Aspen | Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Two in one

2 05 2010

Happy May 2 – snow on the ground!

On to Steeldust’s band … which is kinda splitting at the seams these days. For the sake of convenience, I’m still referring to them collectively …

I think I mentioned that Hook – as of last week – was perfectly content and quite separate with Ember (2-year-old filly), Pinon (2-year-old colt) and Hannah (yearling filly). Hook had been a bachelor for as long as I’d known him. He appeared briefly this winter with Piedra and Sage (Hollywood’s mare and yearling son), then back with bachelor pal Aspen as hangers-on to Steeldust’s band.

I will take the opportunity to mention that this is at least the third time I’ve seen the “low man on the bachelor totem pole” end up with a band of his own (Copper took over the pinto band, Kreacher got the introduced girls; Duke was sort of in the upper ranks of the Bachelor 7 when he got Raven last year). However it worked, it worked.

Mouse and Comanche are still with “Steeldust’s band,” but Mouse is now apparently Sundance’s lieutenant keeping Aspen away, and Comanche is low man – as he was before Aspen and Hook came back. (Poor guy … but maybe some of the low-man luck will rub off on him!) Butch is glued to Luna, who stays with Alpha – or vice versa – they stay together – and Steeldust is glued to Alpha – and Storm, of course, still is glued – quite literally – to mama (he’s still nursing!).

So there I’ve *told* you what’s going on (via my observation; no doubt to the ponies it’s much more). Ready to *see* it?

I first saw them down in a “valley,” then Luna started walking along the arroyo. They went out of sight, and I waited awhile but didn’t see them reappear, so I walked out to the edge of a hill and found them like this: By a dry section of arroyo. One little puddle of water. It seemed as windy there as anywhere else, but there they were, napping. Front left, Luna; front right, Butch. Back left to right: Steeldust, Alpha and Storm.

And here’s Sundance and the gang, just to the right of Steeldust’s. Left to right: Mahogany, Kestrel, Sable, Sundance, Mouse and Aspen.

Then I saw this critter:

He was on my side of the arroyo from the horses, and I think he saw me just a second before I saw him – we looked at each other for another second, then he was off!

I like to see the pronghorn antelope. They sometimes act as sentinels for a band. One “barked” at me once, to alert the horses I was there. I think that was Steeldust’s band, too, and they weren’t worried, which seemed to bother the poor prongs.

The horses are watching the pronghorn, but Luna is watching something else …

… something that made SD a little restless. I also included this pic because I love the “frosted” effect of Storm’s winter coat as he sheds his baby red for big-boy grey.

Off he went across the arroyo to tell Comanche in no uncertain terms that his proximity was unwelcome!

And trotting back to his lady before Butch could get any ideas (too late for the ideas part …). And I included this photo in part to show how scarred Steeldust is. I’ve seen pix of grey stallions from other herds looking mightily battle-scarred, but not so many of our stallions show that degree of scarring – except this boy. (Mesa, the solid bay stallion with the pintos, shows a fair amount of scarring, and Aspen does, a bit, too, but they really show up on SD.)

Comanche was unperturbed and settled in for a nap of his own.

You have to use your imagination here a little, but he is definitely nursing – she finally took a step forward, raised her hind leg when he tried to go back for seconds – and he smacked his lips while enjoying up the last delicious yumminess of mama’s milk!

Love this. 🙂

Different angle on SunnyD’s: Aspen behind Mouse, Sable, Mahogany facing away, Kestrel and Sundance.

Butch and Luna at left; Sable, Mahogany, Kestrel, Sundance and Mouse clustering against the wind, and Aspen.

Together … separate.

Instead of getting kicked out of the band, Butch and Sundance seem to have figured out ways to stay … We’ll just have to stay tuned, won’t we!?

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Categories : Alpha, Aspen, Butch, Comanche, Kestrel, Luna, Mahogany, Mouse, Sable, Steeldust, Storm, Sundance

Boys (and girls) of spring

12 04 2010

It was such a busy couple of days in the basin last week – just a snapshot for me of their daily lives – that I hardly know where to start. Well, Roja’s foal – that was the obvious start. 🙂 But step two?

The boys are *charged* right now, and it seems no boys nowhere are more charged than those swirling within and around Steeldust’s band. In fact, I’m starting to think it’s a bit of a misnomer to call it Steeldust’s band – he has eyes, it seems, only for Alpha and watches the chaotic goings-on around him with no apparent interest in getting involved himself. I did see him one day – from a distance – being chased in circles by Sundance or Butch, and I was amazed to see that Butch or Sundance had the upper hand – err, hoof. The pink boy finally let up, and Steeldust loped (yes, loped – slow and easy like he had all the time in the world) back to Alpha and Storm. Butch has latched firmly onto Luna (?), Sundance hangs out mostly with Mahogany and Sable and Luna’s daughter Kestrel. Ember and Pinon seem to hang out together – with Hook!? Aspen – wait till you see an up-close and personal shot of that boy’s cheek scars – is nearly constantly pushing against Mouse and Comanche in his quest to sneak somebody – anybody? – away.

And then there was Hollywood and his new acquisition – which was only temporary, much to – warning, anthro – her relief and my delight. The proximity of – at least – those two bands made for some wild and crazy horse action … and it’s likely to only intensify as the mares foal and come back into heat. I think we’re standing by for some possible big(ger?) changes this spring in band dynamics.

But to take step two and ease a bit of the previous post’s dour (but realistic) mood, here is a series of three pix of two of our youngest boys, Cuatro and Hayden:

The sniff

The nibble

The truce

Of course, a little later, Hayden was following Cuatro … with his stout little baby teeth firmly clamped upon most of Cuatro’s tail. 🙂

Are you curious about Aspen’s sparring scars?

Ouch.

The ponies were grazing right up on the very sides of Round Top, which placed them very conveniently for me on my way to get a look at Roja’s “shadow.”

Kestrel, Storm and Colorado mountain goat, err, I mean Alpha. What do you think about Kestrel? Pregnant? She’s 3 this spring. She’s in my “expect to foal” category. She looks it from this angle, eh?

Steeldust and Alpha …

Luna and Butch …

All together now …

Storm-chaser on guard …

Ain’t he a handsome sucker? Oh, and I think I wrote in a post from last week that Alpha seemed to be weaning him … but in the evening of the day this was taken, I think I saw him nursing – but I was too slow in swinging the camera on them (they were at a distance) to see for sure.

