Grey | Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Family visit

20 08 2009

In this case, the family was mine – literally. My mom and dad’s 40th anniversary (!) was last weekend, so they decided to come to Colorado for their first summer visit ever. My uncle T and cousin K also came – for their first visit to Colorado ever! Naturally, a visit to my four-legged family was high on the list.

It would have been top of the list but for the rain the visitors pushed into Colorado ahead of their visits from points southeast and west. We waited a day to allow the basin to dry out, and except for the washes across the Disappointment Road as we drove there, all was otherwise dry …

But almost immediately we saw the most beloved horse – of this family, anyway! – in the basin: Grey/Traveler’s band, still shadowed by Chrome. They were very near the road to the old trap site, and Kreacher and the girls were also close by, closer to the shallow pond – the only pond that has water currently.

All at ease

The boy with his girls and one little boy. Yes, yes, you see only two little bodies; our dear Jif is taking her own sweet time.

Shadow-Chrome

There’s Chrome at right, looking pretty worn out. I guess his plan isn’t working against the old man of the basin. The horses were considerably calmer than the first time I saw Chrome with them. Ahh … the young men, always thinking their youth is more than a match for wisdom – usually wrongly.

Away, the girls

After we had watched the horses for a few minutes, Kootenai decided to leave, so she turned and led the horses toward the pond. They paused there but didn’t drink. They ended up at the catchment, followed by Traveler’s band.

Keepin-up Kreacher

This is one young man who knows who the boss is! He followed his girls, lickety split.

Traveler’s band looked quite calm, so we headed on to see who else we could see.

Steeldust’s band was up on the northeast hills – we could see them through the binoculars. All was looking good for us getting to where they were … until we came down the hill and around the curve and stopped dead at the wash of mud and boulders where the road had previously gone over the first Spring Creek crossing. Uh oh. To be sure, there were only four boulders, and none were very big – except the first one, closest to the Jeep side of the crossing – but the whole situation stopped us as if we’d been facing a raging river. There was a bit of water still flowing from previous rains, which is always good for the horses, so it was hard to be totally upset that I’ve been able to take everyone else out to the basin to see the horses, but then when my very own family comes, I get stymied at the first major arroyo! 🙂

I do have to mention the bet my uncle lost. He bet that the dry pond by Flat Top would have water in it from the recent rain. Unfortunately, I won.

But of course, all was not lost. Grey/Traveler and his band and Chrome and Kreacher and the girls were calmly grazing west of the catchment, so we got to see them again as we drove out. (Oh, and Cinch and Bruiser were up on the hill with Steeldust’s band.)

We headed down the Disappointment Road with the high hopes of seeing the pintos. Not too far into Dolores County, my dad sounded the horse alert: David and Shadow RIGHT inside the fence RIGHT off the road! So we had a nice little visit with them while they grazed and browsed on greasewood. Shadow barely looked up, and they eventually let us slide on by while they kept on doing what they were doing! Cool!

Unfazed Shadow and David

This was our view – David looking at us and Shadow … well, not.

Two faces

Ah, and there they are, both looking at us calmly. You can see the fencepost at right. We didn’t get out of the Jeep – just shot right out the windows.

Just a little farther down the road, we had the other great good fortune to spot the pintos back in the “valley” below their old favorite hill. Mesa was on the east side of the arroyo, and the rest of the band was on the west side. We couldn’t see everyone because of hills and trees, even when they crossed to the east side of the arroyo, so I wasn’t able to get a good look at the as-yet-unnamed colts, but it was good to be able to point out those ponies that are seldom within view.

Mom and Dad, T and K, thanks so much for “meeting in the middle” and allowing me to show off my “other” family. 🙂

Comments : 10 Comments »

Categories : Chrome, Cuatro, David, Grey, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kootenai, Kreacher, Mona, New girls, Shadow, Terra, Two Boots

Earlier

4 08 2009

So … I should have posted these pix before the ones of Seven’s band and Chipeta’s new colt, but I wasn’t going to post these until I could relate the story of the whole day … and it looks like it might be awhile before I can get to all the pix, so I hope you enjoy the teasers from last Friday until I can get to the rest. I have some really lovely images of stunning Corona and her mama, so I promise it will be worth the wait.

The water situation continues to depress me, especially after seeing all the nice ponds in Sand Wash Basin – with water, not just cracked, dry depressions in the ground where water should be. Grey/Traveler was being harassed, but the fact that it was by bachelor Chrome was just something I couldn’t do anything about. Kreacher picked up the chase at the end of the day, even leaving Mona and Kootenai far behind to keep up with Grey’s band and Chrome. Maybe they didn’t want any part of it, but they always followed. When Aspen was with his band Sunday, it was at a respectful distance, and the horses were relaxed and not moving too far.

But on to happiness. When I checked Wildcat Spring – yes, water – I spied Hollywood on a hill above me, just watching me. Ha. I haven’t spent much time exploring the hills in that area, so I walked on up. The ponies have a good network of trails up there. Poco and Roach are still with them; I did take pix but didn’t tweak any of them yet. It started sprinkling out of the clear blue sky – have you ever looked straight up and had rain falling into your eyeballs, looking silver against turquoise? There was a big cloud, but it wasn’t directly above me … and I learned something new a little later: It’s hard to plan for rain coming when you can’t see it coming. I found a seat under a juniper to hang out with the ponies for a bit.

Hollywood and girls and boy

The theme of “do you think you could stand just so” kinda started with Piedra acting shy behind this little bush. This was taken from one of their trails on the side of a hill looking across a sharp drainage. The spring is basically downhill and to my left. Poco and Roach were in the trees not too far up their hill.

Photos of the babies with their mamas are lovely and aww-inspiring, but I love to see the daddies interacting with their offspring.

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Sage walked over and stopped at a respectful distance. Piedra did comply with my photo direction here; she had just walked out of the frame to the left.

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Then Sage made his approach. At first, Hollywood acted a little annoyed and flattened his ears.

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Now look at his ears. He thinks there might be something interesting about the little mister.

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Then Hollywood decided Sage was quite sturdy enough to use him as a rubbing post!

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Sniffing him again. Check out the ears.

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Synchronicity of tails.

Do you love those misters?? 🙂

Edge of the world

Piedra, Sage and Baylee. You can see part of the road in the distance and part of Filly Peak at far back right.

All together

Including Hollywood in the shot, and you can see more of Filly Peak in the background … which should maybe more appropriately be called Humpback Hill?

Hollywood and Baylee

This is looking almost west … like west-west-southwest-west … and the other end of Filly Peak.

