Cuatro | Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Lessons from the herd

12 10 2010

Two fathers met in a wide valley and thought to meet with a swagger, each self-assured of his own dominance, while their families occupied themselves nearby – apart.

But then a wee daughter was curious and walked out toward the fray.

The fathers knew to protect the babe above all else – whether she was theirs or another’s.

Swagger dropped. Family men were calmed.

And all because of an innocent babe.

I have to admit I was nervous when I saw Winona walking directly toward Seven (seen at back left) and Comanche (center), who were together in the sniffing-striking posture. But I could see exactly when THEY became aware of her walking to them, and they broke apart, and that’s what you see here. Kestrel is grazing at left, in front of Seven. Cuatro (darker) and Twister are grazing at right. ‘Nona is with her adored stepdaddy, Comanche, center. Seven hung around just a little bit as if to say, well, I’m not afraid of you, and don’t take this as me backing down, but there are children present after all … then returned to his band.

Meanwhile, Bruiser in the foreground, and Spring, Shane, Mona and Ze in the background. The other horses are out farther and to the right.

Baby girl and ‘daddy, heading back to mama. She adores him, as I mentioned … and it’s clear the feeling is mutual. He’s simply a daddy wrapped around four tiny black hooves.

Back with mama, and all is well.

Meanwhile, look who came to visit:

Twister. 🙂 Isn’t he a handsome boy!

How do they know when to posture and when to nurture?

Elder … Not challenging, just watching Seven’s in the distance. This is what I was aiming at when Comanche then walked past, resulting in the photo a couple of posts earlier.

Followed by Winona and Kestrel.

Seven watching in return …

How astonishing are they?!

It seems to me you could illustrate a whole book on how humans *ought* to interact with each other and treat each other with photos – lessons – “from the herd” … Much like Cowboy Ethics, a collaboration by photographer David Stoecklein and writer James Owen.

Defend your family.

Children above all else.

Know when to walk away.

Be curious.

Know the land beneath your feet.

Learn from and respect your elders.

Live in the moment.

Share.

What else?

Comments : 10 Comments »

Categories : Bruiser, Comanche, Cuatro, Kestrel, Mona, Roja, Seven, Shane, Spring, Twister, Winona, Ze

Fall boys

5 10 2010

Being a loner isn’t strictly a situation of “human terms.” A couple of our boys are – sometimes, according to some inner chord that strikes them – loners. When I first saw Mesa, he was alone. Mostly, since he’s been with the southside boys, then the pintos, he stays with company. But Duke has shown his sometimes-preference for being alone – before he had Raven and Corona and, especially, since he lost them back to Kreacher. And Bruiser had been alone for weeks. Talk about wondering what they’re thinking!

So I was glad to see him with Twister and Cuatro! In my own human terms, I’d have loved to have seen Duke with them!

Duke is still wandering, and Poco and Roach hang together, by themselves, but our other bachelors are at least buddied up with families – with “Steeldust’s band” and with the pintos. These boys were close to Comanche’s little family, which includes Kestrel and Winona, and they were briefly close to Seven’s while Mona was leading them across the flats.

Cuatro looks so much like his mama now, it’s hard to see markers that may hint at the other contributor to his genes! Love the red still in his mane. Twister looks so much like Grey/Traveler now, I can hardly see anything else when I look at him. I recently looked at some pix from when I first saw him – with Bruiser and Cinch! – how little he was! Already fuzzy – that was October, I think – keeping up with the big boys. Hasn’t been an easy life for this youngster – by human terms? – but he seems so self-assured and seems to take his “responsibility” for Cuatro seriously. Mona and Kestrel were very nearby, but they seemed only mildly interested in them, and Comanche was worried less about them than about elder Bruiser (how old IS Bruiser?) – though Bruise kept a pretty respectful distance, farther than the boys, who might have seemed part of the band if you didn’t know better.

Just love their little-boy faces! And Twister, who has always seemed small, looks now taller than stout Bruiser!

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Categories : Bruiser, Cuatro, Twister

From a day

18 09 2010

The horses were at significant distances from the roads lately, possibly because of the activity going on – ponds getting dug out! Because two of the three ponds on the priority list filled up with water from the rain this summer, BLM looked outside the box and had the two dry ponds dug out – as well as the one dry pond on the list. The two “extra” ponds were still a little wet – in fact, the first one the BLM dozer guy dug out now actually has a little water in it from last week’s rain! And the other dry pond had gotten wet and muddy from a previous rain, and that one, the dozer guy eventually had to abandon – possibly for later – because it was still pretty wet and he had concerns about getting stuck. But it’s deeper than it was, and we’re dry again, so more rain could come at any timely moment for us!

This pond is right off the road in the eastern part of the basin. In the distance you can see the boundary ridge with the unnamed promontory and McKenna Peak (the “pyramid” sticking up behind the treed ridge, which is part of what I call Lizard Mesa).

