Mama-daughter faces

19 06 2013

Cassidy Rain with mama Gaia.

This image was taken while looking for Roja’s baby (who hasn’t yet made her or his appearance). It was a happy diversion!

Above: Gaia with her own big-girl baby, Cassidy Rain.





Happy June

1 06 2013

Cassidy Rain

Cassidy Rain. Dark like her daddy, without his spots





Earth and Storm

14 05 2013

Gaia and Storm

It sprinkled today, but you’d never know it. Gaia-girl and Storm, along with Cassidy Rain and Roja, were at the Sorrel Flats pond. Walking to the east-pocket pond (to the north) were Seven, Puzzle, Shadow and Tesora. That’s a little change of location for them. There was a lone pronghorn with them when I first saw them, but it didn’t follow them to the pond.

Roja is due to foal in a couple of days, but she doesn’t look imminently due. She lost her foal in 2012, so I’m basing her due date on the approximate time she should have foaled last year.

Roja at the Sorrel Flats pond.

Some high, thin clouds allowed some light to filter down during the early evening, and it rims the girl in such a lovely way.

And because we can’t forget Miss Cassidy Rain:

Cassidy Rain at the Sorrel Flats pond.

She pops up over a little hill, and she gives ME the schnortle! She’ll celebrate her first birthday in early June.





Outstanding from the shadows

7 05 2013

Gaia and Cassidy Rain

Gaia and daughter Cassidy Rain. Love the richness of their coats against the green of their world.





Pretty girl and a peak

18 03 2013

Cassidy Rain in front of McKenna Peak.

Cassidy Rain about a week ago in front of snow-covered McKenna Peak. The snow now has melted.





All is well

14 03 2013

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Storm checking in with Cassidy Rain, Roja and Killian. Gaia was just to the right. They were above the pond but kept looking at the hill beyond, even after they drank and left. My poor human eyes couldn’t find what was so interesting over there, but the horses knew it!





Precious water

13 03 2013

All but three of our 10 ponds have water. Of the three that don’t, one still is on the list of priority ponds to be dug out (set by Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners and BLM in 2008), one was dug out last year, and one was started last year and about half dug out before rain hit. To date, only two ponds haven’t been dug out since 2009.

Gaia, Storm, Cassidy Rain, Killian and Roja drinking at the double pond.

Storm and his band are seen here drinking from the main double pond (both have water, but only one was dug out, so I should amend my earlier statement, but only the main pond holds water reliably). From left: Gaia, Storm, Cassidy Rain, Killian and Roja. Do you see the ice still on the pond?

Gaia, Storm and Cassidy Rain drinking at the double pond.

So dainty!





Hello, my pretties!

4 03 2013

Gaia and Cassidy Rain!

The lovely Gaia and her gorgeous daughter, Cassidy Rain. They’re in Storm’s band with Roja and her almost-2-year-old colt, Killian.

It was a cloudy, stormy-looking day, but no moisture for Spring Creek Basin. The band was near the roller-coaster ridge pond, which has water, and closer to a big arroyo, which has water trickling downstream. And there’s still a bit of snow in that area (and mud on my boots to prove it!), which is reassuring.





Sweet and dark

15 12 2012

Our herd manager, Kiley Whited, has moved on from BLM to a job with NRCS, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

He leaves big shoes to fill, as we valued his management style and always-positive demeanor. We couldn’t have been happier with his friendliness, level of professionalism and genuine interest in the Spring Creek Basin mustangs. We were able to get the fertility control program started with his involvement. It will continue in no small part because of his encouragement. He also championed the future use of bait trapping as a safer method of gathering horses in this small herd.

Our Cassidy Rain – possibly a great-granddaughter of Traveler – was named in tribute to Kiley’s baby daughter, Cassidy. These photos were taken earlier this week.

Cassidy Rain

She’s as dark as her sire, Cinch, with none of his spots.

Cassidy Rain and Roja

With “auntie” Roja.

Cassidy Rain

Sassy girl flirting with the afternoon light. On the hill behind her is some of the snow we got Sunday.

Cassidy Rain

Lovely girl.

We wish Kiley and his family well, though we will miss him!





Water babies

21 11 2012

Finding water is serious business for wild horses. But there’s always time for a little fun!

See Killian (yearling) and Cassidy Rain (6 months old) drinking in an arroyo.

See Killian and Cassidy Rain play!

See Killian and Cassidy Rain, beautiful babies!