Elder mister

He’s not very good at hide-n-seek. But he’s awfully cute. 🙂

It did rain then a bit later – heavier – but it was also still sort of sunny in most places. I could see the “haze” against the western hills outside the herd area that said rain, but it was weird. But the road was also starting to get gummy already by the time I got to the catchment! When I first got there, I saw Kreacher’s band and Cinch and Bruiser (as not-good as the water is, it’s better in the north than in the south, apparently), then Grey/Traveler’s out on the corral hill. Wouldn’t you know it, by the time I got to the flats below the catchment on my way out – in the rain – and did I mention the road was getting gummy and a hit to the brakes meant a bit of a slide in the wet before actual stoppage – they were right off the road? Confirmed that it was Chrome with them – and so Twister still away (and he’s with Hook, at least) – and no foal for le petite dun Jif. OK, OK, I’m leaving already. I went down the county road to see if I could catch enough of a glimpse of the pintos to see Chipeta and/or walk in to them – nada. A couple of hours later, it was sunny and warm and breezy enough, I decided to try the road into the basin again – no problem-o.

Horses and hills and sunshine and shadows

Left to right: Cuatro, Two Boots, Iya, Grey/Traveler, Jif. Houdini and Terra (still OK) were to the right. Chrome was to the left … and now for a wider view …

Love that after-rain light

I know the horses are small, the land large, but can you make out who’s there? I love the graphic quality of these photos, by the way. This is looking sort of east-east-northeast-east. I don’t think there’s ever an easy single direction anywhere out there! They’re up in the area by the catchment – I think I took this from some point alongside Filly Peak – but although I have confirmed Kreacher and the mares drinking from the catchment troughs, I haven’t yet seen Grey’s band drinking there (and to go slightly off-topic for a minute, I did see Cinch and Bruiser very close to the troughs Sunday). Chrome was (mostly) dogging them pretty hard – he’s the grey at far left in these seemingly quiet moments – so they kept moving and moving – they went down off the “edge” south of the catchment to the flats, then ended up moving toward Spring Creek – north-northeastish. And in the foreground? Left to right: Kootenai, Kreacher and Mona. Just “above” Kootenai are Terra and Jif, and then Houdini out to the right. Horses to the left of Jif same as in the picture above this one.

From here I also spotted Steeldust’s band up in the north hills above the northwest road. Those ponies think they’re mountain goats lately. Driving out to see them, I found Duke, Raven and Corona! Now that was a hoped-for treat, having just seen Raven’s former band stallion and Corona’s likely daddy in Sand Wash Basin!

I hate to leave ya’ll hanging, but as of now, I have just one tweaked photo. Time … it’s all a matter of time. A full-time job, a taking-its-sweet-time computer. I’ll put up more soon; I promise.

Duke

This might be one of my favorite pix of the boy. Isn’t he handsome? They were watching Steeldust’s band in the trees up on the hill, so I walked way out around them to get better light.

And it’s late again …

I must have been happy to see my ponies – I took lots and lots of photos – I was on my second memory card before I left. Always great to visit other horses, but it’s great to be home. 🙂

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Baylee, Chrome, Cuatro, Grey, Hollywood, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kootenai, Kreacher, Mona, New girls, Piedra, Sage, Terra, Two Boots

Terra-ific update

20 07 2009

Terra

All seems to be mostly well with this baby girl. I wouldn’t say she’s 100 percent – still seems to step a little delicately – but she’s not limping at all. Doesn’t she look fabulous?

The other big news comes from the same band and is about Mister Twister.

Little boy among big boys

Whether Traveler kicked him out or whether he thought the boys were cooler than hanging out with all the girls, I dunno, but our young orphan was with the bachelor boys: Aspen, Hook and Chrome.

Alegre and Whisper

Bounce and Gaia

Looking up the hill at Cinch and Bruiser in the trees.

Bounce and family

All together just over the hill from Wildcat Spring.

All but Jif

Grey/Traveler’s band off the east-side loop road.

Iya and Jif

Jif

Waiting on the belly.

Cuatro

Growing into his legs.

Nippy

It’s always the same with little brothers, isn’t it? Fortunately for Terra, Cuatro was only annoying in passing. Iya at left.

Brother, sister

Not to mention … aunt and nephew?

Cuatro, Houdini, Terra

Let’s break it down: Houdini is Cuatro’s grandma and Terra’s mom. Cuatro’s mom is Terra’s half-sister. Possibly, Cuatro and Terra have the same sire; I’m only certain Grey/Traveler is Terra’s daddy. Whew.

Grey boy and babies

Terra lying down at left; Cuatro at right. Two Boots behind.

Aspen and Chrome

The boys – who by this time had lost Hook and Twister – take a look at Traveler’s band.

Chat

The boys wisely deferred to da man.

Bounce and Twister

Meanwhile, Twister was checking his options.

Lets go, little buddy

In the above pic, Hook was wisely keeping his distance – in fact, Bounce and Twister are looking at him. Here, he seems to be shepherding the youngster away from Bounce’s family.

Steeldust under the trees

It was hot – between 96 and 100 degrees when I was there – and the horses sought the comfort of the shade.

Seeking shade

A different time of day, and they were back under the “shade trees.”

Sable and Mahogany

Love Sable’s face here.

Ember and Sable

Storm

Storm and Ember have both gone from baby-red to grey. Master Storm will be a year old next Saturday!

Alpha and Storm

Storm here is deliberately stopping mama so he can nurse … and she let him. He’s just a big baby. 🙂

Hannah and Sable

I love to see the babies interacting with each other.

It was a really wonderful day, though pretty warm. A nice breeze all day mostly kept the bugs away, and some clouds came up in the afternoon to provide some spotty shade (not rainmakers, though). Most of the northern bands seem to still be hanging around the Wildcat Spring area. Also saw Hollywood – closer to the dugout – and his band, and Kreacher and the girls by Filly Peak. Didn’t spot Duke’s band or Seven’s, and didn’t have the luck this weekend of seeing David and Shadow or the pintos from the Disappointment Road.

The horses look great, and the babies are growing and shedding their baby hair like crazy. Cuatro has a little line of hair still on his belly that’s very cute. Not much water, which I’m sure is one reason the horses are all close to the spring. They’re taking advantage of the trees for shade and keeping the activity level low in the heat.

Comments : 7 Comments »

Categories : Alegre, Alpha, Aspen, Bounce, Chrome, Cuatro, Ember, Gaia, Grey, Hannah, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Mahogany, Steeldust, Storm, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Whisper

Baby girl hurt

15 07 2009

Don’t panic. But it’s been on my mind and will be till I see her again. Terra-love was limping on her right hind leg this weekend. I couldn’t see any obvious injuries or swelling, but binoculars never give you a close-enough view when that’s what you want to see.

Stiff

Not a good image, of course, but can you see how “humped” she looks? Think good thoughts for our little girl, people. Thanks-a-bunch.

Artist Karen Keene Day was back in the basin to visit the horses. While she was inspired by the wild ones for future artwork, her husband put inspiration to canvas during our weekend trip.

