Tell BLM …

5 01 2015

… you want to see bait trapping in the future in Spring Creek Basin.

Today, BLM sent a scoping letter to gauge the public’s interest in doing bait trapping there in the future as opposed to helicopter-driven roundups. I think you’ll all agree that we want bait trapping instead of a helicopter. It was very successful in Little Book Cliffs in 2013, and we’re confident it can be successful in Spring Creek Basin – when needed.

The scoping letter (and bait-trapping proposal submitted by our groups to BLM last year) can be found through links on NMA/CO’s website.

It is important to note that there will NOT be a roundup in Spring Creek Basin this year. Our population is below the appropriate management level of 35 to 65 adult horses, and the use of native PZP has slowed population growth. Apparently, all of Colorado’s wild horse herds were put on the “2015 gather list,” but none were approved because of lack of funding and lack of corral space (this information is as of November 2014).

Note that the name of our herd management area is Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area. Also note that Spring Creek Basin is in Disappointment Valley (there’s no such thing as Disappointment Basin – at least not locally).

Please submit respectful and positive comments by Jan. 30. Members of the Colorado chapter of the National Mustang Association, Four Corners Back Country Horsemen and Mesa Verde Back Country Horsemen (a coalition known as Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners) have established a long-term working partnership with Tres Rios Field Office managers with regard to managing our Spring Creek Basin mustangs well. Our network of mustang advocates helps reinforce this partnership.

Thank you for your support of our mustangs in Spring Creek Basin!

Comanche, Piedra and Aurora





Winter white

5 01 2015

Seneca and Chipeta

Hello, sweet lovelies! Seneca and Chipeta look very warm in their winter woolies on a cold afternoon. Chipeta is wearing her very best winter white. 🙂





Watcher, too

4 01 2015

Ty

So much can change in just a couple of days. There’s still snow, but under the Colorado sunshine, it’s melting quickly. That doesn’t change much from year to year.

Ty’s a little more alert than Sundance (previous post), but note his also-cocked hip. He’s not too worried about the pinto band he’s watching, but he sure looks handsome against the shadow- and snow-dappled hills in the background, eh?





Watcher

3 01 2015

Sundance

Sundance, relaxed. He was hanging out, sometimes grazing, sometimes watching some other horses. The horse-watching opportunities were endless. (Who are we to thinking only people-watching is endlessly fascinating?!)





Merry, happy

2 01 2015

Maia and Alegre

Poetry in motion. Lovely Maia and her lovely mama, Alegre.

The snowy first day of the new year was, well, lovely. Not a lot of snow fell in (the lower) Disappointment Valley from the much-heralded storm, but some is better than none. And it does make for a (lovely) winter wonderland!





Happy 2015

1 01 2015

Winona makes funny faces after eating snow.

Winona reminds everyone to – on the first day of the new, bright, clean-slate year – be a little silly, take joy in your surroundings and live in the moment – especially if it involves something delicious.

Our mustangs are amazing creatures of the American West, and they add magic to the wild landscapes that they call home. Truly, there aren’t enough superlatives to describe them – or the joy they have brought to my life.

They are beauty. They are love. Life is full.

Happy New Year!





In tandem

31 12 2014

Winona and Terra

Winona and Terra graze together on a snowy hill on a sunny day.

As you can see, there’s snow on the ground, and there’s bare ground. Relatively cold temperatures have preserved some snow, and the weather folks say more is on the way for New Year’s Day!





Two bay boys

29 12 2014

Apollo and Duke

Because their photo shoot was so rudely interrupted yesterday, we rescheduled today.

Their winter coats always look so rich and warm against the snow. It’s always nice to see the rich-in-wisdom elder(s) passing on their knowledge to the younger fellows.





Friendly bombers

28 12 2014

Apollo and Duke, photobombed by Kreacher and Killian.

Apollo and Duke were having a friendly greeting when Kreacher and Killian did the walk-on-by. A photobomb of the handsomest kind!





Wee bits of white bits

27 12 2014

Pintos - Spirit and Corazon - in the snow.

More of the pintos, more of the snow. You can never get enough of either. 🙂