More to come … and an update from a fellow visitor: Shadow, David’s black 3-year-old mare, may have had her foal!

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Categories : Alpha, Aspen, Butch, Cuatro, Hayden, Kestrel, Luna, Steeldust, Storm

Stallion circus … then naps

1 04 2010

Spring is in the air, but it hasn’t quite sprung … as evidenced by the fresh coating of snow we have this morning. And the ponies are all still quite fuzzy, so I knew we were not quite done with this long winter.

The following pictures are from my visit last week with Steeldust’s band. The stallions were kicking up quite a fuss from the time I saw them initially to a few minutes after I arrived to visit them … then they apparently came to some agreement, and it was nap time!

Here we have Butch guarding Luna with Steeldust, Storm and Alpha in the background. I can’t quite explain the behavior here, even if Butch is NOT a son of Luna’s … because Luna hasn’t even foaled yet. However, she should be quite close. She’s “due” next week. Steeldust and his little mini-family were, with a nod to Storm’s name – the eye of it – they barely moved during the whole visit, even with stallions and the other horses swirling, literally, around them.

Daring Aspen, walking quite close to the band. Aspen isn’t even one of the two semi-permanent bachelors attached to this band. That’s Sundance, possibly Butch’s brother, trying to fend him off.

Now that’s Mouse in the background, and although it looks like he’s after Sundance, he’s just hurrying him on his way (after horses you’ll see in the next image) so he can deal with Aspen.

Sundance was happy when he got back with the girls – Kestrel, Mahogany and Sable.

Sundance and Butch were likely born into this band, and, for whatever reason, Steeldust seems to have no interest in kicking them out. So they have a free pass to wander within the band. Mouse is the lieutenant …

… and Comanche has his back as first sergeant. The pix are a little out of chronological order now, but it illustrates the hierarchy. Here, he’s chasing Aspen, the bay, and Hook, the grey at left. Aspen outranks Hook (but it should be noted that they both have stolen lovely Piedra from dun Hollywood – in two separate years). In the back at right is almost-2-year-old Pinon, still too young – mostly – to join in stallion games.

Hook. This pic and the next were taken before the above “chat” between Comanche, Aspen and Hook. Hook was minding his own business on the very outskirts of the band. Two youngsters were keeping him company … or he was keeping them company …

Ember, left, and Pinon are yearmates. Ember is about a month older than Pinon, and she calls the shots (her mother also outranks his mother), but one of the things I love about watching wild horses is evidenced right there in that image. It’s quiet. It’s not obvious, but it’s right there. It’s a deep bond between two horses that have known each other their entire lives, have grown up together, surrounded by adult horses that feed them, teach them, nurture them, include them. It’s a beautiful thing. It IS obvious.

Notice how Steeldust, Storm and Alpha have barely changed a step since the first photo. 🙂 Behind them: Kestrel, Sable and Mahogany. In the middle: Hannah and Sundance. Luna and Butch at right, and behind them, Mouse. They’re starting to settle down.

Sisters Kestrel and Ember, almost 3 and almost 2.

Luna, Hannah and Butch, shortly before Hannah laid down.

Baby girl down. (She’ll be a year old next week!)

Sundance standing with Sable and Mahogany. Sable will be a year old in a month.

SunnyD and Mouse

SunnyD at left, Sable lying down, mama Mahogany standing, Kestrel behind her, Aspen in the back.

Kestrel down … and here you can just see Ember’s ears behind her and Sable.

After SunnyD laid down.

Wider view … (no Aspen)

Four-square faces. 🙂 (And just the edge of Ember’s.)

Storm-chaser and his mama … my, what a big boy you are! He’ll be 2 in July. For the first time, I saw him make a half-hearted attempt to nurse, but she backed away from him, and he stretched and abandoned the attempt.

Sleepy Storm

Steeldust and mama Alpha

These next two pictures are the ones I “stitched” in Photoshop:

Left side …

… right side.

Luna is due next week … did I mention that? 🙂

Lovely Luna

I eventually got chilled by the relentless wind, so I tiptoed away. At the top of the ridge, I found a small group of muley does. I stopped, but when I moved again, they realized I was “not native” (!) and took off!

Down the other side, they found Bruiser, Cinch and Twister for me! From the top, I watched them, then saw the pintos … and watched Mesa go out for a chat with the boys. Ty was napping with Reya standing over him … Hmm … When he got up, though, they walked back toward the band. I’m kind of expecting almost-3-year-old Reya to have a baby this year. I didn’t go down to them for a closer look, though. I noticed water in the dugout pond, and by that time Steeldust’s band was grazing their way toward the ridge, so I thought they might be coming toward the water. I took another trail back to the base of Round Top.

An hour or so later …

While I visited with Grey/Traveler’s band, this was my last view of Steeldust’s band, on the ridge from which I saw the pintos, out on the other side. 🙂

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Categories : Alpha, Aspen, Butch, Comanche, Ember, Hannah, Hook, Kestrel, Luna, Mahogany, Mouse, Pinon, Sable, Steeldust, Storm, Sundance

Steel-o-pan-o-rama

27 03 2010

While the horses in Steeldust’s band were still napping, I tiptoed away, then turned back to take this pic – actually, these two pix. Then I let Photoshop stitch ’em! The horses were so quiet and still, they apparently didn’t move a hair! So my first attempt at a panorama of animals has turned out better than any series I’ve ever stitched together of inanimate objects!

Go figure. 🙂

From left: Alpha and Steeldust, Hannah and Storm (yes – note the slightly redder hue of her coat and the browner hue of his – they’re lying flat out 🙂 ), Sundance behind Mahogany, Sable, Kestrel, Mouse behind Kestrel, Ember, barely a bit of Comanche and Aspen!

It’s so hard to get all the horses in one picture close enough to identify them and not have them be just a blob of horseness out in the distance. While they were quiet, it was cool to take a couple of pix and combine it later. Not in the picture are Luna and Butch – to the left – and Hook and Pinon, hidden in a bit of a draw behind these guys.

I’m slowly but surely getting through the pix and posting stuff as it moves me – hope that’s OK!

