Corona and Gaia bellies

5 05 2012

Raven and Kestrel are pretty hugely pregnant. Either or both might foal before I get back into the basin. They’re due May 10 and May 9, respectively.

But there was a request to show Corona’s and Gaia’s bellies, so here you go!

Corona is fairly small, even as mustangs go. The foal’s sire is Grey/Traveler, with whom she has been since last spring. I’ve gone back and forth all spring about whether I think she actually is pregnant. Some days she looks more pregnant than others. Her udder is fuller than normal, though, so I think she has a baby in the belly. Corona is out of Raven, from Sand Wash Basin, and by that range’s stunning stallion Corona – hence her name. (This is known from documentation by an HSUS employee during that time.) Raven, Kootenai and Mona came from Sand Wash Basin in 2008, part of an introduction to keep our Spring Creek Basin genetics healthy.

Gaia at rest. What? You say you can’t see the belly?

Gaia grazing. Her mama is the lovely Alegre; her sire is unknown (she was born in 2008, the year after the 2007 roundup). Her foal’s sire is Cinch.

They both are currently in Grey/Traveler’s band. This will be the first foal for both mares, so due dates are unknown. Neither one looks particularly close, eh?

Speaking of the gorgeous guy … While his girls (and yes, they’re all girls so far!) were napping, he took advantage of the calm morning and warm sunshine to catch a few winks himself. Here, he’s looking at Maia, up from her nap and nursing from mama Alegre. Just a bit later, he was off to treat with Poco, who was poking about alone, having left Duke and Kreacher to themselves (Kreach was much more interested in the stranger than was Duke). Roach was most recently seen with Tenaz … but Hayden seems to have left or been kicked out of Chrome’s band and may be nearby. Poco and Roach seem to split up every spring to go on walkabout, but they always find their way back to each other.





Soft light

12 04 2012

About-to-be-first-time mamas Gaia and Corona – both in Grey/Traveler’s band – are hanging out close together these days.

Little Corona’s little belly is bulging.





Expectant

12 04 2012

Although Corona doesn’t look very wide here, from the side, she is definitely bulging now!

Bounce and Tenaz had split from Seven and Aspen and were down the hill; the girls are watching them … and possibly the pronghorn does farther beyond them, coming up from the arroyo.

Alegre is due in May. Corona’s and Gaia’s due dates are anyone’s guess!





Sun spots

17 03 2012

Maybe not the spots you were expecting.

Corona backlit.

I confess that I’m not sure about her pregnancy status. She ought to be, having been with Grey/Traveler since last spring. (Even after the roundup and a brief sojourn with Tenaz, he got her back.) But she’s so small, it’s hard to tell.

She will turn 3 the end of April, born the spring after her mama, Raven, and Mona and Kootenai were introduced from Sand Wash Basin. (This is done periodically here to help ensure our herd’s genetic diversity, and these three mares represent the third such introduction that I’m familiar with.) From documentary photos of the Sand Wash Basin mustangs before their 2008 roundup, I know Raven was with that basin’s famous and fabulous stallion Corona – for whom I named our Corona.

I *think* she is pregnant – she has a way of walking that seems to accommodate a bigger belly than she’s used to.

What do you all think??





Aurora, Corona & Gaia

4 03 2012

Did I post this already? Thank you all for your patience while I’ve been busily engaged elsewhere. I should be back to fairly regular Internet service now … and back to regular postings of pictures and tales about our Spring Creek Basin beauties!

Aurora, left, Corona, center, and Gaia alert and/or snoozing in the snowy sunshine a coupla-few weeks ago. ‘Rora looks black as jet, but I love Gaia’s rich red against the snow, and even Corona seems less “light” against that pure whiteness.

This was taken during a hike when I also saw Sundance’s band close, and Duke and Kreacher, and Chrome’s and Aspen’s bands at a distance. I may have some news soon about whether Roja and Killian did, indeed, rejoin Aspen, Mona and Shane.

