From a youngster yesterday to one of the oldest of the old guard this morning: Corazon. He was a young bachelor stallion when I started documenting, part of what I called the southside boys because they hung out – you guessed it – in the southern areas of Spring Creek Basin, as opposed to the bachelor 7, who hung out elsewhere (more interior).
There are only about five or so mustangs left who were at least weanling age (6-ish months; born that spring) when I started documenting in 2007. Corazon is one of those. 🙂 You can see he’s starting to show his age (interestingly, a lot of the pintos, especially, start to get a bit grey and grizzled about the face as they age). He’s at least 22.
The absolute best we can do for the mustangs is to manage things so they can live their full lives wild on their home ranges.
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I really want to thank you all for the kind and wonderful comments you left on my 19th anniversary post. 🙂 My goal has always been to share the mustangs of Spring Creek Basin, and while the way I do that has evolved over the years, I’m still so thrilled that you love them and love to see mustangs in all seasons and all conditions on their home range. Thank you also for the likes, and if you follow along quietly, thank you for that, too (I do the same, mostly). The mustangs and I appreciate you sharing our journey!
I hope you are able to continue to bring this herd and all it’s bands into the public eye because only in that way will people see and understand how important these animals ARE.
I mentioned Ginger & the Pryors before, and I think Sand Wash Basin also has a group who keep eyes on them. I’m sure there are others that I’m not aware of. But, for people to care (!) they have to be aware. I believe there is a roundup or will be at Sand Wash soon?
Seeing this older boy and knowing he has lived his life for about 22 years free and with his family (families) should be an education in itself! As opposed to so many who have been torn away from both their home and families to who knows where.
Sorry for rambling on – thanks for what you and others do.
Maggie
Yes, all of Colorado’s herds (except West Douglas HA) have advocacy groups now. Sand Wash Basin has two: SWAT (Sand Wash Advocate Team), who do the documentation and darting, and Wild Horse Warriors for Sand Wash Basin, who do the range-improvement projects. Piceance-East Douglas’ is Piceance Mustangs, and Little Book Cliffs’, of course, is Friends of the Mustangs (~40 years of advocacy!). Herds are so much better protected and managed when there’s a group of people advocating for them and doing the hard work. P-ED and WD had roundups in August, and SWB’s is starting now (maybe delayed because of rain/flooding?). But BLM still has to acknowledge and work with those advocates and do the official work. It is never easy. Thanks, Maggie. 🙂
Corazon is a very handsome old man with his graying “temples.” I’m so happy to see how many of our precious mustangs get to live out their full and complete lives with us in Spring Creek Basin!
That’s the best way to honor them. 🙂 I’m glad Corazon is still with us.
TJ – This is Jenny Cypert Gibson – Dwain’s Sister in Law (I’m married to Tony). We met once at the Gibson Cabin. I do enjoy your posts. And you are an incredible photographer! Tony and I both enjoy getting to see all you post. Hope you have a great day!
jenny
Thanks so much, Jenny, to you and Tony for following along with the mustangs. 🙂 Hope you’re both well!
Tony and I are doing well. Tony is retired – I still work everyday. Glad CO got some much needed rain! I know CO is oh so dry! Good to see your posts. Keep doing all the good. 🧡
jenny
It has been SUCH a relief to get some rain … hoping we still have more to come. … “All the good” – I like that. 🙂 I certainly mean to try!
Love this wise old pinto dude! He still looks pretty good!
Yes, he looks really good, AND he’s still feisty! 🙂