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Categories : Alpha, Aspen, Comanche, Ember, Hannah, Kestrel, Mahogany, Mouse, Sable, Steeldust, Storm, Sundance

Mudders

5 03 2010

It was April 3 last year before I reported in my notes that I did not see cattle in the basin. Shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that some cattle remain in the basin past their deadline to be out again this year.

That’s the herd area boundary fence. I’m on the road, just before crossing the cattle guard into the horses’ home.

She looks dark – she’s dark red. No calf. The other cows I saw both have calves.

This was just one of those stellar kinds of day. It included horses and hikes and back to the Earth, staring wide-eyed and grateful at clouds in the turquoise heavens. Can you imagine it? It was warm, but there was a nip – still – to that returned March wind (ooh, yeah, it’s back). Perfect day to be walking around the far-out outback, a place filled to the brim with wild still-muddy magic.

So it’s a bit messy … life ain’t perfect. 😉

Steeldust’s mob were the first visible, so I made for them. They were napping as early clouds gave way to sunshine. Aspen and Hook are still hanging on. Storm, Hannah and Alpha were lying down when I arrived; Comanche, Pinon and Kestrel laid down while I visited. Ol’ Steely Dan has a few new scars. He continues to stick close to Alpha; Storm continues to take advantage of the mommy bar.

Nap time (back, left to right: Alpha, Storm and Steeldust; front from left: Sundance, Mahogany, Sable, Luna and Pinon)

Did you see this in the background of the above pic?

Then there was this …

How familiar does this look? (Notice Comanche giving them a wide berth in the background as Steeldust guards Alpha.)

Boy’s got it bad for the girl. 😉

Ember’s hanging out with big boys Aspen and Hook.

Kestrel and Mouse

Sleepy tired boy Pinon

The sun finally cleared the clouds, and I left the ponies to their naps (Butch makes an appearance here, behind Luna; SunnyD is beside her, Kestrel behind them).

All hills make for good mysteries – what’s over the summit? What’s around the bend? In the basin, the potential for horses to be around every bend, on the other side of every hill, below every ridge, is enormous.

Seven’s were out on the saddle, relaxed and soaking up the shine of late-winter sun.

At first glance, they were alone, but guess who was around another bend – or three … a ridge or two?

Pinto ponies

And look who else was closer:

Bruiser …

David and Shadow (oops! I thought I had put their picture into the post but realized later I didn’t) …

… and Cinch and Twister!

It was great to see them, but our visit didn’t last long. They decided they’d rather be on the other side of that hill, and I just didn’t have the oomph to continue on through the mud in the “away” direction. So I went back to share lunch with Seven’s.

OK, so they weren’t interested in what passed for my lunch, but we shared a little stretch of real estate between hills, bounded by ridges, together under the sun.

They were as relaxed as I’ve ever seen them, OK with me sitting on a branch, elevated above the mud.

They’ve been playing in the mud fields …

I might feel compelled to eat my shoe if I ever found out he was NOT a son of Grey/Traveler’s. If he was aged correctly, the boy is 10 this year (hard to believe, eh?). He certainly has gone grey-er in the past couple of years. Handsome, handsome mister … just like daddy.

Speaking of, two white “dots” sandwiching a dark speck way out yonder turned out to be my boy and Houdini and Terra. Seven decided to take a nap under a tree, so I hit the trail.

Headlights caught my eye, flashing as the truck to which they belonged popped over a hill on the road out yonder. The road was a little soft, a little dry, a little damp … I was surprised to see it. But before long, it stopped … hit reverse … discharged a camo-clothed passenger … swapped end for end, re-admitted the man and headed back the way it had come. I found their ruts later.

Bounce’s band came into view … then Hollywood’s. Then … Jif! She was walking up out of an arroyo kind of between me and Bounce’s band, and pretty quickly, Hayden and Cuatro, then Chrome, then Two Boots followed her. What a wonderful surprise! And a reminder how easy it is for horses to be out of sight very nearby.

Hayden is nursing.

Cuatro grazing with stepdaddy Chrome.

Cuatro grazing with stepbrother Hayden!

Fuzzy-fuzzy!

See the white dot, the dark dot and the grey dot “above” Jif? That’s Grey/Traveler, Terra and Houdini.

Sweet, sweet day in the company of many of those I hold dear. Always a wonderful way to spend a day.

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Categories : Alegre, Alpha, Aspen, Bounce, Bruiser, Butch, Chrome, Cinch, Comanche, Cuatro, David, Ember, Gaia, Grey, Hannah, Hayden, Hook, Houdini, Jif, Kestrel, Liberty, Luna, Mahogany, Mouse, Pinon, pintos, Roja, Sable, Seven, Shadow, Steeldust, Storm, Sundance, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Whisper, Ze

Deep in the heart of winter

9 01 2010

Do you see what I see? Steeldust’s band (mostly stretched out from left to center) and cattle (mostly at right) and snow, some clouds, some blue skies. Winter in Spring Creek Basin.

The day was beautiful with some clouds. I had been watching the forecast extremely closely – and snow in the forecast – again – had me threatening postal actions if it kept me from the horses – again! Someone must have been listening (!) because it was a lovely day and fairly warm, and I was able to drive quite a way into the heart of the basin before I started my hike-about.

As you can see from the above photo, snow covers the ground fairly uniformly in the basin, even though most of the upper Disappointment Valley was just spotty with snow – again. Brown across the vast sweep … until the western rim of our small wonderland, tucked up against the eastern ridges.

Shades of blue and grey and red-going-grey.

But before I saw Grey/Traveler and Houdini and Terra … I had a Duke sighting! He was napping, so not moving, and he was far enough away that I couldn’t see details about his condition, but it was great to see him.

And I saw three horses, even farther away – mostly likely Seven, Roja and Ze, though it was hard to tell for sure with the sunshine glaring against the bright snow.

Daughter and Daddy

Stepping in sync.

And this was the first change: Iya is not with Grey’s band now … likely with Chrome’s, but I couldn’t confirm that because I didn’t spot them this visit.

Some of the cattle have ranged out to the east-west hill, and that’s where I found Steeldust’s band. Aspen was with them …

… but not Hook.

Comanche (above) and Mouse are still with the band, of course, and Mouse is finally interested in Kestrel.

I’ve been waiting … 🙂 But she seems to be making him wait, too. We won’t know for sure until later this spring whether she’s already been bred, but from his interest, I’d guess not, even though it seems unlikely at her age (3 this spring). Then again, she’s still with her natal band, which also is fairly unusual.

