Seven | Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Overdue

5 04 2012

Hadn’t had a sighting of these horses in a couple of weeks. Thought they must be the first back to the east pocket – and there they were!

From left to right: Seven, Killian and Roja, Mona and Aspen, and Storm. Not seen up the hill to the right: Bounce and Tenaz.

Tenaz gave me a massive scare earlier this day; I found the horses – except him. I spent a fair bit of time with them while they grazed their way from an arroyo to some hills and over – not a sign of him to be seen. The photo in the previous post of Poco and Roach I got after walking out to see if he was with them and I had missed him when I saw them first – from a distance. (He wasn’t.) But when we came back around a few hours later, there he was, unscathed and perfectly fine. No idea where he was earlier.

Seven seems to have Roja and Killian back – which I thought was the case when I last saw them, from a distance. Seven actually chased Mona back to Aspen a couple of times. Bounce and Storm are fending each other off, and Tenaz seems to stick close to Bounce (which he has been doing for the last several months, and which is why it gave me such a scare to NOT see him).

I’ll have some more pix of these guys, but this one shows most of them together. Bounce is fairly lean and has quite a few new scars. Roja is just as pregnant as all get out. She’s not due till May, but until last year, she had been my first foaler (early April).

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Categories : Aspen, Killian, Mona, Roja, Seven, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Storm

Handsome heads

18 01 2012

As wonderful a visit as I was having with Chrome’s band – in a much more accessible location than they’ve been recently – I spotted horses at a short distance that, without benefit of the binocs and with benefit of earlier sighting in about that area, I thought were Seven and Tenaz. I couldn’t see Bounce through the trees, but I couldn’t see anybody else, either. Hadn’t seen those boys close for a while, so I thought I’d visit and get some pix of them to share.

Then it turned out to be Grey’s band. Always photogenic and worth a visit! But the sun was sinking …

And! Over yonder, I spotted Sundance’s band … and Aspen’s (who also had been closer earlier) … and, is that Storm and Shadow? Thinking Bounce and co. may have followed Aspen’s, I hit the trail. And yep, found Seven and Tenaz, and Bounce, too.

This was basically my view of Seven, similar to the one I posted earlier, trotting back and forth, wanting terribly to get closer to Mona. My thinking was that he had the advantage over Aspen, but they apparently didn’t see it that way, and Aspen prevailed. (Seven is now with Duke and Kreacher – as of last week.)

This is Bounce and Storm. For all Storm’s youth (he was 3 the end of July), he is big and strong – and he knows it. This is significantly cropped. I love Storm’s eye, framed by a wisp of his forelock and the curve of Bounce’s neck.

Mostly, Bounce and Tenaz watched the proceedings with interest and only minor (none for Tenaz) participation. Bounce was aged at this roundup at about 15; in 2007, he was aged at 20 (I want to be aged that way!). Tenaz will be 2 this spring; mama is Piedra, and daddy is Hollywood (can you see his resemblance to Hollywood??). No longer with mama and daddy (he went with auntie Baylee last spring when Comanche stole them (and Iya, Cougar and Sage)), he and Baylee ended up with Storm for the rest of the year, and Sage, Iya and Cougar ended up with Poco and Roach – who pretty quickly kicked Sage out (and he ended up with some other young bachelors (including Ze) and sometimes with Duke or Bruiser).

Did you follow all of that? 🙂

Can you just imagine what elder is teaching younger?

Most recently, of course, we saw it last year with Duke and Twister and Cuatro and Sage and Ze and Milagro and Bruiser. … Still, it amazes me.

Seven and Bounce, former heads of bands (and don’t underestimate their potential to regain their status) … Tenaz – the future.

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Categories : Bounce, Seven, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Storm, Tenaz

Return

16 01 2012

Dear readers,

I know I have been seriously lacking in the blog department for a couple of weeks now. But the ponies are fabulous. We even got some snow today – first in a month?! Very un-Colorado-, un-January-like. Mother Nature, we’ll forgive you – if you keep it coming. Wet, gooshy, slushy, sloogy snow – just what the dry, exposed soil and veggies (as in vegetation) need.