It was another good day for seeing horses. We even saw David and Shadow! The horses are staying close to the water, in this case Wildcat Spring. The small pond off the road to the old trap site still has water from the latest rains, but I haven’t seen horses drinking there. Kreacher and the girls are taking full advantage of the catchment, but they seem to be the only ones. Wildcat Spring is the current “neighborhood watering hole.” Bruiser and Cinch are still up with the northern gang.

It’s warm, and afternoon rain is always something to be aware of. The bugs are out – but not as bad as last year. They seem worse in the south than in the north. The cheat grass also doesn’t seem as sticky. Something to look forward to, I guess!

Corona

Isn’t she a stunning little girl?

Most of the bands were east of the section of road between the intersections. We came first to Duke, Raven and the beauty above. Then Steeldust’s band strolled by us like a wave.

Daddy and baby

Steeldust and Hannah.

Mama and baby

Mahogany and Sable.

Buckskin and bay

Luna and 2-year-old Kestrel and Mahogany and yearling pinon.

Mamas and babies

Luna and Hannah, Mahogany and Sable.

Ember

How she’s changed. She actually looks quite a bit like her big sister, Kestrel, except for her color, of course!

Coupla boys

Aspen and Chrome following the big band.

Wait for me!

Hook-at-the-trot. While we were watching Steeldust’s band walk past – and Aspen and Chrome follow – we looked over to see Hook, apparently forlorn at having been left behind.

Horses and hills

Still le petite Jif hides her treasure from the world. Terra is lying down by Houdini.

The misters

Daddy and Sage. Aren’t they handsome fellows!

Family bonds

Daddy Hollywood stands very nearby as Sage takes an afternoon snack from mama Piedra.

Admiring the scenery

What does he see out there? Does he see something faraway? What’s on his mind? Lizard mesa in the middle distance; the east pocket beyond.

As we drove out, not only were purple clouds rising over the western hills but thunder was rolling, and lightning was striking – not near(ish). We were privileged to see David and Shadow off the county road near dysfunction junction. I left Karen at our lodging and went back to look for the pintos.

Kiowa and baby

Did I say I thought the foal was a filly? Then I thought it was a colt. But as it turns out, none of my pictures were close or clear enough to really determine, so baby’s gender remains a mystery. And a little more research into the timing of Copper’s take-over makes it very possible – and given the foal’s color, likely – that he is baby’s daddy.

Surrounded by spots

The little holds his or her own.

Mama-to-be?

Wouldja lookit the size o’ dat belly, la! Time will tell.

And such was the day. We didn’t see Bounce’s or Seven’s. I hope to not see Terra limping this weekend.

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Aspen, Chipeta, Chrome, Corona, Cuatro, Ember, Grey, Hannah, Hollywood, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kestrel, Kiowa, Luna, Mahogany, Piedra, Pinon, pintos, Roach, Spook, Steeldust, Terra, Twister, Two Boots

‘This is so cool!’

7 07 2009

This past weekend, I got to see the horses through new eyes: the eyes of two people who had never before seen horses in the wild. So cool! Naturally, they have joined the ranks of those enveloped by the magic, and I’m so thrilled to have been there to witness it. C and L, of California, thank you so much for coming out to see our wild horses of Spring Creek Basin!

We first spotted Kreacher and the girls, way up high above Spring Creek canyon, then spotted and made our way toward Steeldust’s band, up in the trees near the road to Horse Park. Bounce’s band was close by the road, so they were the first objects of our up-close-and-personal visit.

Who you lookin at?

They were very at ease with our presence; that little black body at Alegre and Gaia’s feet is Whisper, flat out taking a nap.

Got bugs

I missed Bounce actually bucking to get rid of some big mongo bug, but if you’re planning a visit, be aware of the hordes of bugs.

All well

Ignoring the bugs for a while.

Band ne Steeldust

Then we walked just up the hill and found Steeldust’s band – with bachelors Aspen, Hook and Chrome – napping under the sunshine and periodic clouds. Mouse and Comanche, of course, as usual, were with the band.

Horseplay

Ya gotta watch those boys! Always wantin’ to play! Aspen looking on while Chrome tries to tackle Hook, who just walked away from the cheeky pal.

Hannah

Three months old tomorrow!

Sweet face

Hannah with Mahogany, Pinon, Sable (not very well seen), Butch and Ember at far right.

Lunch time

Love Luna’s expression here while her baby girl nurses.

The ponies finally started waking up and moving on to graze, so we went on to see what we could see. Seven and his band are still in the east pocket – babies seen long distance but look good. Oh, I forgot that first Bruiser and Cinch and then Hollywood’s band – still with Poco and Roach – had appeared out in the open below Steeldust’s band while we watched them.

Cinch and Bruiser

Muddy boys. In fact, it took me a few minutes to first identify them (from a considerably farther distance than this photo was taken from) because of the glare of the sun and the coating of mud on Bruiser!

Steeldust’s band went to water at Wildcat Spring, so we waited for them to drink, then we walked back to see what it looked like. Steeldust’s band and the bachelors were still in the area, standing up on the near hill … so we walked on to see the water … and unfortunately surprised Grey/Traveler’s band there drinking. 😦 They ran up the opposite hill and over to the open area by the road. Argh. Sure never expected to see them right there, drinking immediately after Steeldust’s band, or we wouldn’t have gone back at that time! Waited a bit, then drove around the curve to get a look and make sure everybody was well and good – and they were, calmly grazing.

Traveler and family

You can see Jif, still sporting her big belly, at left.

We drove into the far northwestern portion to see if we could find Duke, Raven and Corona – and did! Almost to the boundary fence. We backed way up to keep them from feeling crowded against the fence, but they came out for a better look – and better viewing!

Raven and Corona

Corona – like all the babies – is growing fast!

And with that, we had seen all but the pinto band and David and Shadow – not too shabby for C&L’s first visit to see wild horses. THIS WAS SO COOL! 🙂

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Alegre, Aspen, Bounce, Bruiser, Chrome, Cinch, Comanche, Corona, Gaia, Grey, Hannah, Houdini, Jif, Luna, Mahogany, Pinon, Raven, Steeldust, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Whisper

The dry and the wet of it

1 07 2009

They might have been waiting for me, as close as Steeldust’s and Hollywood’s bands were to the entrance when I returned to Spring Creek Basin for the first time after my recent vacation. They were working their way up the main drainage that comes down to Spring Creek from the upper north hills. Spring Creek has some water in places; the arroyo they were in is dry.

Some good news: The little pond by the road to the old trap site at Spring Creek has water! The proof of recent rain is evident, but the roads were all dry. It’s pretty green, and even though most of that is vegetation like four-winged saltbush and greasewood and sage and etcetera, there actually is some grass – besides the gone-to-brown cheat grass.

The ponies are in great shape. The babies are growing stout and healthy, and even the stallions, who got a little lean last spring sparring for the girls, look super. So good to be back!

