedication is admirable.
Comanche was one I always looked forward to seeing photos of, and Bounce. Raven is another one I looked forward to.The ones that have left us will always be remembered in your photos. Thank you so much for making the trips into the basin to capture the magnificents that is these beautiful mustangs.
Thanks, Valerie. You’ve been following the blog and the mustangs for a very long time! 🙂 It’s amazing when I think back to all the mustangs we’ve known and lost … and I so appreciate that because of our management with PZP, they’ve been able to live and die on their native range. That’s such a rarity these days, I think. This was the 19th anniversary. Now, I’m beginning my 20th year – anniversary is next fall! I couldn’t resist jumping the gun a bit – it’s just so incredible to me that it’s been so many years! 😉
Thank you, TJ!I have one of Hollywood’s offspring as my equine partner. I hadn’t seen a post about Hollywood in a long while and I suspected he’d passed. Seeing that confirmed in your post hit me kind of hard.
His son, Sage, is an amazing horse and we’ve enjoyed a bunch of adventures together. I’ll break the news to him this afternoon. We’ll ride somewhere quiet and reflect on Hollywood and the rest of the wild ones that inspire so much in so many of us.
Thanks again for all you do,
Todd
Thanks so much, Todd; I’m glad Sage ended up with you and gets to live his best life still exploring those wild, quiet places. 🙂 Hollywood leaves a few offspring in Spring Creek Basin, Sage’s brothers and sisters. Odin, featured a couple of posts ago, is the youngest … Hollywood’s last. His legacy lives on. Enjoy your ride, and please give Sage a big hug for me!
It’s rare to see a herd management area actually turn out as a success story like Spring Creek Basin. Definitely a testament to stubbornness paying off!
Thanks very much. 🙂 Stubbornness IS a positive personality trait, after all!