Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

The day before the roundup actually got under way, we were setting up at the new trapsite, and I think we were all amazed when Kreacher’s band went racing across the hill to the west – with Sundance immediately behind them, Chrome behind him and Kreacher trailing. Sundance had been a mostly lone bachelor since losing Mahogany and Eliana to Aspen this spring right after Eli was born. I had to go for my binoculars to confirm what my eyes were telling me. Then they were over the hill, out of sight, and there was Chrome’s band.

The lay of the land made the west side of Filly Peak a good place for a trapsite, but when I found out the helicopter would be bringing horses in around the “back side,” I was concerned. The “flats” and the area between Filly Peak and corral hill are some of the most broken and cut by arroyos in the whole basin, though it’s very deceptive to look at. So I set off with two BLM guys – two of the best men I’ve ever met – and we hiked around to check the horses’ trails and tracks they’d likely follow to get from yonder to the trap. On our way back, here came Jif, Hayden, Two Boots, Rio and Boreas, galloping around toward us. They passed us, but stopped, then, while we waited to see what they’d do – where they’d go – they turned around and galloped back around (toward the trap and where they’d come from – where they’d “lost” Chrome), kicking up their heels as they went.

Though I’ve found it difficult to hike that part of the basin, by the way the helicopter brought them around, the horses clearly had no trouble negotiating the terrain. I want to say again how impressed I was with the helicopter pilot.

Back to “Kreacher’s band,” they were not targeted during the roundup (thank you again to the pilot), and so I never saw them during those days … or the day after when I went back into the basin to look for horses. Chrome’s did, of course, come in. Jif deserves her own post at some point … Two Boots was adopted by a very nice lady; Boreas went to a nice couple very close to Disappointment Valley; Rio is getting ace marks from his adopters – eating from her hand and being led by a break-away string around his neck.

All that leads up to me being anxious – let alone eager – to find this particular band.

Sundance with Raven and Apollo.

Raven, Apollo, Mysterium and Kootenai.

Baby girl with mama. Not too many bugs but pretty warm. (We were wearing jackets during the roundup!)

Apollo with baby sister Mysterium.

Playing – Sundance in the background.

Mysterium and mama Kootenai

And what about Kreacher? Well, he’s alone right now. He was very close to Duke on Tuesday, but they may or may not hook up. I wouldn’t count either mister out.