Sable-girl is still nursing.

Luna looks fabulous as always!

And so does her littlest girl. She had just settled down for a nap, and I was preparing to move sideways to get rid of the bush in the foreground and the manure pile behind her … but she had caught the attention of someone else …

Lift your right hoof up and shake it all about!

Lift your left hoof up and shake it all about!

That didn’t seem to have the desired effect, though, so he regroups.

He starts his new approach … sweet nuzzlings …

Until he finds something sweet to nibble.

Take that! For whatever reason – maybe it would have put her off balance – she didn’t crane her neck back and bite him in the schnoz!

He is not deterred, and she is getting mad.

What? he asks. He’s the very picture of innocence!

And finally she can’t stand it anymore! What a little schnitzel, that Storm!

He’s a growing boy – look how big he looks next to Steeldust. He’ll be 2 this summer.

Steeldust with Storm’s mama …

Isn’t she a lovely, lovely girl!

What do you suppose Sundance is thinking?

Ember and Comanche lagged behind as the horses crossed a shallow arroyo toward a group of cattle, but they caught up quickly. Comanche has never been quite as outgoing as Mouse, but he’s pretty comfortable with the youngsters. He was first through the arroyo and stopped to wait for her … but she tossed her head at him as she passed. Well, in another year, she may feel differently … 🙂 She’ll be 2 in April.

Dancing Mouse

Three of the ma-moos sharing the basin for the next less-than-two-months. Heavy pregnant (should be), but they’re sure in good shape, eh?

Ahh … this is the better view, eh? Mahogany and Hannah … and a familiar background …

When the horses walked this way, they directed my attention to three horses farther on, at the base of Knife Edge. My mind was on Hook, most recently known to be with Aspen, and my first thought was Hook and – little reddish-grey with a star – Twister – back together? But who was the third horse? Could have been a mud-covered spotted boy (Cinch or Bruiser) with the other one out of sight … could have been a mud-covered Roach (looked bigger than Poco) with Poco out of sight … But while I was trying to identify the third horse, I finally realized “Twister” was, in fact, Sage! Which meant Piedra. So then I thought, OK, it’s Hollywood, covered in mud and looking grey. I headed toward them … and made the ID.

Did no one figure out – from the post below – it was Hook, with McKenna Peak in the background? 🙂

Welladay, isn’t that a surprise?

Not a sign of Hollywood and Baylee … presumed still together.

She looks concerned, doesn’t she. One day at a time … it’s a good lesson for us all.

Well, you see how I could have mistaken him for Twister … from a distance … Don’t worry about the strange look of his lower side and back leg – it’s just wet from lying in the snow.

Knife Edge in the background.

Look wintry enough for ya’ll?

I think Sage got his daddy’s ears. 🙂 And look how fuzzy they are! I’m still thinking Sage is turning grey, but he still has a dorsal stripe. And lest ya’ll forget it’s high desert in far-west Colorado, check out the yucca behind Piedra.

His namesake hook-snip has faded, but he’s still a handsome boy.

We get used to the families, but their families are dynamic, and dynamics change. It’s natural for the young bachelors to seek their own families, and in the few years that we have between roundups, we start to see some of the natural dynamics more easily seen in larger herds – all the more fascinating and amazing.

The more things change … some things still stay the same. On my way back, I saw Bounce’s family … which still includes little Liberty. A sighting to feel great about! Too far for pictures, and my time was growing short (as always), so I stored the memory in my heart and continued on.

Just before I got back to the Jeep, I came over a hill and found Grey/Traveler again. Moments after that, the sun dropped out of the clouds … moments before it slid below Filly Peak. So I leave you with the very last picture from my memory card … but, of course, not the last image of my memory …

Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Alpha, Aspen, Comanche, Ember, Grey, Hannah, Hook, Houdini, Kestrel, Luna, Mahogany, Mouse, Piedra, Sable, Sage, Steeldust, Storm, Sundance, Terra

Searching

10 11 2009

Last weekend was about searching for horses, in particular Duke, Molly and Liberty, Poco and Roach and baby Hayden. I found Hayden and Poco and Roach.

The end of the third rifle season was Friday or Saturday, depending on which DOW schedule was right, and I mostly had the basin and the horses to myself – ah, peace. I haven’t seen the pintos since the start of hunting season, I think, probably because of pressure from the road, close to which is the only water source I know of for them.

One of the bands that has NOT been hard to see recently – Kreacher’s – was briefly sighted up by the northwest road, then not again. I did get lucky and saw most of the others both days I was out.

Grey/Traveler was babysitting his youngsters – safely tucked into the saltbush taking their afternoon naps – while mamas and Iya were out grazing. Chrome and his new family were nearby, baby Hayden also taking his nap.

It was pretty windy both days (very still and nice until Saturday mid-morning) but mostly sunny and perfect temperature. Still some shade in the very shadiest of the most-north-facing hills but otherwise totally dry – except “the squish” on the loop road down from the roller-coaster hill, but not a problem to drive through.

The first clutch came when I found Steeldust’s band near the north-south road north of the Flat Top pond (which continues to shrink). Hook was with the band, and Aspen, but Twister was not with Hook. Maintaining my practice of not letting ya’ll share (some of ) my worry, he’s with Cinch and Bruiser! Not too much of a surprise, given they were all out on the Round Top-Flat Top saddle the previous weekend. AND the very first time I ever saw Mister Twister, he was with Cinch and Corazon.

Comanche and Mouse were napping on the far side of the band, and only Aspen and Hook gave me the eyeball while I visited (I don’t think Mouse moved so much as a hoof). Steeldust was hanging out with Alpha on the other far side of the band, and he apparently was completely unconcerned that Aspen and Hook were closer to his ladies and babies (except Alpha and Storm) than he was. Is Alpha in heat? There was no activity to suggest that; they were very quiet, sharing each other’s company in the sunshine. I just like to speculate. Storm-chaser is holding onto baby-hood as long as he can.

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Hook and Ember napping. They weren’t as close as they look in this photo. That’s Hollywood’s band way out in the distance on the east-west hill.

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Sundance roused from his nap long enough to greet Aspen and Hook, and after a couple of squeals and sniffs, went right back to the band.

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Is it just me, or is Mouse getting stocky as he grows up?