Wider view …

Pushing sticky wet dirt/mud up the bank …

Farther east and a bit south of the previous pond, this area is called “sorrel flats.” It was on the original list of ponds to be dug out.

This is the pond up in the northwest part of the herd area. It rarely holds water and usually briefly, but of course, now that it’s on the list (anchoring the fifth and last spot), it has water – and for weeks. It’s very shallow – you can see the vegetation sticking up – but water in that area encourages the horses to use that area. Very pretty back there – and great views of most of the basin!

While the dozer was out, the operator smoothed some of our “rough edges,” aka arroyos that were in need of “smoothing”! This one is near sorrel flats and had become a “drainage hole” with just a Jeep-size squeezable slot to drive through (ask me how I know – there’s an arroyo crossing I call “the squish” because it’s almost always a little wet and muddy; this arroyo was in danger of becoming “the squeeze” … and then impassable!). We appreciate the extra work. 🙂

And of course, we did see some horses …

Grey/Traveler napping with his girls … (Gemma is being shy)

There’s mama Houdini and lovely girl Gemma.

Very near the first pond that was dug out (a couple of weeks ago). It was dug out deep enough, and the water is still shallow enough, that we couldn’t see it, but Hollywood’s band knew it was there – and took advantage!

We also saw Liberty and Cinch just off the road.

He trotted with her a short distance away …

… then stopped and watched again. I’m not sure what he’s looking at here, but Liberty is clearly very much at ease with him.

We also spotted these boys – Twister and Cuatro – WAY on the other side of the basin from where they were last week – and minus Duke.

Two Boots and baby Rio in the shade of Filly Peak. Driving up, I almost didn’t see them because of the glare. Chrome didn’t move too much – he’s a fair distance to the left.

Hayden and his mama, Jif.

Wonderful day – full of sunshine and good spirits … and a few tears. Glad to see the ponds dug out. Now we just need them full!

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Cinch, Cuatro, Gemma, Grey, Hayden, Houdini, Jif, Liberty, Ponds, Rio, Terra, Twister, Two Boots

A few cute boys

11 09 2010

Look who we found, speaking of good-looking boys! I visited the basin with friend and artist Karen Keene Day, and what a wonderful visit it was. When we walked up to visit Steeldust’s band (Comanche’s have split away again), we had the great luck of finding youngsters Twister and Cuatro with them, as well as Duke!

Cuatro is the son of Grey/Traveler or Twister. Which one? I don’t know, though earlier, I thought I saw a resemblance to Twister, adored yearmate of mama Two Boots. While watching Twister and Cuatro, I saw a striking resemblance, all right, but it wasn’t between Cuatro and Twister …

Do you see it? I wasn’t trying to see it, wasn’t even thinking about it.

In those big eyes, the broad, intelligent forehead, the tapering muzzle? The color doesn’t hurt.

Twister, Cuatro and Duke … the younger with the elder …

Sundance, Twister and Aspen

Handsome Duke

I’d rather see more of Twister – or less – but this was too nice of Duke to pass up. Such a lovely boy.

Mouse and Sundance …

A few seconds later. 🙂

Sundance in the foreground, Mouse at right, Aspen at back left. Three handsome boys against the blue wild sky.

Cuatro and Twister – son and sire … or brothers?

So have you wracked your brains as to resemblance?

Is it there? Do you see it? Or is it just me, something I hope to see?

I’ll leave you with one more of handsome boys, forever cast on a hillside of late-summer green light and golden grasses.

Comments : 8 Comments »

Categories : Aspen, Butch, Cuatro, Duke, Mouse, Sundance, Twister

On the way

19 07 2010

Chrome’s band were camouflaged among the rocks and trees on the flank of Filly Peak when the fire management officer and I arrived in the basin last week to check the status of the tree fire. We stopped quite a distance away to allow Jif to see us, recognize us, do what she was going to do. She had been very comfortable with visitors, but about a month or two ago now, that changed, and she’s quite concerned with vehicles …

They did run down the hill and gathered – and stopped – right above the road. I had thought she’d take them at least out into the open – across the road – but just down from the confines of the rocks and trees and “nowhere to go,” she was perfectly content. When it was apparent they were going back to grazing and were calm and relaxed, on we drove, not even raising dust with the cautiousness of our forward-creep.

Respectful visitors get a view like this! Relaxed alpha-mom Jif and her big boy Hayden. Shot through the passenger window.

Cuatro greeting big-stepdaddy Chrome near little bro Rio and mama Two Boots. We got shade under what I think was the last big cloud of the day.

Chrome’s band? Misnomer. What I really mean to say is Jif’s band!

