New life. New promise.
The wild ones are great reminders to live in the moment. Life is too short to wonder about “what ifs” and worry about what you coulda, woulda, shoulda done.
“It is neither wealth nor splendor but tranquility and occupation which give happiness.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
Sometimes we find splendor in the most tranquil situations. That is encouraging.
Duke is still hanging out with Kreacher, who has taken an interest in Aspen’s band, which includes a former mare of his: Mona. Storm also still is following the band, but Bounce gave up on them and is enjoying his own company.
Whew. It must be spring. 🙂
What won’t the boys do to impress the ladies? Duke in the background, Piedra at right, and Juniper, Kestrel and her newest daughter.
Comanche keeping Duke at bay.
Duke running one way …
Comanche trotting back to his girls!
Oh, handsome!
Thank you to the rain dancers among you! We got rain today. Not a lot, not much, drops you could count in the dry, dry dirt. But rain. Oh, the scent of rain-on-the-air. And more in the forecast. Dance away!
Hollywood and family.
Just because they’re gorgeous. 🙂
No words, just love.
Hollywood’s beautiful grey girl had her baby!
It’s a girl – again. 🙂
She’s at least a couple of days old – and feisty!
Every time she’d try to nurse, mama would take a step. Baby girl got annoyed. Love the ‘tude!
And, of course, she eventually got her way.
Then it’s nap time for baby. Attentive mama standing by.
Beautiful morning, beautiful girls!
Piedra and Shane, touched by early morning light. This was about a week ago, but with Shadow evidently not foaling soon, Piedra is next on the foal-watch list. She’s due around the end of the month.
Crazy wind raised the dust and swirled it around our skies. Low visibility, but not as bad as I’ve seen it in the past. And it brought snow – moisture that we need badly (when don’t we?).
Hollywood in the wind. That’s Round Top (or, as my friend Sam calls it, Saucer (as in flying) Hill) in the dusty background. In the other direction, the La Sals were completely obscured.
Graceful, peaceful Piedra
Hollywood and Piedra and Shane
And a wave to family Jess and Sue, who stopped on their cross-country drive for a quick visit to Spring Creek Basin and the mustangs!
It won’t be much longer now … baby season!
I saw Shadow the other day. She’s the first due (just before the middle of April), but she’s not very wide. And yes, she is back with David!
Piedra is due after the middle of April. She has had two colts and a filly, all by Hollywood, who also is this foal’s sire.
Kestrel is due before the middle of May. She has had two fillies, one by Mouse and one by Comanche (seen in the background). This year’s foal’s sire is Comanche.
Raven also is due before the middle of May. She has had a filly (by Corona in her native Sand Wash Basin) and a colt, by Kreacher, who also is the sire of this year’s foal. She (and Kootenai) are both in Sundance’s band now.
Alegre is due right around the middle of May. She has had two fillies and a colt (and lost one foal). Gaia’s sire is unknown, but Bounce is the sire of the other two and this year’s foal. She is with Grey/Traveler now.
Houdini is due around the middle of April. She is one of three mares who has had surviving foals each year since at least 2007. Two different sires: Junior (rounded up in 2007) and Grey/Traveler, who also is the sire of this year’s foal. (She also had been with Grey in the early 2000s.) All her foals since 2007 have been fillies.
OK, so a couple more than a coupla bellies! Not all, though. These are just the most recent pix I have of girls due!
Has a new family.
The last time I saw her, she was with mama Mona and stepdaddy Aspen. Seven was nearby, as were Roja and Killian, but from the distance, I couldn’t quite tell whether he had them or was just hanging out close-by in hopes of *getting* them. Bounce was fending off lone Storm (which made me think perhaps David has reclaimed Shadow), and Duke, Kreacher and Tenaz were nearby.
Now, flirty girl is with … guess who!?
Do you recognize the pretty grey girl in the foreground?
The La Sals have some nice snow after the last storm, but they seem to be losing it day by day with this warm, dry, windy weather (ah, spring!).
Calling her “flirty” is anthropomorphism, of course, but before Hollywood, I’ve seen her “flirting” with Grey/Traveler and Sundance – always returning to mama, though. She turned 1 last Sept. 1.
She looks quite a lot like Aspen, not only because of her color but because of her conformation. Mona cannot be related, but I wonder about Kreacher (Shane’s sire).
Stout little mustang girl!
The boys get all the press, but it’s the girls who call the shots.
Do you get that from this image of Piedra and Hollywood? She’s totally in control.
He wooed her when she was still in her family band. He has lost her – briefly – a couple of times, but he always gets her back. When Comanche stole most of Holls’ band last spring, the one he didn’t get – who didn’t leave? – was Piedra. All of her foals are his foals. This year’s will be their fourth.
He seems to like to be close, but he also gives her quite a bit of space. Comanche, Kestrel and Piedra grazed close … then away. Holls was close, but they drifted while grazing, comfortable apart.
Who can blame the boys really? 🙂
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 