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Handsome curious boys

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Front: Mahogany and Sable. Back: Ember and Pinon.

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Sleepy, sleepy babies: Ember, Pinon, Hannah and Luna

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A little after the previous photo, Hannah laid down. In the “near” background is the east-west hill – that’s where Hollywood’s band was hanging out both days.

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“Baby” Storm is still nursing. Mama Alpha still lets him. Steeldust was just to the right.

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Comanche.

Whaddy’a think? They look sleepy … and they look fantastic, eh? 🙂

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You all, of course, know the Twister “mystery,” but I didn’t yet at that point. This pic was taken from the west-side loop road looking back at the band. Those crazy ponies didn’t even move in the time it took me to drive around there – well, Storm walked over to the main group. Lower left: Steeldust and Alpha. Looming weirdly hugely in the background is Filly Peak.

Seven’s band was between the Round Top road and roller-coaster ridge pond, Bounce’s was between the pond and the ridge, and Cinch, Bruiser and Twister were out between Round Top and the weird guzzler. No Molly and/or Liberty to be seen. Bounce’s were right at the base of the ridge, so when I drove over, I decided to walk down and around them to get better light. But before I got “better” light, I got light that loved Alegre.

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Love that rim lighting on her forelock and tail as she stands over her baby Whisper, who is growing up into a fine young boy.

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Handsome handsome!

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Just like daddy Bounce!

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Sweetest bravest curious-est girl Gaia 🙂

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She’s still baby-clacking.

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While I was visiting with and photographing Bounce’s band, Seven was curiously and calmly watching. Then he walked down to get a drink from the pond, just a little bit in front of him, out of this frame.

I checked the hunter camp on the hilltop overlooking Wildcat Spring. Except for four ribcages, four mule deer heads (antlers cut out) and hides, two gut piles and three entrance routes to the hill from the main road, the only speck of trash I found was a bottle cap. I guess I get leaving the leftovers for the ravens (they didn’t seem to find the stuff till the next day, making me wonder how recently the hunters left) and coyotes, but did they have to dump it down the hill on the side of the spring/canyon?? And the three routes they drove in – I hope – illustrates the need to prohibit off-road travel in an area of limited forage. How long will it take for grass – or anything else – to grow back in that poor (poor as in not very fertile) soil the horses depend on?

The sun was close to the horizon (I always forget how early it comes when we turn back the clocks) by then, so I headed out, hoping to find Grey’s and Chrome’s still in the flats. Oh, lucky me … but the long shadows were growing longer by the second.

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You can see that the shade has overtaken them by this point … See that white-ish blur at upper left? That’s Grey/Traveler. His band was out to the right.

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Hayden looks back at me and Chrome takes the opportunity to investigate the little mister. That’s Grey’s butt between his ears; an unfortunate angle, but I didn’t want to move and lose the moment! Remember how I originally described Hayden’s star as diamond-shaped? What does it most resemble now?? Be still my so-lost heart.

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This is how close they were … and how calm. Still in the sunshine, barely. Jif and Hayden were to the right; Grey/Traveler was over to the left as far back as his band. In the background, from left: Iya, Houdini, Terra and Cuatro. I think Two Boots was closer to Grey.

Lovely day and evening. 🙂

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Categories : Alegre, Alpha, Aspen, Bounce, Chrome, Comanche, Cuatro, Ember, Gaia, Hannah, Hook, Iya, Luna, Mahogany, Mouse, Pinon, Sable, Seven, Steeldust, Storm, Sundance, Terra, Whisper

Catching up

22 10 2009

“There are 85,000 apps that can do almost anything.”

I have two questions: Wasn’t it just 75,000 a week ago? And … what the heck is an “app”? Or is it ap? Appy? Appaloosa? OK, now we’re talking my language. (If “almost anything” will select and cull my photos, download them, pick ones for the blog and tweak ’em and upload ’em … just tell me how to get one.)

Nope, no appys in this post, but I think it gets me up to just a week behind (it’ll widen again in a couple of days, no worries).

L&K beat me to the basin that morning. They know the ponies like nobody’s business, and it’s awesome having them out to visit. We were both optimistic and worried when we didn’t find Mr. Duke where they had seen him the day before. Unfortunately, none of us have seen him since.

Our first visit was with Steeldust’s band, who were drinking at the catchment. The three misters (Aspen, Hook and Twister) were there, too, drinking from the smaller trough.

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Big band at the big tank; misters at the little tank.

We stood at the road and took pictures … and after drinking, the horses wandered up to say hello!

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Alpha, Butch, Ember and Hannah

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Look at that big little guy! I don’t know whether he’s getting anything … but he’s still nursing – and mama Alpha is still letting him! Steeldust at left; Hannah at right.

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Then he goes over and pokes at Mr. Twister, who is hanging out with the big boys now. Twister’s getting his licks in now …

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Storm chases Twister …

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Twister flashes his heels (which I was too late to catch), and Storm-chaser backs off. Works every time.

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And then they were friends. There’s Comanche on the left, Mouse on the right, Aspen at far back right and Hook behind him.

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Sisters Ember (near) and Kestrel. Notice Storm (and Hannah) coming up behind them and young Pinon, also looking at something in the background.

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What are they looking at?

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Right to left: Ember, Kestrel, Luna, Butch and Hannah. Could be five generations there if Butch is, indeed, one of Luna’s brood.

L&K saw Cinch and Bruiser later when they drove to Flat Top to check the pond, so in hind sight, I wonder whether the ponies were checking out those boys out yonder.

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After Storm got his fill of boy time, he remembered his gentlemanly manners by escorting mistress Hannah back to the band … which she clearly didn’t appreciate – look at those ears! And big sisters Ember and Kestrel are posing prettily for the camera.

As the horses moved closer and closer to the road, we decided we might be blocking their route, so off we went.

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On the way down the hill, I saw Mahogany and Sable looking down from the ridge, so I stopped the Jeep and grabbed a shot.

While L&K went to check the pond, I went on to check the Wildcat boulders.

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Fabulous!!

While I was going clockwise around the loop, L&K were going counter-clockwise. Not a single pony was in view for me. Both the pond right by the road in the east and the east-pocket pond still have water. I was looking hard for Poco and Roach – and L&K saw them right before they saw me – but I never saw the boys. In fact, when I spied the wandering elusive-ites, L&K were already watching them … and worried about the one they didn’t see.