Sage

The little mister is trying to give us a glimpse of his true color … but what will it be? Keep in mind his dorsal and zebra stripes. Mama is grey – likely born bay; Daddy is dun … grandma may have been grulla (that is to say, the mare I think is grandma was grulla).

Watchful

Steeldust and his band pay close attention to Hollywood’s band and friends Poco and Roach.

Siblings?

Little Hannah, now almost 3 months old, with big sister Ember, barely seen behind Butch, with Sundance at right. Brothers? Hannah and Ember’s brothers? You can see Sundance is still keeping his “pink” shade, while Butch is tending more toward grey now.

Must be lunch time

Storm, 11 months old, is still nursing from Alpha. At left, you can just barely see Hannah’s chinny-chin-chin as she nurses from Luna. Two-year-old Kestrel (who no longer shows signs of a bulging belly) is in front; big daddy Steeldust is in back.

Pinon and Storm

And a little action: Although Pinon is two months older than Storm, Storm’s mama is an “alpha” mare – that would be Alpha! – and he inherits some of her status. He’s a big boy, outgoing, confident and strong. And look how grey he has become!

Heads and tails and a baby face

Extended family

Comanche at left, Steeldust’s in the middle, Hollywood’s at right. Poco and Roach were out of the frame to the right. Steeldust’s is Piedra and Baylee’s original family band; Mahogany is Baylee’s dam, possibly Piedra’s … possibly Sage’s grandma! Fun. I love watching their family interactions. This is looking to the northwest. Between the nearer green hills and the hills dotted with pinon-juniper is the little valley through which the upper northwest entrance road runs.

As I headed into the heart of the basin, clouds were looming over the western horizon, but I was prepared to wait out any rain from inside the basin (serious danger alert: you better be prepared with food, water and possibly sleeping bag and extra clothes if you’re going to do that; know that the roads will – eventually – dry out, but it might be several hours, even the next day). After three weeks away, I really wanted to re-connect with Grey-my-boy.

I spotted Bounce and his girls and little boy up on a clear hill near the road to Horse Park. My, they were up high(er than usual). Then, below them and more west or northwest, ghosts in the trees … Grey/Traveler and Houdini and the fam! They were headed down out of the trees toward Wildcat Spring. By the time I got around to that area, the horses were on the trail to the open from the spring.

Time to play

When I got to them, I was surprised to see a couple of the youngsters playing “chase.” Now for the cool part: That’s Twister – 2 years old – chasing 2-month-old Terra! Houdini was already across the road (to the right) by this time. Cuatro, infected by the fun, was trying to get mama Two Boots (also 2!) to play, but she wasn’t nearly as accommodating. Jif leading and Iya bringing up the rear.

Playful Cuatro

Catch me if you can

Hide n seek

I love this scene. Daddy Grey in the foreground – ears up, happy. Cuatro at right, trying to get mama to play. Then, see that butt? That’s Twister. See the sly little girl hiding around the tree at left? Ha! A couple of moments later, she took off for mama.

All right with the world

Grey/Traveler, Terra and Houdini

Jif with da belly

Someday soon …

Two Boots and Cuatro

Just about now it was starting to rain, so I headed back to the Jeep – all the better to protect the camera, see.

It rained for about an hour and a half – a nice, gentle, excellent rain. The ponies mostly stood napping as it rained, but as the rain started to ease, the horses started grazing, moving back toward me but not all that close. The ground was wet, with puddles, but it wasn’t sloppy muddy. It had cooled down quite a bit, from the 70s to the 60s, so I put a jacket on and started to head out toward them … when I heard a sound – loud, like ATVs.

Watching

I kept watching back around the curve of the road for people on four-wheelers, wondering why they were out so soon after it rained (but look at me, waiting out the rain IN the basin). The ponies watched, too …

Away

But then they started running …

… and then I realized why.

Bird of prey

To wild horses, especially those that have been rounded up by helicopter, helicopters might as well be hawks, the horses, rabbits. “Mad” doesn’t begin to describe my emotion watching that helicopter cruise over the basin – over Grey’s band, over Bounce’s band and over, as I found out in the next moments, the bachelors (Aspen, Chrome, Hook, Cinch and Bruiser – yeah, they were back in the north). Traveler, Bounce and Bruiser all were gathered in 2007 – with their families, by helicopter.

I don’t know the origin of the helicopter, private or otherwise, or on-the-ground launch site. It came from the west and flew almost directly east. How low was it? Low enough. I’m willing to entertain the thought that it was related to some kind of firefighting effort – bless those brave folks – but way not cool to fly a helicopter so low over a wild horse herd management area.

Still running

They ran from about the middle of that big open area west (southwest?) of the east-side loop road to the road past where it curves south.

STILL RUNNING

They’re on the road now … still running. I don’t know that it’s possible to convey the distance with photos, but they were running after the helicopter – and the sound of it – was gone.

Bounce’s band just disappeared. I became aware of the bachelors when they came galloping down out of the hills and into that open area.

Running away

They ran in the opposite direction from the helicopter, got to the cottonwoods in the Wildcat drainage and finally stopped. Then they headed toward the arroyo and the east-west hill.

Rollin

They found the spot to roll in the mud – yummy! Cinch had already rolled; Bruiser went all the way over!

Thats the spot

There’s Cinch checking out Aspen.

Telling secrets

It’s gotta be the sweetness that keeps the spotted boys coming back …! Is this weird: Cinch and Bruiser come to the north, but I’ve never seen the northern boys in the south. First thing that comes to mind: water.

The clouds disappeared, and the sky was bluer than blue (well, it was). I wasn’t driving anywhere any time soon, so I followed the path Traveler’s band had taken. They got to the dry pond around the curve (still dry), then headed toward one of the saddles of Lizard Mesa, up and over. I found them grazing on the east side of Knife Edge.

But this is the real news:

Water, flowing

How cool is that! OK, so it’s pretty cool. Hard to tell, I know, and it was muddy, but no one looks down their muzzle at flowing water in the basin – unless it’s while they’re sipping.

Water - more - flowing!

What can I say, flowing water deserves photographic celebration.

I went on up to the crest of the east-west hill to watch Grey/Traveler and family, and I got another surprise: Seven’s family was on or near the west-side loop road! How ironic; can’t get to them because of the mud, and they wouldn’t have stayed on/near the road with company of the two-legged variety anyway, but there they were. I watched them (both bands) through the binocs for a while and did finally see both of Seven’s foals – Ze and Liberty – so I headed west along the top of the hill back toward the Jeep. Beautiful, glowing light. Lovely visits with the horses – dumb, crappy, insert-bad-name-here helicopter notwithstanding. Did I mention I was glad to be back?