Only one minor change to report: Seven is currently with Duke and Kreacher. That, of course, could change at whim. He was still with Bounce and Tenaz … then Aspen brought his remaining girl (Mona, and her daughter, Shane) into sight – and sound – and that unleashed the most activity I’ve seen in awhile. And though Seven obviously didn’t regain Mona and Shane, he has two new compadres. No pix, though; I was showing friends … sans camera. Just enjoyment. 🙂

Randomness (from when I DID have the camera):

Seven, trotting over to (try to) greet his lost lady-love, Mona. I say, how gorgeous is he!

Meanwhile, Bounce thought he might take advantage of Sundance’s flirtation with Shane to pretend a little stand for Kootenai and Mysterium. Tenaz, at right, shadowed Bounce like his little brown, well, shadow.

Speaking of shadows (har) …

… there she is – Shadow – trotting off toward Mona while Aspen and Seven have a disagreement in the background. And what interest a mare when there’s boy-play to engage in? Storm breaks off from his pursuit of Shadow to harass Seven and Aspen.

Later:

I’m not sure where she wanted to go, but he didn’t want her going there.

Have you kept track of the bands? Aspen’s, Sundance’s, Bounce-Tenaz-and-Seven and Storm and Shadow.

Ah ha!

Sorry, girl. Can’t help you! Silly filly.

I will try to post lots of photos over the next couple of days to make up for the “dry season” – sorry! Hopefully we’ll get more snow, and our upcoming dry season won’t loom so terrifyingly dry. Did you note the appalling lack of snow in these photos??

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Categories : Aspen, Bounce, Kootenai, Mysterium, Seven, Shadow, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Storm, Tenaz

Random beauty

16 11 2011

Some random photos that I just didn’t get posted during the last week from my last visit …

Biggest change – Bounce and Tenaz have picked up Seven and Storm. Happy to see those boys together.

Grey/Traveler, looking magnificent as always.

Baby Mysterium. Love this sweet dancer girl.

Mysterium and mama Kootenai

Sundance and the La Sal Mountains (Utah).

That was looking northwest; this is looking east-ever-so-barely-southeast toward McKenna Peak and the unnamed promontory (Colorado).

Burly-man Comanche

Handsome Hollywood (yes, their bands are still family)

Tenaz. Hollywood’s son, fairly close here … looking at Storm …

Seven and Bounce

Leaving you with supreme cuteness – Mysterium.

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Categories : Bounce, Comanche, Grey, Hollywood, Kootenai, Mysterium, Seven, Sundance, Tenaz

Chrome’s

23 10 2011

We have a lot of greys in Spring Creek Basin. You might have noticed. 🙂

That likely goes back to a couple of stallions introduced in the 1990s (as the pintos come from the pinto stallion introduced with them): Mr. Ed and Miguel.

In any case, it makes them easy to spot in the grand expanse of the basin (except during winter!), but depending on distance and who I can see of their band, identification sometimes has to wait for a closer look. This was the case when I saw Seven last week. I was pretty sure it was him … but where was his band? Nearby, another light grey … that quickly became identifiable by the horses with him: Hayden, Winona, Terra.

But it wasn’t until I walked out to where I could see better that I realized Seven’s band was not with him … and that Aspen had to have them.

He seems to be taking it all in stride, though he was fairly close to Chrome’s band.

Terra and Chrome. Seven was out of sight over the rise of land to the far right.

Winona (1) and Hayden (2). Winona is a feisty little thing, and she is jealous of her proximity to Terra – woe to Hayden should he try to get between them.

Traveler’s son Hayden.

Kestrel’s beautiful daughter, Luna’s granddaughter Winona.

She found the perfect little stump to satisfy an itch.

Traveler’s 2-year-old daughter, Terra – half-sister to Hayden.

She does have her mother’s ears – all the better to hear you with! 🙂 Chrome in back.

They came to nap under a juniper … until Seven came into view and everything went into motion.

Seven

Hayden looking at the stranger. He’s already getting pretty fuzzy.

They’ve left their tree, and the youngsters are bunching up while Chrome walks ahead …

Chrome observing Seven with his band – Hayden, Terra and Winona – safely behind him (or so he thinks).

He went trotting out to greet Seven, but when his precocious young fillies and Hayden all came right with him, he had to break off and let Seven go to keep them from getting into the mix! I didn’t have a clear view of everything that happened from down the hill, and to stay out of whatever dynamic ensued, I decided visiting hours were up for the time being.