Seven’s were down on the southwest side of the roller-coaster ridge, out away from the pond, which also still has water. Seven, check. Roja and Ze, check. Liberty … all alone … where’s Molly? Liberty was by herself a short distance from the other horses, and while we watched, she turned and walked away. Seven and Roja and Ze followed, and they all dropped down into a wash out of sight. Every once in a while, we could see somebody’s back, but none of those backs were Molly’s. There were a few dead junipers out there and one alive. Knowing Molly-girl’s penchant for napping under trees, I thought she might have hung back while the other horses moseyed on, grazing. My theory was that when Liberty got out away from her, she decided she wasn’t going any farther and went back to Mama. Given Molly’s known condition – even though we also knew she had been seen recently by J&K – not seeing her worried us.

There was nothing for it but to walk out to get the scoop, for better or for worse. When I got to the edge of the wash and saw Liberty nursing from Molly, I was able to flash L&K the thumbs-up!

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It is what it is.

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Roja, little chow-hound that she is, never even looked up at me, and that in itself was a surprise. She’s usually the first to “alert.” Maybe I’m growing on her. 🙂

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Silent sentinel. He also was very relaxed with me there.

I took just a few photos and left them – no worries from me, ponies.

Bounce and his band were on the other side of the ridge.

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Whisper, Bounce, Gaia and Alegre. They like this bend of the arroyo (and not just them – Poco and Roach, Hollywood’s … ), which is weird (?) because there’s no water in that section, but there is water farther west.

On the way back to the west-side loop road, we spotted Grey/Traveler’s way – WAY – off yonder under some trees sort of eastish of Round Top – between RT and the weird guzzler. I figure sometime between then and Sunday was when Chrome “acquired” Jif and Hayden.

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Hollywood had his band out on the east-west hill; that’s him at right. Then Piedra, Sage and Baylee.

Am I right, or was it warm?

Out on the flats east of the catchment were the misters and Steeldust’s band. (Keep that in mind.)

We got back to Filly Peak, and I hiked out “behind” the hill to check for Duke, and L&K went on down to the trap-road pond to look for him. We all came up unlucky. But guess who I did see from back yonder?

And that jogs the memory – on our way into the basin, they were out on the corral hill. So when I saw Kreacher’s band – traitors included – they were heading north toward – I thought – the catchment. I reunited with L&K and gave them the report, and sure enough, the band popped up and went to the big catchment trough. They drank, then headed back the way they had come and dropped back over the edge. We drove back over and were able to see them down on the flats south of the catchment.

L&K had a drive back to their home away from home, and I had a “date,” so we headed toward the entrance.

But the ponies had other ideas (don’t they always?). I guess they weren’t quite ready to say good-by to these fans-of-theirs … Remember I said Steeldust’s band had been out on the flats east of the catchment? By the time we got back around to just past Filly Peak … they were blocking the road!

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Mama Alpha and big-baby Storm (he had just finished nursing – again).

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Muddy brother Pinon, Sable and Mahogany. You can see the road above/behind them.

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Lovely Kestrel and Sable and Mahogany

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Must have been that time of day. Hannah and Luna (road again behind them).

So pony time intervened, and there was nothing to do but watch and admire and take pictures and smile and smile and smile. 🙂 A minute after I figured I had to be leaving, the ponies were across and off the road, and we were on our way.

Can’t have a much better fare-thee-well than that! 😉

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Categories : Alegre, Alpha, Aspen, Baylee, Bounce, Butch, Comanche, Ember, Gaia, Hannah, Hollywood, Hook, Kestrel, Liberty, Luna, Mahogany, Molly, Mouse, Piedra, Pinon, Roja, Sable, Sage, Seven, Steeldust, Storm, Twister, Whisper, Ze

Updates

13 09 2009

No on Jif, but I have an ETA: sometime while I’m on vacation till the end of the month. Har.

Also have ETW – estimated time of work – on the two ponds: Sept. 21. Rain is falling and/or threatening every day, but the basin is still very dry. The two re-filled ponds in the east are holding, but the small pond by the entrance has dried up again.

Le petite Jif is mongo enormous. If she wasn’t so little to start with, I’d be afraid of twins.

Jif and Traveler

This photo doesn’t even do justice to the enormity of her belly. She’s bagging up but neither tight nor even full yet.

Coming into the main part of the basin, the first horses I saw were Kreacher, Mona and Kootenai … and then a grey horse and a dun horse behind them – Grey/Traveler and Jif. Uh … whoa! White spot on the hillside … it’s a mountain goat … it’s Houdini!

Count the ponies

Test your skills; how many horses do you see? Every horse in Kreacher’s and Traveler’s bands is pictured, including bachelor Chrome … who may not be a bachelor anymore …

Mona, Kreacher, Kootenai

A boy and his girls.

Queen of the hill

Two Boots was the highest of the horses. I thought it was a little strange that Grey was at the base of the hill with Jif, while all the others – including Chrome – were up on the hill, but the ole man is, well, older. Maybe he he’s scared of heights (!?), maybe he just didn’t see the need to act like a mountain goat at that particular time, maybe he was perfectly content hanging out with his expectant-mama-mare. He’s a daddy many times over; he has to know (one wonders what he thinks about her being so late in the season). Chrome was closest to Two Boots and Cuatro, as seen in the pic, but Iya and Houdini and Terra were all up there as well – to the right and slightly below.

(Wannabe) king o' da hill

Chrome stayed fairly close – while Traveler was conveniently at the base of the hill – but he was very polite. Two Boots hardly spared him a glance, the vixen.

Napping

Meanwhile, Traveler and Jif were about as calm as could be. (Belly-osity!)

Iya rocks

She’s not much in the looks department, but she was a perfect little mountain goat.

Iya, Terra, Houdini

Mama and her girls (Iya is a yearling, Terra was born May 1).

Terra and Houdini

Rockin'

It was so weird to see them on the hill among all the rocks that I could hardly get enough of documenting it. They must have thought I was crazy (har har).