You can get lost in the basin. Not geographically (too many landmarks) but in thoughts and emotions. The magic of the basin, when it envelopes you, does it subtly, gently. It’s the horses – they have their own magic – but it’s the light, too, and bucking the “nothing is out there” myth, the air, the breeze (against you when it brings dust, dries out ponds; your friend when it keeps the gnats away). It’s miles away from people and what doesn’t matter.

I was lost in THAT place walking across a bench above the arroyo (flowing water!) toward a hill when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye: Alegre … Whisper … Gaia … I froze, camera on the monopod over my shoulder (I cleaned out my Jeep for the trip home, so excited to get back to the basin, forgot to replace my backpack; I know, I said I was prepared – mostly!), and watched them come up out of the arroyo. I thought Gaia saw me, but Alegre – leading – didn’t until she had come many steps closer … to me … frozen in … THAT place … in wonder … in the magic.

Then ‘Legs saw me, and Bounce came up at the same moment, and they changed course and trotted up the hill in front of me.

Mama and her boy and her girl

Those horses … that light … that place.

Sweet girl, lovely mama

They stopped at the top of the hill. I was glad to see them at the end of the day, and again, after the helicopter.

Bounce

Magic.

Doesn’t get much better than that.

Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Alegre, Alpha, Aspen, Baylee, Bounce, Bruiser, Chrome, Cinch, Comanche, Cuatro, Ember, Gaia, Grey, Hannah, Hollywood, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kestrel, Luna, Mahogany, Piedra, Pinon, Poco, Roach, Sage, Steeldust, Storm, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Whisper

Checkup and another surprise

3 06 2009

Rain kept me from visiting the basin as much as usual the past couple of weeks, and life has kept me from posting recently.

I made a very quick, short trip to the basin last-last weekend – almost got stuck but didn’t (and no, those ruts by the V arroyo aren’t mine) – and took pix only of Roach, which probably sets some kind of record. My main objective was to check on Two Boots’ baby, but as it turned out, rained chased me away before I could find them. Did see Steeldust’s band with Mouse and Comanche, Aspen, Chrome and Hook nearby, Bounce’s band (only Whisper appeared to see me, but he didn’t give me away), Hollywood’s band – with Poco and Roach – and Kreacher and the girls.

Fast forward to this past weekend. Rain again so I waited then hiked. Far. Long. Sunshine appeared between waves of rain, then dark skies again. Saw Duke, Raven and Corona up in the north hills and Kreacher and the dunnies by the water catchment. All the other ponies were back in the east pocket … including the surprise.

Some pix in random order:

Three generations

Houdini and her baby and her OTHER baby and HER baby.

Two Boots and her colt

Just for fun …

Before names

I dug this photo out of my 2007 archives. That’s Houdini and Two Boots from April 22, 2007, when they were with Junior, before the roundup. Two Boots was just a day or two old there, I figured.

2Bs boy

Two weeks old.

Hello, silver

Jif, ever-expanding, was playing mountain goat up on the hill in front of Grey/Traveler. He came around the hill and looked up – before I knew she was there – and that’s how I knew she was there. She didn’t come down, though, so a little later, he went around the other side and up, and pretty soon, here she came, back down to the meadow with the others.

Piedra and Sage

Pretty girl and her little boy.

Gaia and Whisper

Pretty girl and her little brother.

When did my babies grow up into yearlings?! They all look so big … and more than one young lady was being investigated by the stallion of her band, who is NOT her daddy, biologically. How do they know?!

Did you notice the shift from sunshine to shade? Clouds moving in, thunder booming; time for the long walk back.

Another day, and I was back. Lotsa clouds early gave way – without raindrops – to lotsa blue sky over paradise. I didn’t find Grey/Traveler and his band, but the news was that Jif still hadn’t foaled. But it turned out to be better luck for getting pictures of our newest herd member.

Pied piper

Test your knowledge. The surprise is the wee-est in the middle.

Studly Seven

Have you made the ID now? Molly was VERY disinterested, but she finally stood for him.

Almost 2 months old now; what a handsome little bugger!

Baby makes nine

I was in stealth mode because this band is one of the most wary (and rightfully so). Based on my feeling that the baby – a filly – was about a week old and basically confirmed by Seven breeding Molly on her foaling heat, I’m giving the foal a Memorial Day (May 25) birthday (which also happens to be the birthday of one of my uncles!). So I asked my dad, a 20-year Army veteran, to name her. Welcome to the world, Liberty. 🙂 (Is that not perfect?? Thanks, Dad!)

Sky ranger

Seven could hear my camera shutter but wasn’t quite sure where it was coming from. Molly and Roja and the foals were down in a wide arroyo, browsing on greasewood.

By the way, Molly’s surprise comes from the fact that she got the PZP in 2007. Her foal Starla died in August 2008 (after the band was chased by that moron, but there’s no proof he had anything to do with it); she should not have had a foal this year. Ninety-percent effective, I believe?

Roach

Looking toward the band.

Poco

Round Top in the background.

Sage

He’s standing on the road; the Round Top intersection is to the left.

And that’s all I have for now. Haven’t had a close sighting of Duke, Raven and Corona for a while, so I’ll be looking for them. We’re down to just one pond holding water – east pocket. It’s very shallow, and it was clear Sunday, so the horses hadn’t been there recently.

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Gaia, Grey, Houdini, Piedra, Poco, PZP, Roach, Sage, Seven, Terra, Two Boots, Whisper, Ze

Before the count, part 1

18 05 2009

Every year, the Four Corners Back Country Horsemen, a group based in Durango, hosts a wild horse count in Spring Creek Basin. I think this was their 11th year. They partner with the BLM to ride out – and hike to the top of Round Top – to check on the horses and report numbers and descriptions. It’s a testament to their dedication to the horses – and to the fun they have with the wild ones – that they’ve been doing this so long!

This was the second year I’ve joined them, and like last year, it was a beautiful weekend. The count itself happened Saturday, but a few people were out as early as Thursday, and by Friday afternoon, the trailer traffic to the corral campsite was unlike that seen any other time of the year. Lots of folks this year, and I think everyone had a wonderful time. There were four groups of riders this year (three groups last year), six of us up on Round Top (including Jamie Seller-Baker with the BLM, who made a point of attending even though she was in Denver – thanks, Jamie!), a group of BCH members who drove into the area and a group of folks on a tour of the area as part of the Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival.

In spite of the major increase in visitors to the area, the horses were completely at ease (with the exception of some stallion- and spring-influenced behavior). Everyone was so respectful, and the horses took it all in stride! Wonderful experience! Not all the rider groups saw horses, but collectively, all the horses were seen this year! The people I talked to couldn’t stop talking about the horses – who they saw, their behavior, how great they looked, etc. Music to my ears to hear people so excited about visiting the wild horses! Maybe it’s a simple thing … but it’s not. It’s huge.