So, a bit of explanation: Part of my busy-ness these last few (several?) weeks has involved walking fence lines. Several places were cut before the roundup. Fortunately, we have been able to get those cuts fixed. All the horses are safe and sound within protected boundaries. In a few weeks, a group of students from the University of Missouri will be in the area during their annual “alternative spring break.” Students usually spend a day in the basin on a projects (cutting and spraying tamarisk the last few years) and then other projects on local public lands during the rest of their stay. This year, they will spend two days in the basin repairing and rebuilding fence. We are always happy to have their volunteer labor and cheerful help! This is a program organized through San Juan Mountains Association (part of our Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners coalition) with BLM and other volunteer groups. We have certainly put partnerships to good work here.





Play!

11 02 2012

Babies don’t need an excuse to play. But snow and crisp light make a good excuse to play!

Aurora kicking up snow!

When the tail flies, fun is being had!

Coming to rest between Corona and mama Alegre (barely visible at back left).

Baby at home with Brumley Point in the background.

Another update: Seven is back with Aurora’s daddy Bounce and young Tenaz. Duke and Kreacher are still a pair.





Fascination

9 01 2012

When I take people to the basin to see the horses, or when I tell them about visiting the basin and the horses, I always make sure to tell them the first rule of the basin: No agenda.

Part of the basin’s magic is that it will give you amazing gifts – if you’re open to receiving them. If you’re closed – if you go with an agenda, with things to do and things you *must* see and a time by which you *must* leave – the basin will close its magic to you.

I didn’t make this rule, but I learned it right away. I forget it from time to time … and then the basin graciously re-teaches me the lesson, and I gratefully accept.

Aspen

Mona

Shane

I spotted these ponies nearly as soon as I drove into the basin. I didn’t know I was looking for them, but I was. 🙂 Saw a few more from a distance, but although there’s not much snow, there’s enough that parts of the road are pretty muddy, especially past about 9:30 a.m. So I walked out to Aspen’s band and hung out with them for a bit, then climbed one of the twin buttes to look for whoever else might be in view to be seen. Found a great rock upon which to perch and enjoy some strawberries while I glassed the great yonder. Heard a squeal behind me. Thought it was Aspen again trying to love on Mona, but I got up and looked over the edge …

Remember last year, when I found Corona alone? For whatever reason (known only to her), she wandered away from her family and teased Storm (still with mama Alpha then) for about a week, maybe, before she went back to mama Raven and family.

The week before last, Corona’s wanderlust hit again, and she wandered off. Alone.

This last week, she’s back.

The squeal? Grey/Traveler courting Miss Shane. 🙂 Oh, that lover.

She’s not ready to leave mama yet, though.

Lesson: Be open to the gifts available. 🙂

Forget the birds and the bees. Humm and buzz. Ponies, though … fascination.

After their initial flirt, he grazed his way back up the hill. From the butte, I could see Gaia and Aurora at the top, Houdini on the other side. He disappeared over the top … then reappeared – barely – and stood there, seeming to nap. Shane, with the curiosity of the young and the can’t-help-herself of her filly nature, went up, up, up … And he waited for her to come to him. Are men so patient? Are women? 🙂 Is he awesome or what?

Oh, yes, he did eventually tire of waiting and turned to pursuit.

Besides horse beauty … what are you seeing?

Rather – NOT seeing?

Proof – there’s still some around.

Snow, aye?

Handsomest.

Prettiest. I had been sitting up on the saddle of the hill when beautiful girl came into view.

Aurora …

… and Gaia were lovely in the light.

Houdini was visible from twin butte but not from closer. I walked up over. I walked around. I didn’t see her again until I was leaving – hi, girl! – and off she went to join her compadres.

Grumpy Corona back with the family.

Aurora, fuzzy and furry.

Like daughter, like mama!

Baby needs her mama still.

He amazes me.

She awes me.