Hayden under the tree. He has daddy’s sharp little ears.

As I was walking away, one last look at Winona, looking at the stranger.

And Chrome looking, earlier, when he was in front of his band.

The next day, Chrome’s band was still in the general area, but Seven had gone way east.

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Categories : Chrome, Hayden, Seven, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Terra, Winona

Mona belly update

17 10 2011

I’m fairly sure Mona is still pregnant … but she’s sure not huge (Roja looks more pregnant (after three babies), and she’s not due till May!), and so we’re really just in wait mode (when are we not?!).

Shane, Killian and Roja with a great view of the basin behind them.

Curious critters – Shane, Killian and Roja.

Pretty girl Shane. And she has some size – her first birthday was Sept. 15.

Baby hunk Killian with mama Roja.

And Mona walking into my photo. 🙂

Mona. I’d love to hear opinions …

Seven moving Roja and Killian away from Aspen.

Seven

Aspen with the quintessential Spring Creek Basin background – McKenna Peak and the unnamed promontory.

Working hard to keep Aspen at bay. I love this boy!

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Categories : Aspen, Killian, Mona, Roja, Seven, Shane, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Seven’s band – and friends

2 10 2011

Seven’s were with their shadow, Aspen, and Hollywood’s and Comanche’s bands when I spotted them the second day of my visit last week. They were pretty close to the road, so I decided I could sit in the Jeep and wait for them, or I could try walking out and see what happened. As it turned out, it was one of my best visits ever with Seven’s wary band.

Hollywood’s and Comanche’s are particularly comfortable with each other, so maybe that made a difference, even with Aspen dogging Seven.

This was toward the end of the visit, but that’s Comanche at left, Hollywood closest and Piedra at right. Kestrel was to the left, Seven’s band were to the right, and Juniper was wandering between them all.

Killian, who is practically the spitting image of his big brother Ze, and mama Roja.

Seven would graze, then walk his “perimeter” between his family and Aspen. I’m not sure what the unspoken code was, but he was not in the slightest worried about Hollywood or Comanche or their mares.

Yearling Shane (born Sept. 15) and mama Mona; you can see Aspen in the background.

Aspen. He has previously stolen (at least) Piedra and Mahogany, but he didn’t hold either for long.

Seven and Shane

Shane and Mona. It was harder than you might think to get pix of the belly! Shane would block her or she’d linger behind a big greasewood … After a while, it got to be kind of funny. I had a great seat under a big juniper – not the best for the direction of the light – and it was pretty high and harsh anyway – but it was perfect for observation.

Mona and Roja

Juniper (near) looking at Shane …

This was when Killian and Shane came moseying up to try to have a chat with Juniper. I didn’t have a great angle – but I didn’t want to move!

Sweetheart. 🙂 She looks so much like daddy, but certain times, I catch her looking like big sister Winona.

Cute Killian – such a sweet baby face.

Talk about reminders. I’ve been thinking about all the horses so much lately (!) … going through past photos to send adopters … thinking of all the past visits … Roja reminds me so much of Molly. I thought Molly was Roja’s dam – the resemblance is right there. But I’m glad it’s looking like Killian got his daddy’s fine head! 🙂

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Categories : Aspen, Comanche, Hollywood, Juniper, Killian, Mona, Piedra, Roja, Seven, Shane

Killian and family

28 09 2011

Killian, son of Seven and Roja, baby brother of Ze, who was adopted locally to an incredible home.

I had one of the best visits ever with his band yesterday. That’s Shane’s hip at right – and they’re pretty much attached at the hip. Cutest thing ever to see Killian walk hesitantly up with Shane to introduce themselves to Juniper. Little guy using big “sister” to bolster his curiosity. Juni wasn’t quite ready to play, though she gave them both a sniff, and then Piedra urged them back to their own mamas.

Wait, did I just mention horses from three different bands? 🙂

Piedra and Hollywood are reunited, and Juni and mama and daddy, Kestrel and Comanche, are reunited, and the two bands are as close as they were pre-roundup. They were grazing in a little “meadow” very near where Seven’s were napping under some trees when I spotted them. Seven ran Aspen like a crazy horse the evening before, but Aspen was napping right with them.