I hope everyone did have a fantastic weekend in Spring Creek Basin! I look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Here are some photos from Thursday:

Kreacher and the girls

Kreacher, Mona and Kootenai were conveniently visible near Filly Peak. Have I mentioned the traveling these ponies have been doing? By Saturday, they’d be in the east pocket.

All together

I had a report from last weekend that Duke had been seen alone, and Raven and Corona were with another stallion. Worried? Me? Nah. (Total lie; of course I was.) When I first drove in, I spotted a single bay horse up in the north hills – dark … looked like Duke. By the time I got around to the catchment and stopped to scan again, I spotted Raven as well. So I headed up that way. Corona was napping in a bed of globe mallow when I got up to their little meadow, and I watched them from behind a tree until she got up to nurse and follow Raven as she grazed. Oh, sure, I had confirmed Duke by then. It was just nice to watch them for a little while. This was taken as I walked away. Glad to see them all together.

Pro view

Durango photographer Claude Steelman was in the basin for the weekend, and it’s always good to see him. Claude published the wonderful book Colorado’s Wild Horses last summer, which showcases all of Colorado’s wild horse herds (surely Spring Creek Basin is his favorite!). Late last year, he adopted a mustang colt, Pancho, from the Carson National Forest in New Mexico. “I’m not a photographer anymore; I’m a horse trainer,” he kept saying. I think the wild horses have spun their magic around dear Mr. Steelman … Pancho certainly has him wrapped around his hoof. 😉

Many of the northern bands were in the east pocket, enjoying the good grass and water source, and that’s where Claude and I met up. From the road, we could see Hollywood’s band – with Roach and Poco nearby! – Steeldust’s band, Grey/Traveler’s band, Seven’s band and Bounce’s band. Aspen and Chrome were in the area as well. The horses were fairly close to each other – Seven had his band the farthest away – beyond the pond, so Claude and I walked out to see what we could see.

We got out to an open area and stopped to watch the horses. Steeldust’s were in a fairly tight group, probably because of Aspen and Chrome (Hook?). When they started moving, Grey/Traveler’s band came around from behind them and toward us. We just stayed where we were and snapped some of the action.

Defense

At the same time, Steeldust’s band started to move toward them. This is Traveler posturing toward Mouse and Comanche from Steeldust’s band while the mares and youngsters stopped then went back the other way. (People from the Back Country Horsemen remember when he was so dark grey he looked “blue.” How silver is he now!)

Two grey make one red

Traveler, Houdini and Terra going the other way – other horses behind them.

Meanwhile, Steeldust’s band walked across right in front of us.

Mahogany and Sable - and Hannah

Hannah is about a month and a half old now; Sable was just a week old this day!

Mmmm - tail hair!

Cheeky Hannah is bold and fearless. She has a completely different personality than big sisters Ember and Kestrel. She’s very outgoing; they’re very calm and laid back. She’s chewing on Butch’s tail here, and he was completely obliging.

Mouse

Who couldn’t love that face?

We waited until the horses had moved on before we even moved from our spot. We thought they might go to the pond to drink, but they were just looking for a place of their own, a little farther from the other bands. The horses don’t typically gather together so close like this, but they’ve all figured out the good grass and water in that area right now. The surface area of the pond has shrunk some, but it will probably hold out longer than the cheat grass, especially if we don’t get rain soon.

More to come.

Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : Corona, Grey, Hannah, Houdini, Kootenai, Kreacher, Mahogany, Mona, Raven, Uncategorized

‘Its meaning is Earth’

5 05 2009

Houdini and Terra

A name for Houdini and Grey/Traveler’s daughter didn’t come easily.

Mama and baby

She’s a stunning little girl and Traveler’s first baby since his return to Spring Creek Basin. In fact, she’s the only (so far) foal I can confirm is his offspring. I kinda stumbled on the name Terra, but when I read the definition – “its meaning is Earth” – I knew it was the one.

Mama and daughters

New big sister Iya looked like she didn’t quite know what to think of this little creature that suddenly appeared with the family.

Curious

Twister was very curious, too.

Two Boots and Jif were content to stay close to Traveler – as was I.

Twister

Cute ‘n’ curious.

Roach was still circling Steeldust’s band. I came upon Kootenai and Mona … and Kreacher … and Poco?! just off the road by the double ponds a little later while I was looking for Bounce, Alegre and Gaia.

Together ... alone

There’s a wide but fairly shallow arroyo between Kreacher and the girls and Poco. The girls eventually crossed the arroyo back to the left, which Kreacher wasn’t particularly wild about.

Wait for me

Poco trotted after them, but soon he’d come back.

Git

Kreacher hot on Poco’s heels. If it looks like he was running flat out, he was.

Fightin over little ol us?

The girls watched for a couple of minutes before they took off.

Coming

Followed by Kreacher …

Me, too

… followed by Poco – again.

I continued on down and up onto the roller-coaster ridge, where I spotted Seven, his girls and his baby boy just below the ridge on the northwestern end.

Nap

Ze naps while Seven grazes nearby. Baby picked his head up for just a moment, but otherwise, he was flat out.

Roja might have thought Seven was too close to her baby because she moseyed over between them. Seven didn’t seem concerned. Molly was a little farther to the right, and boy is she shedding. I took a couple of pix of her, too, but she hardly lifted her head from her grazing. I was sitting up on the ridge.

Roja suddenly got really nervous, which made ME nervous because she knew I was up there in plain sight … She ran away from Seven and Molly – Ze right at her side – and crossed the arroyo. Seven went after her, but Molly ignored both of them. Then I realized what was bothering them: Here came Mona and Kootenai, racing west along the base of Knife Edge, followed by Kreacher, followed by Poco! They totally ignored Seven’s band and kept right on going. They eventually ended up over on the east-west hill, where they passed below Grey/Traveler. At some point even later, Comanche and Mouse got Roach cornered down in the arroyo, and he decided enough was enough. He and Poco ended up back together up on the crest of the hill.

I eventually found Bounce and the girls – no foal – so I went on around to where I had seen Duke, Raven and Corona north of the second intersection, and found Lynn and Kathy watching them! We talked a bit, they went back to the west-side road to watch the bands, and I headed out to take pix of baby Corona. But by the time I got going, the horses had moved out of sight. I ended up on a trail through the trees above the road, but then I saw them down below the road, quite a bit farther away. We had talked about where they were getting water; it turned out they went all the way back down to Spring Creek to drink. By the time I got down there, they were coming back from the arroyo.

Mama kisses

Raven, as all the mares – even the first-timers – is proving to be an excellent mother.

Baby kisses

The light was pretty high and harsh by this time.

What a sweetheart!

Pretty big girl. I’m going to go with a Sunday, April 26, birthday for the girl.

Instant family

Did Duke find Raven before or after she had her foal?

Corona

She’s a cutie, all right. Still not one hundred percent sure of her color, and we may have to wait a little bit to know more. Maybe roan (?). Maybe dun … maybe palomino. My family has a 24-year-old mare at home that is dusky palomino in her summer coat and almost white in her winter coat.