She delights me.

She fascinates me!

Aspen wasn’t at all worried about Shane, and he never made any move toward Grey at all … but he stayed quietly by Mona, who quietly grazed. How I wish I could interpret all the equine language that must have been flowing!

He’s harmless, eh? Mmhmm.

The sun was sinking, sliding, slipping and disappearing behind the hills, the one we were on, the one farthest west.

Light that made the north hills glow like autumn in January. (I don’t know why she always seems to look so grouchy!) Nice wee belly, eh?

And a last shot of the mister.

Best medicine for what ails ye – for whatever ails ye.

Best lessons are best learned over and over again. 🙂





Days, running

27 12 2011

Even at the end of the year, where does the time go? It’s that short light … except I have that problem, too, when the days are long!

Some more pix from my visit with Grey/Traveler’s band last week … Alegre and Aurora. Starting to see a bit of  a belly there. 🙂

‘Rora on the ridge.

Beloved boy, quiet and watchful – Alegre and Aurora were just to the left.

Corona with the big view. She ought to be pregnant with Grey’s foal for spring.

Beautiful mustangy mustang Houdini-girl. She’ll be pregnant with Grey’s foal.

Alegre should be pregnant with Bounce’s foal, and Gaia should be in foal to Cinch.

Houdini leading, Aurora and Alegre following. Can’t beat that dramatic background, eh? We’re about in the heart of the basin, and those are the eastern ridges that form that side’s boundary (the unnamed promontory, McKenna Peak and Brumley Point are southish … to the right).

On top of the ridge, they could see Storm and Shadow grazing not too far away (but separated by some broken ground including one decent arroyo). Grey’s looking at them while little Miss Curiosity checks on my whereabouts.

My new favorite pic of Storm. 🙂 He’s galloping after Shadow, who broke into a run as the paths of the horses started to converge up near the pond. As far as I could tell, they (the bands) never did get particularly close to each other, and I saw them later, from another part of the basin, separately grazing.

They do use the roads in the basin – particularly in the winter – for easier walking where it suits them. Grey’s band took the Flat Top road, and Storm and Shadow took the north-south road. The snow last week ranged from a pretty light dusting (from overnight) to at least 6 inches back near the Round Top area. It hasn’t snowed again since then and, in fact, has been fairly warm – into the 40s! La Nina is supposed to give us less snow but cold temps – we have less snow and not very cold temps (the overnight lows get pretty chilly with the clear skies). We always worry about snow – more is better for the coming year. But it’s early yet … the days are just on their way to getting longer. 🙂

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!





Blues and Grey

27 12 2011

Muddy silver boy. Can’t even tell you how much I love this horse.

Corona and Gaia

Alegre, Houdini and Grey/Traveler. Don’t they look fantastic?!

* Sort-of update about Roja and Killian. I didn’t see them, but the only other horses I didn’t see were the pintos, David (alone last week when I found out that Roja and Killian were missing from Aspen’s band) and Chrome’s band. I think it’s most likely that Chrome has them … but I don’t know where the pintos are these days – or Chrome’s, for that matter! Did see Duke and Kreacher, and also saw Poco and Roach! They know where they are … I just have to find them. 😉





Silver and snow

12 12 2011

And a million other colors, too.

Baby Aurora nuzzles mama Alegre … whose dredlocks grow ever longer. The ends brush over the sage and saltbush when she grazes.

Talk about a splash of color! Against the glare of sunlight and snow, from a distance, she looked as black as ‘Rora.

With sister and mama.

It’s not an easy thing, photographing a wee black girl against a big white world.

Easier to shoot white on white!

Especially sprinkled with a dash of copper color!

Pale girls stand out against far blue hills.

She looks serene but for the settling toss of her mane! Caught a pause while she was rolling.

Isn’t she shiny and gorgeous? Looks so much like daddy Bounce.

Beloved boy is taking excellent care of her …

… of them all.

Silver, shining.