No disrespect, big guy. You’re a fabulous band stallion! 🙂

We saw a few other bands from a distance, but nobody else close until we got to this “exotic” band, just before we stopped to hike up to the tree:

Almost looks like they’re still shedding a bit, eh? As hot as it is! There were at least five pronghorn in this group, including a buck. I rarely see pronghorn antelope in the basin, and when I do, they’re almost always single, so this was a big group!

Always something of interest through the trees, around the bend, over the hill. Magic of discovery. 🙂

Comments : 5 Comments »

Categories : Chrome, Cuatro, Hayden, Jif, Rio, Two Boots, Wildlife

First light

13 07 2010

The morning I found the fire, I found something else first: mountain-goat ponies!

Chrome’s band up on the high western boundary. They are the one band hanging around somewhat consistently in this area within proximity of the water catchment. I hope at least a couple of other bands are taking advantage of the good water; I’ve seen Kreacher’s and Grey/Traveler’s in the region.

Jif as sentinel. Love her color in that early morning light with the earth of her home reflecting up at her, her reflecting it out … love it. Anybody taking bets on the belly? If she foals in August or very early September, Grey bred her before Chrome stole her … Otherwise, it will be Chrome’s baby – possibly his first?!

Two Boots and Rio at the top of the world. It really does fall off in rimrock cliffs that form the westering boundary of the basin … but not TOO close …!

Love this little mister!

Disappointment Valley stretches out and away beyond Chrome, Rio and Two Boots. Spring Creek Basin is tucked into a little paradise at the valley’s eastern edge. This is looking sort of north-northwest.

Looking more westerly over the valley. This is what happens when you “bandolier” your camera and your hip fires shots without your consent – or help with composition! Quite a fall from the rimrock here. Toward the lower center, you can kind of make out the road to the basin that crosses private ranch land.

Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Chrome, Cuatro, Hayden, Jif, Rio, Two Boots

Ode to brothers

11 07 2010

Lippy little boys like to chew on things. Mom will do, but moms get annoyed, and you don’t want to upset the flank that feeds you. So siblings do even better … until they decide enough is enough and are always coming after YOU.

Rio and Cuatro were standing head to head when I first saw the band, some distance away from Two Boots and closest to Chrome, playing gently with each other. Even big brothers know you have to be gentle with baby. Then they turned their attention on Hayden – well, Cuatro did, and Rio stuck right to his side.

Hayden decided the best maneuver is “escape,” so he’s trying to walk away (and he may realize that Cuatro has something of a “shield” now in the form of baby Rio). See Rio’s legs and tip of his ear on the other side of Cuatro?

“See, kid, this is how ya do it, give ‘im a big bite right in the stifle.”

“Whoa, little bro – time to stop! See, ma’am, we were just horsin’ around …”

And there you have it, the most fearsome creature known to little boys – horses or humans: Alpha Mare/Mom! 🙂

And then little boys who can go to find their own comforting mamas, always willing to welcome them.

“The end.” 🙂

Well, one more:

Rio and Cuatro

Love these boys. 🙂

Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Cuatro, Hayden, Jif, Rio

One tree, multi-shading

2 07 2010

Chrome and his family were finding a little refuge from the gnats under a juniper when I arrived this week. The ever-present breeze helps some, too.

Very nearby, Two Boots and Rio.

The gang’s all there. What a cool tree, eh?

Comments : 5 Comments »

Categories : Chrome, Cuatro, Hayden, Jif, Rio, Two Boots

For friends

26 06 2010

The following pix are specifically for my Girls Horse Club friends Rochlia, Victory Cowgirl and Toppyrocks. 🙂 I was thinking about ya’ll when I took pix of your favorites!

Chrome, looking very handsome. From the same visit as the pix of Rio in the post below.

Here’s Cuatro very submissively greeting him; Two Boots and Rio behind them.

Our jet black girl Shadow and her baby, Wind. His dark coat is starting to shine through his baby coat.

Ty was right with them, but the pintos were nowhere in sight. I’m sorry I didn’t get a better “stallion” picture of the boy – he was so relaxed, he barely looked up from his grazing, and never long enough for me to catch him at it! 😉

Just for reference, here’s Shadow’s stallion, David, calmly browsing on greasewood – but definitely between Shadow and Wind and Ty. We were very excited to see these horses right off the road each time we drove by. But we never saw the pinto band (which are not all pintos).

Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Chrome, Cuatro, David, Shadow, Two Boots, Ty, Wind

A Rio story

25 06 2010

The horses and I have fabulous new friends from Florida! Muchas gracias to T and L for making the loooong trek (and I’m just talking about within the state of Colorado!) out to see our amazing Spring Creek Basin mustangs. I hope you had as much fun meeting them as I had introducing them to you!

Chrome’s family was the first to greet us when we arrived nearly mid-afternoon. The sun was harsh, the ponies were lovely, and Rio gave us a little glimpse of the handsome mustang he’s becoming!