Maiku, well-framed by the unnamed promontory, one of Spring Creek Basin’s dominant landmarks.
He and the rest of the band were watching David walk to water in the distance. David is alone since losing Shadow and Puzzle to Seven, but he looks like he’s doing just fine.
Maiku wins the cute award this week!
On a cold, windy day devoid of snow and sunshine, these two brightened my day:
Maiku, right, is both S’aka’s older brother (same sire, Copper) and uncle (brother of S’aka’s mother, Reya, through their mother, Kiowa). They look like their sister/mother/grandmother. She left her stamp.
On a hill at sunset:
Corazon, Reya and S’aka.
Maiku and Copper.
A cap to another gorgeous day in the basin. But it’s scary dry. And no relief in sight.
Found Seneca, too. What a big girl she is!
Did any of you see the moon rise? She never disappoints. Lovely. Soooo lovely.
And I have no pix of this yet, but having seen almost everybody, I’m pretty sure Puzzle is with David and Shadow – and now you know who I *didn’t* see. I’ve been looking, though. 🙂 You’ll be the first to know when I do have picture-perfect pix!
Maiku, Reya and Corazon grazing against the light.
In landscape photography, shooters are advised to not forget about the scenery behind them. How often do you hear someone explain a photo by saying, “I was shooting the sunset, when I looked behind me and saw something even better”?
When I turned around to check the horses behind me and saw the above scene, it wasn’t exactly better than what was in front of me …
… 🙂
But it all was worth seeing!
Attracted Maiku’s notice:
The ravens were very active on Seneca’s birthday. Raucous, too. How cool would it be to have a raven’s-eye view of the basin? Or a pony’s-eye view of ravens?
A quick check on the spots revealed … all normal on the southern front. 🙂
Impending parents Ty and Chipeta.
S’aka and mama Reya. Yes, there’s an extra eye and schnoz in there: Corazon’s.
Puzzle gives Maiku a sisterly schnuzzle.
Ty against the La Sals.
Chipeta against the La Sals.
Handsome pony boy.
Gettin’ closer. I’m pretty sure I recognize the “I’m ready, already!” look. 🙂
Reya and Maiku walked into my foreground as I was taking pix of S’aka with big sister Puzzle – and I like it! Love all their spots, and check out how S’aka’s spot and Puzzle’s merge perfectly on their necks!
Here’s Ty, contributing to the “dapples” part of this post.
So, so rare to get such a close look at Corazon. He’s usually far enough away, it’s hard to make out much detail in his handsome black face.
Chipeta update: Not yet. Close, by her udder, but not immediate, I think.
Just a random selection of photos. Bay boy Copper also is still with the band, but he was hiding under dapples of a different kind: dapply light under the trees. 🙂
From my visit with the pintos:
Maiku, 2, and S’aka. Maiku is S’aka’s uncle, the little brother of his mother, Reya. Do they look alike or what?!
Chipeta has not yet foaled.
Had a surprise viewing of David and Shadow and the pintos! I’m still torn on Shadow’s pregnancy (or not) status, and my view of her was obscured by greasewood or distance.
David
Shadow. If she’s not pregnant, she’s sure healthy – and she is. Look how shiny and great she looks!
Baby S’aka taking a nap under the watchful eye of Corazon. The dynamic may have changed slightly with the pinto band. Corazon seems very possessive of Reya, with Ty giving them some space. Copper is still low man, and I couldn’t see him well enough because of the greasewood, so it was hard to see the status of his injured knee. He was moving pretty well, though.
Ty, also looking very healthy.
Puzzle and mama Chipeta. Several of the horses were coated in mud, but Puzzle was bright-white and clean! There are a surprising number of places in the arroyo nearby that have water. Muddy, salt-crusted water, but more than none.
Maiku with big sister Reya and little brother S’aka.
Puzzle and Chipeta and Maiku and Copper. Copper is Maiku’s and Puzzle’s daddy.
Puzzle, Chipeta and Copper
Reya and her baby boy – he’s been playing in the mud!
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 