The rest of the day was just watching. Some of the stallion drama calmed down toward the end of the day. Hollywood chased Aspen away, but then he had to squabble with Chrome and Hook (which involved a funny little twist on “ring around Piedra, Sage and Baylee” with Hook) to assert his position.

Saturday – rain. It stopped raining long enough for me to slip into the basin and find Alegre – spoiler again – no foal. The girl has to be close. She has a great big belly and for about the first time is looking uncomfortable lugging around that weight.

Bounce

They were back by Lizard Mesa.

Alegre and Gaia

They followed Bounce out of the trees to graze on the yummy grass back in that area.

A good roll

What must that baby think?

Rest

She had to rest between rolls, poor thing.

Up we go

Gaia seems to be intrigued by how hard it is for Mama to get up.

Heave!

Oh … one last oomph, and the girl was back on her feet.

The spot

Then Alegre patiently waited (rested) while Gaia rolled in the exact same spot.

And shes up!

When Gaia got to her feet – after she rolled all the way over, then all the way back over, then all the way BACK over – she immediately went to bucking and rearing and kicking.

Airborn

Mama is not supremely impressed … but I was!

And that’s the last I know. I saw Grey/Traveler’s band, Hollywood’s band (and Aspen, Chrome and Hook were back with them) and Seven’s band on my way out – oh, and I had seen Duke, Raven and Corona again in a green meadow by the second intersection on my way in. I made it to the county road in the rain. Not following my own advice, I know, but it was worth it to get a glimpse of the most-close-to-due girl. Surely by next weekend??

Just Alegre, Jif (due date unknown) and Mahogany (mid-May) to go.

Comments : 7 Comments »

Categories : Corona, Grey, Houdini, Iya, Kootenai, Kreacher, Mona, Raven, Roja, Seven, Ze

Spring in the wind

11 04 2009

Tis the season of deja vu. Work obligations Saturday sent me to the basin Friday, and glad am I that I went, for what I found and for the fact that it snowed again most of the day today!

The horses had a few human visitors Friday, including some on horseback. Grey/Traveler was standing guard against a truck and trailer parked up on the road to Flat Top while his band grazed down in the valley below the water catchment. Kreacher and the girls were out on the northeast side of the finger hills watching riders who gave them wide berth. Bounce and his girls were out on the southeast end of the “east-west hill,” close to Knife Edge. One dark horse was back to the northwest, sort of north of Spring Creek at the trap site. Duke? That was all within my first 15 minutes in the basin.

Because of hills and distance, I couldn’t quite tell if the single dark horse I saw was Duke, so there was nothing else to do but take a walk. The wind was at about mid-throttle – very tolerable given the insanity of the past few weekends.

Very happy surprise to walk up over a modest saddle to find not only our bay boy Duke but Chrome and Hook back with him! And an unexpected visitor.

Prongs

It’s not uncommon to see pronghorn antelope in the basin, not even alone, but this guy figures into the tale, so I’ll include his portrait. He was lying down when I first saw him, on a hill above the horses, protected from the wind, but his back was to me. He got up, and I turned my attention back to the horses. When I looked back at him, he had laid back down as you see in the pic! I wondered if he was hurt, but he didn’t seem to be.

Hook and Duke

Chrome

Chrome kept looking over his shoulder like he expected another pronghorn to pop up and run by.

Pronghorn saunter

When the buck walked down off his hill, the boys watched him very carefully.

Spooky boys

And it gave them an excuse to gallop.

Watching

But then they circled back to just below the hill to watch the buck cross an arroyo and continue up a far hill and out of sight.

Hearts

Do you see the way their heads and bodies seem to form a heart?

Hmph

Duke was sound and seemed well, if a bit grouchy. I couldn’t find any outward sign of why he might have been missing last week. I was glad to find him, and glad to find him with his pals. Something interesting: They were quite a distance from the big band, something Aspen may want to consider …

When I got back to the Jeep, another truck and trailer was visible with visitors. I never did see the original three riders again. I stayed north at the dugout intersection, intending to look for Kreacher and the girls where I had seen them last, but from the road you can look down to the south and see the bottom land you can’t see from up on the west-side road. If I’ve cautioned against having an agenda in the basin once, I’ve done it a thousand times, eh? Guess who I spotted? So I turned around and took the fork to cross Spring Creek again, headed south. The first crossing is wet, but the second is completely dry.

Kreacher and the girls were looking toward the east-west hill (can I just say and call it done that the hill really runs sort of northwest-southeast, but it’s easier to type “east-west”?) but not really toward Bounce, Alegre and Gaia, who were up higher at the end of Knife Edge toward the crest where they could have dropped into the valley between that ridge and Lizard Mesa. I watched Alegre quite intently through the binoculars for several minutes because I couldn’t quite tell if she was sporting an extra set of legs – ha. Call me expectant. She wasn’t – sporting extra legs. She should be within two weeks, give or take.

I decided to continue driving because I hadn’t yet spotted Steeldust’s band, and I also wanted to look for Poco, Bones and Roach to check Bones’ progress.

Ah ha! Poco, Bones and Roach, way out on the southwestish side of the far end of the roller-coaster ridge (past where the road goes over to the east side). And then another nice surprise: the big band, napping right at the intersection to Round Top. I parked short of them and took a closer look through the binoculars.

I always make sure all the ponies are accounted for … and they were … but wait a minute …

Do you see what I see?

Steeldust at left, and Luna. You can’t see him very well, but Sundance is on the other side of them. Butch in the middle, Storm at right (such a handsome boy!), and Mahogany behind him. Also over there were Alpha, Pinon and Ember and Kestrel. Farther out was Mouse. To the left were Aspen and Co., but let me wait a minute before we get to them. What’s that at Luna’s feet?

Holy baby!!!!!!! I have to say, I didn’t quite expect to see a foal this weekend. Luna was first to foal last year, too, but Ember was born April 18 or 19 (I like to pin it to April 18). Friday was a full week earlier than that.

I started to walk out on the road, trying to decide if I could drop down off the ridge and skirt around them without worrying them. Then I heard the truck and trailer coming behind me. I decided the best course of action was to walk back, tell the people in the truck there was a brand new baby with the band and ask if they would wait until the horses finished their nap and moved away from the road.

As it turned out, the man driving the truck was born in Telluride and knew the country quite well. We had a great conversation – though it was sometimes hard to hear him over the wind. He lives in California now and has worked on Thoroughbred racehorse farms most of his adult life (he’s now “nearly 70”). He brought his cousin and two horses, which they rode later. It was pretty cool to hear him talk about some of the history of the land and the horses and roundups past, horses he has ridden and rodeos at which he has competed. I hope I get this right: He won the calf roping at the Norwood rodeo seven times! They ended up turning around there and drove back toward the dugout, then parked along the road to unload their horses and enjoy a ride in the basin.