Diagonal

Top to bottom: Chrome, Cuatro, Two Boots, Terra, Houdini, Iya

It was pretty windy, and the horses were protected by the hill (that’s Filly Peak, by the way; did I already mention that?). Aspen was gone again, and I thought he might have hooked back up with Hook and Twister. I did find Hook and Twister, on my way out to the east-side loop road to view Steeldust’s and Hollywood’s bands on the east-west hill. Hook and little mister Twister were out on the flats northeast of the catchment. They must have seen me (Jeep) long before I saw them, of course. When I spotted them, they were standing well off the road, facing toward me, seemingly watching the shadows roll.

Hook and Twister

Duke and Raven and Corona have taken to the mountain-goat philosophy of late as well, and they were up toward Klondike Basin. I often wonder where those horses are getting their water, and especially seeing them so high lately, I wonder where they might have found a stash, or whether they’re really walking as far as where they are and where *I* know water to be.

Do you know the saying “better to stay and watch the wildlife you see than leave to look for wildlife you haven’t seen yet”? I decided to check SD’s and Holls’ bands closer rather than driving around looking for Bounce’s or Seven’s. Piedra and Sage were barely visible – tops of their backs – in a little draw on the hill east of Steeldust’s band, and Poco wasn’t visible at all. So I decided to hang out and watch and catch up on my notes until he made an appearance. Juuuust checking, don’tcha know.

Steeldust's and Hollywood's bands

At far right is Hollywood and Baylee. See how you can’t see their legs (!)? They’re on the edge of the little draw Piedra, Sage and Poco were in – out of sight. Left of them, you can see Roach, and “below” him, Comanche. The rest of Steeldust’s band is spread out to the left.

Poco finally did appear, but it took quite a while, and it made me aware of the difficulties other people face while viewing the horses. Hmm, maybe “difficulties” is the wrong word. But people have told me, “I saw x horses” in a particular band, which I know to have y horses. Distance, light, geography – all play a part in viewing, and the moral of the story is this: Just sit awhile and watch and enjoy and let the horses reveal themselves to you. You’ll probably see more than you bargained for. 🙂

By the time Poco made his nonchalant appearance and I turned around, the sky to the north was brewing with some dark, rain-swollen clouds. Not to worry, I had earlier (unblogged) confirmed that Liberty, daughter of Molly and Seven, is indeed still with the band. I had previously seen – and reported – all her band mates. She’s very dark now and very much a muley bay. Unlike Molly’s reddish-bay – about the same color Liberty was born – the filly is much darker now over most of her body, with her muzzle and elbow and flank areas lighter tan, just like, well, some mules I’ve seen. Dear old Molly is a bit thin but no thinner than previously. Roja is a tub like always. Ze is tall and full of spunk like his daddy, and I think he may be tending toward adult grey from his baby bay.

Driving back through the flats toward the catchment, I saw Hook and Twister again … and company. Aspen was galloping across a far ridge toward them. The last time I saw them, from Filly Peak with the mountain-goats-turned-horses, all three were running on or near the road toward Flat Top.

Run, boys, run

Kreacher was watching them; that’s why I turned around – to see what he was looking at. There’s some territory between me and them, and between them and Knife Edge in the background.

Traveler’s band had come down from the hillside and moved to the other side of their little “cove” about midway down/up Filly Peak along the road. His band was still close to the base of the hill, and Kreacher’s were still closer to the road. But there was a very interesting dynamic now very apparent: Chrome was standing between Traveler and Two Boots and Cuatro.

Chrome on guard

Grey/Traveler and Houdini, Iya, Terra and Jif were back to the left. Kreacher’s band was also to the left, closer to the road. I was shooting from the road outside the Jeep.

Passing

Kreacher and Mona followed Kootenai, out of frame to right. Also out of this frame is Terra. See the edge of the boulder up at the right edge of the frame, right of Traveler? She was by that boulder.

Kreacher

And Houdini and Traveler.

Houdini and Traveler

And Kreacher. 🙂 Fun little focus exercise.

Kreacher love Mona

Right after this, he nudged too hard, and she swished her tail and walked away from him. Love ain’t easy, pal.

When Kreacher followed his girls farther west, Chrome moved to stay between them and Two Boots and Cuatro. He then pushed them out from under the tree – a few steps closer to the band – and took the tree shade for himself (so much for Mr. Polite?).

Two Boots and Cuatro

Cuatro and Chrome

I didn’t know what to think at this point. Two Boots could have walked right back over to the band, but she didn’t. So has Chrome “claimed” her … or what? I couldn’t tell, and although I earlier urged spending time with the horses, this time, I decided to leave so I didn’t interfere. Not that I could change things to suit my human-centered manifest destiny, but I’d be very happy to see Two Boots with Chrome. Especially now, with Jif so close to foaling. If Chrome gets 2B, and is happy and content, he might be more likely to leave Traveler’s band alone, especially when Jif decides she’s ready to reveal her babe to the world, which would be easier on Traveler, trying to defend his family. Counting Twister, Traveler’s is the first band since the roundup to show some kind of normal family activity with the band stallion kicking out maturing young horses (even though neither is his offspring). I keep wondering when Steely Dan is going to give the boot, err, hoof, to Butch and Sundance.

Extended family

From a different angle, you can’t tell how close – or far away – they are from each other because of lens compression.

Grey and his girl

Right now, Terra is Traveler’s only confirmed offspring, and I love how they seem to be framed here … by family.

As noted earlier, I’m headed off on a two-week adventure at the end of the coming week. I will visit the ponies on my way out of Dodge but probably won’t post another report until I return – unless the little missus delivers her baby and I can’t wait to spread the news. Among other destinations, I plan visits to the McCullough Peaks and Pryor Mountain herds … one just through a roundup, the other to go through it soon.

Angels, watch over the horses …

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Categories : Aspen, Baylee, Chrome, Cuatro, Grey, Hollywood, Hook, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kootenai, Kreacher, Mona, New girls, Steeldust, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Uncategorized

Wild about mustangs

4 09 2009

This post, from a visit to the basin two weeks ago, has been a long time coming, but before I get to my horses, I’d like to offer a little prayer for the Pryor Mountain mustangs and all those who love and cherish those horses in particular.

Two weeks ago, our Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners were anticipating a visit with Dan Elkins and Karen Herman from New Mexico. Dan has been doing a technique of gathering wild horses called bait trapping for the past six years. Recently in the Carson National Forest in New Mexico, they implemented that state’s first PZP program. By using his unique mineral and salt mix, Dan is able to bring horses to a trap site by band, calmly. He can then corral an entire group of horses by family band or single out particular horses for removal. Since I visited the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range in September 2007 and learned about this alternative to helicopter-driven roundups, and realized documentation of a band could help, I’ve been working toward this goal for our next gather.