Mona and Roja. Mona doesn’t look terribly close, does she?

All three bands, from left: Mona, Roja, Shane and Killian, Seven, Hollywood, Piedra (Comanche behind her), Juniper and Kestrel, and Aspen at far right.

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Categories : Aspen, Comanche, Hollywood, Juniper, Kestrel, Killian, Mona, Piedra, Roja, Seven, Shane

Now

21 09 2011

All the BLM folks have been amazing. I’m not sure whether I should name them because I don’t want them to be targets any more than they already are, but they were excellent in all regards. We couldn’t have done anything that we did – and have done – without them. JD, WW, CC, TR, LA, JG, SB, LB, SW, JJ, MJ, HP, KW, SM, AB … thank you so much for your support and calm and level-headed approach – and for always thinking of the safety of the horses and humans. We appreciate you more than we can possibly express. We’re so grateful to have achieved what we have with your partnership, and we look forward to achieving our future goals with your help.

BLM has plans to re-seed the trapsite area, and that could happen as soon as next week.

Monday, after everything was over and everyone else was gone, I went back to basin.

If you go out looking for horses, be patient, use your binoculars, scan slowly and in seemingly unlikely places – and some of the same – and you will find them.

I saw Aspen almost right away (though I thought initially he was Duke, right in his home territory). Then Seven’s … Then black and grey – Bounce and Alegre?! Horses in trees … and below them … and nearby …

Bounce sticks out here … but he’s not with Alegre – he’s with Houdini. She’s right above the “C” in Creek.

While I was looking at them, I spotted another pair:

Right by the brown guzzler, Chrome and Hayden.

I went back around to where I’d seen horses in the hill, and that’s where the wild magic started to work its healing.

Traveler (back right) with Alegre (grey), Gaia (sorrel) and baby Aurora.

Tenaz and Corona. Tenaz was almost caught … Baylee was caught (she’s awaiting adoption – big, beautiful bay girl), and Storm gave observers a show when he galloped away right past them on the hill above the trapsite.

Watching the pintos …

Left to right: Reya (4), Maiku (1), Puzzle (1) and Chipeta. They’re a long way from “home” territory. Chipeta is the dam of the foal that has now been adopted. We don’t know how they got separated. The helicopter pilot was excellent about not even targeting the horses we asked him not to. That’s why he left the bunch alone when he realized they were with the youngest foal. What a story that foal could tell … I’m not even sure who the horses were that were with Chipeta’s band when the pilot did see the group. So all the pintos (and their hangers-on) are accounted for except stallion Corazon.

Here they are with Ty, who is now dominant over …

Copper, who is sticking with them.

I finally left them to find Seven’s and see whether Mona had had her foal yet. The pilot had seen “the pregnant mare” and of course left her alone. (We did see Kreacher’s band before the roundup even started – they ran across what would later be “the observation hill” with SUNDANCE immediately behind them and Kreacher following (?!). Chrome broke away from his band to follow them … leaving his band separated for quite a while (they were later captured all together). People were camped farther north on that hill at the time … we didn’t see the horses again. I am very eager to find them.

From left: Roja and Killian, Seven, Mona and Shane.

The lone bay turned out to be Aspen.

I also saw Shadow the end of the day Sunday – alone. But if I had to guess in normal circumstances where she might be, she was right there. Wind and Coal came to the trapsite with Iya and Cougar. Have not seen David.

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Categories : Alegre, Aspen, Aurora, Bounce, Chipeta, Chrome, Copper, Corona, Gaia, Grey, Hayden, Houdini, Killian, Maiku, Mona, pintos, Puzzle, Reya, Roja, Seven, Shane, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Tenaz

Mona

11 09 2011

Though it’s a “long shot” – taken from quite a distance and cropped heavily – here’s lovely, expectant Mona:

She’s not looking real big, either, like Kootenai … she’s due Wednesday.

And another long shot – of Seven:

They were in the east pocket with Bounce’s band and Storm’s. It was the closest I’d seen Storm’s band for quite a long time, so I focused on them – and will have more pix of them coming.

I know these are all random sorts of posts … but it helps me …

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Categories : Mona, Seven

Spring Creek Basin Mustangs