While we were talking, the horses woke up, and the stallions started messing around. It seems like Butch and Sundance are finally starting to feel their oats – are they 3 this year? Four? Three and 4? The “pink” boys are silly boys. They started moving, and I’m still somewhat surprised to report that after I visited them, and after I visited Poco and Co., and after I drove away … at least an hour and a half after I first saw them? … they were still moving, heading to Round Top from Flat Top! Those rowdy boys.

But let’s back up. You’ve been waiting, and … but of course I have baby pix! 🙂

Oh, wait; first, the promised pic of Hollywood, guarding “his” band, which just so happens to contain the stallion that stole “his” mares.

The breakaways

Hollywood at left; Aspen with Baylee, barely visible behind him, and Piedra.

Welcome to your family

Little Hannah girl. Such a little thing and now famous! Mama Luna at left, and big sister Kestrel, now 2, at right. I’ve been wondering for a while whether the pink boys are descended from Luna. They did stay rather close … or was it my imagination?

Snuggly

Luna-dear is an old hand at mothering. If she’s 10 – I suspect she’s close, one way or ‘tother – this is possibly her eighth foal! She did not seem at all concerned with me, focusing instead on eating everything palatable within reach.

Baby, meet baby

This is one of my favorite pictures of the day. Storm is no longer the baby of the family! I love his expression; I can’t imagine what he’s thinking.

Keeping up

Luna didn’t exactly ignore her baby, but she didn’t coddle her, either. This might be a good place to say I think Hannah is at least a couple of days old (I put her birthday at Wednesday, April 8). She doesn’t have that newborn look anymore, and she wasn’t so new that Luna was constantly checking and nuzzling her. She expected baby to follow, and baby did!

Hannah

Isn’t she a doll?!

Peace

Welcome to your world, sweet baby girl!

All calm

Meanwhile, Aspen and Co. were following the band at a respectful distance.

Beeline

Piedra started walking toward me, and Baylee was not quite sure that was the wisest move.

Making a run for it

Apparently, Baylee dawdled too long because Comanche came calling. The butt straight out is Mouse’s, and he’s directing Steeldust’s horses away from the fray.

Get lost, buddy

Then Aspen, who had been trying to protect Piedra from Hollywood, came running back to the rescue. The grey in the background at right is Steeldust.

Eye of the storm

Piedra tried to ignore the chaos swirling around her (but note the ear). Baylee is just happy to be back at her side. Aspen – you can see his head just over Piedra’s hindquarters – cut Comanche off … but Hollywood was about to make his move.

Around and around

Now see what I meant earlier when I said Aspen would do well to put some distance between himself and the band (again)? Personally (and not-so secretly), I’d love to see Holls get the mares back, but if Aspen stays in the vicinity of the big band, I’d wager that the dynamics of this little band are going to change, or Aspen is going to be run ragged – or both.

Comanche

This guy is pretty burly. It’s only a matter of time before he starts to collect a harem, I think, though there are only so many to go around.

Pinon and Ember

Pinon is a month from his first birthday; Ember is just a week away!

Keeping the girls in line

Steeldust had his hooves full trying to keep his ladies together, but Mouse seems to be pulling his weight.

Still a baby

Don’t grow up too fast, little man. Pinon with Mouse.

The ponies moseyed on, and I sat awhile longer, marveling at the horses and all the behaviors and interactions I’m privileged to witness. Really amazing. They crossed the arroyo I was sitting at the edge of, and I waited until they had dropped out of sight over the next little ridge, then went on back to the intersection.

Poco, Bones and Roach had gone out of sight from that side of the roller-coaster ridge, so I drove on that way to see if they’d gone to the other side. Sure enough, they were down by the squishy arroyo on the east side of the ridge. I watched them from the Jeep for a while, then turned around and headed back. Bones looks like she could foal at any time … Fingers crossed she safely delivers a healthy foal.

Mountain majesty

Looking northwest, look who I spotted right on the west-side road! I stopped to scan for Bounce and the girls toward Knife Edge or down toward the arroyo below the road, but I didn’t see them. By the time I got moving again, Kreacher and the girls had dropped out of sight – again.

I decided to go down and see if any water had collected in the pond by Flat Top. Hook was a short distance west of the road, acting as lookout. I caught a glimpse of Duke but didn’t see all three of them until later, on my way out. And I got another surprise because Kreacher and the girls had gone slightly southwest and up toward that north-south road that goes between the Flat Top pond and the main road. After them disappearing and re-appearing all day, I finally had the chance to see them from a closer vantage, which gave me the chance to check on Raven.

Three girls

Kootenai, left, Raven and Mona right on the north-south road.

Kreacher

I think the ponies aren’t so used to a lot of visitors like they had Friday, so they seemed a little more nervous than usual.

Kootenai

Mona

Raven

Compare the bellies

I’m just sayin’ … Maybe she’s just an easy keeper …

They went on up the road, so I decided to turn around rather than follow them and have them feel pushed. Once back out on the main road, guess who else I found? Only my very favorite boy!

Lowlanders

Between them, Grey/Traveler and Houdini-mare are wise, wise ponies. They were down in this shallow arroyo, at least semi-protected from the wind. It did turn out to be another very windy day, but the moisture we’ve gotten recently (snow last Saturday) seems to have glued some of the dirt to the ground, so we didn’t have the major dust storms we’ve had lately.

All at attention

Well, except Mr. Twister, snoozing in the protection of the ladies. You can’t see their whole bodies here, but look how big Iya’s face (center, bald face/big blaze) is compared with older sister Two Boots’, next to Twister, behind Jif. Maybe it’s the marking, and maybe it’s that Iya has a big Roman nose and Two Boots is quite a bit more refined, but Iya is one big girl (and her first birthday is coming up in about two weeks!).

Is it summer yet?

I noticed that some of the horses didn’t seem quite as fuzzy as they had even last weekend, but check it out: Jif is shedding!

Testing her limits

Where have you seen this before? Cheeky Jif tries to outrun her stallion …

Ducklings

… while the youngsters crowded around mama Houdini, who went the opposite direction. I thought that was funny. 🙂

Pied piper

Traveler, of course, brought his wayward young mare back to the fold, but how she ended up at the head of the line, only she knows. She has just a little belly, but Houdini is bulging at the seams.

And there you have it. Duke and his pals were all visible in the “flats” east of the catchment. I think I didn’t stop smiling all the way home. 🙂 A beautiful new baby, a missing boy found, a day in the wild. Could it have been a better day? I can’t quite see how.

One down, eight to go? We shall see!

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Categories : Alpha, Grey, Hannah, Hollywood, Houdini, Jif, Kootenai, Kreacher, Luna, Mahogany, Mona, New girls, Pinon, Raven, Steeldust, Storm

Spring Creek Basin Mustangs