Dan and Karen also are certified to administer PZP, a fertility control drug that can reduce birth rates and thus the need for frequent gathers. With Dan and Karen offering both a humane option for gathering and removing horses (with just 22,000 acres of less-than-ideal habitat, it has to be done) AND the ability to implement a program designed to remove horses less often (which incidentally means the horses now in the basin may have the opportunity to live free and wild longer (forever?) on their home range), it seems to be a win-win project for us! Our fingers are collectively crossed that the BLM sees the logic here as well!

I went out early to scout the horses and spend some extra time with them alone. It was the first time I’d been out for an overnight trip since the almost-end of foaling season. And we come to the reason for such a long wait between horse stories: I saw every band but Seven’s, and I was able to spend some time with each of them – a nice change from the never-long-enough day trips. But it made for a LOT of photos, which just took a long time to go through. I do have a day job, ya know!

It was another one of those weekends that make it to the “amazing visit” category. The horses were pretty calm for the most part. Traveler’s band was the most unsettled, with both Chrome and Aspen swirling around them. And no, Jif still has not foaled, which you saw in the previous post.

Kreacher’s band was out past the Spring Creek canyon area when I first drove into the basin.

Hollywood’s band was first up at a close distance. Poco and Roach are still with the band, and they seem to have a relationship that works for all involved.

Mama, Daddy, baby

Piedra, Hollywood and Sage.

Baylee and Hollywood

Oh, that Hollywood; such a lover. 🙂

Perfect scratching post

Sage was very solid while Mama satisfied an itch.

Like begets like

Couldn’t tell these two are related, eh …??

Sage

I dare you to look at this pic and not burst into a spontaneous chuckle! 🙂

Poco

Being the lieutenant has its perks. Poco has clearly been a visitor to the Wildcat Spring and Day Spa!

Roach

Isn’t he in great shape?

Hollywood

Thanks for a terrific visit, pal!

Steeldust’s band was lounging up the hill in the shade east of Wildcat. The usual cast of characters were in attendance, including these two misters:

Twister and Hook

I was glad to see these boys still together. I don’t know that you can say Hook is really taking care of 2-year-old Twister, but at least they’re staying together.

Mahogany and Sable

While I was watching Twister and Hook, who were on a hill across a little drainage from where Steeldust’s band was, Mahogany came walking behind me, followed by baby Sable and yearling Pinon … followed by Lt. Mouse. Hmm. What’s this? I wondered whether Mouse had sort of selected them out … but they went a little farther down the hill past me, then around some trees and back to the band. Like that’s what they had intended to do all along.

Mouse

Sable

A closer look at Mahogany’s little girl.

Alpha and Luna

The queens of Steeldust’s heart, err, band.

Shady boys

Storm and Steeldust and Alpha and others hanging out under the trees. It was warm – up to 92 degrees – but not unbearable.

Had just a short visit with them that time because I got a late start to the basin, and I hadn’t yet seen Grey/Traveler and his band, which meant I hadn’t seen Jif. I got a wonderful surprise when I got around to the formerly (!) dry pond right beside the road …

Water in a dry land

Yay! We’re unfortunately still waiting for just two of the five originally identified ponds to be dug out in the hopes that they will hold water when it rains enough. I’ll say here that my idea of quality and quantity of water don’t match the BLM’s idea for what the horses need, but I’ll also say that we’re working on that issue.

Next, I had the most amazing visit with Bounce’s band.

Gaia, Whisper and Alegre

Beautiful mama with her gorgeous babies. That little Whisper is so cute I can hardly stand it! And Gaia, who has been such a mama’s girl (and step-daddy’s, too), is finding her courage to indulge her curiosity.

Bounce and family

Alegre and Whisper

Whisper

Isn’t he just handsome? Clearly going grey.

Family backyard

Bounce

Coming to say hello.

It was an amazing visit I can’t do justice to with pictures.

Then Grey/Traveler’s band was back in the east pocket beyond the pond – Chrome and Aspen both with the band. And another great surprise! That pond was full, too! Among other things, this might tell you where the rain is falling in the basin.

Little Miss Friendly

I wonder whether Daddy knows his baby girl (Terra) is fraternizing with the enemy (Chrome).

Aspen in the lead

As you can see, Traveler had other concerns. That’s Jif behind him.

Speaking of Jif, let’s show off the belly again:

Jif

She’s in good condition.

Iya and Two Boots

So … Iya, front/left, is a yearling, and Two Boots (named with a nod to Pryor stallion Two Boots, by the way) is her 2-year-old “big” sister. They don’t look much alike, besides the size comparison, do they? But as far as I know (???), they have the same sire, a grey stallion I called Junior who was gathered and removed in 2007.

Cuatro

Little man following Mama. You can see his grey-ness, too.

Terra

Big, beautiful sister! No sign of a limp.

Grandma and grandbaby

Houdini and her baby Two Boots’ baby Cuatro!

Traveler

Chrome

He is persistent …

Git

Traveler going after Aspen.

Leaving it to the lieutenant

Here, he’s letting Chrome take care of Aspen …

Airs above ground

Quite a show, but they didn’t come to blows (sorry).

Traveler had to keep Chrome away, too, and at one point, they came around the band to where I was.

One grey

Chrome

Chrome was surprised enough to find himself close to me that he was distracted, and Traveler went confidently back to his band. Sorry, pal. 🙂

As if that wasn’t enough, Bounce came trotting over to get the low-down.

Wind in his mane

Defiant

Bounce and Aspen. My goodness, check out that kick!

Dominance

There was a great deal of sniffing and posturing, but in the end, neither Aspen nor Chrome really challenged elder Bounce.

Belly view

Another view of our girl.

Jif and Iya and band

The band was remarkably calm, given what was going on, but they didn’t stay in one place very long.

So I left them to their evening and decided to try to find Duke’s merry little band. They proved not very hard to find, right by the road near the northwestern entrance.

Duke

Maybe you know my penchant for dark bay horses, but don’t tell me he doesn’t just glow in that lovely light! The sun was very low, and the shadow from the hill on the boundary was creeping steadily toward the horses.