And here’s the followup pic that prompts the “is she pregnant” question:
I’ve been amazed that Mysterium has still been nursing. My experience with the mares is that they start kicking off their babies about three months or so before they’re due to foal again.
So maybe pregnant … but not by her due date!? Mysterium will be 1 year old on Aug. 21!
Makes ya go hmm.
Terra update to come.
I have nicknames for the horses. As if “Kootenai” weren’t enough, I have to make it longer, with more vowels and syllables. She’s way too cute for one “simple” name, though, don’t you agree? (For newcomers and/or forgetful types, I named her in honor of Kootenai, a mustang from Sand Wash Basin (Koot’s original home range), who marched with nine of his Border Patrol mustang buddies (including Justice, from Spring Creek Basin) at Obama’s inauguration parade in January 2009. Also cuz I used to live in Montana and loved the northwestern corner of the state.)
But on to the post. Time for some class participation. I’m going to flash a pic and ask a question that requires comment participation – because I really don’t know. She should be, but she might not be. And then I’m going to have a follow-up pic, which will require more discussion – because I don’t know the answer there, either – even though that follow-up pic will be more of a statement that perhaps *prompts* a question – at least it has for me: This one:
Is she pregnant?
Hint to newcomers and/or forgetful types: She’s due in 10 days.
Go!
Update: Two additional photo angles.
From the front.
From the back.
Didn’t have any from straight on, either front or back.
How – I have to ask – does one end up with a prickly pear pad – complete with spines! – in one’s forelock?!
More pix from the pinto visit. I forewarn you that this post is heavily focused on a certain little painted mister. I tried to take pix of everybody, really, I did. But my camera had a sensor (mind) of its own, and it kept coming back to this ultra cuteness!
Similar to a pic I posted earlier of S’aka and big sister Puzzle, but this one also has mama Reya included.
He’s a curious mister! Love the waves in his mane and forelock.
Love the golden light on the boy and the sparkle in his eye.
Little mister with big Mr. Corazon, who still seems to be keeping close tabs on Reya, who seems to stick close to Chipeta, who sticks with Ty. Very interesting dynamic going on with this band.
Trotting into the sunset. They didn’t go far before settling back to grazing. I love the light, the spots, the ponies. Gorgeous. 🙂
Copper is looking hale and hearty. Moving well after his knee injury earlier this year.
Spotlight on bay boy!
I do love those handsome bays!
He’s still hanging with the pintos.
Almost-2-year-old Puzzle with daddy Copper in the background.
Another one from the visit with the pinto ponies:
Reya against a shadowed background. Rain was coming, giving great light and shadows across the basin.
Mama Reya with baby S’aka.
Uncle Maiku was missing from the group; hopefully he’s taken up with the other young bachelor boys, Hayden, Tenaz and Apollo. They were among the few horses my family and I didn’t see during our visit. Those boys have been doing some wandering across the basin!
He dances on air …
He’s not very big, but isn’t he gorgeous?
Same sire: Copper.
Big sister Puzzle takes good care of little brother S’aka, who clearly adores her. (Reya was immediately to the right.)
Puzzle’s mama is Chipeta, who is probably about 7 years old and due to foal around Sept. 1; S’aka’s mama is Reya, who is 5 years old.
Today was a good day to check the status of the Round Top pond. On the way, I stopped for a visit with the pinto ponies.
Copper walks past the Round Top pond.
Then there was some of this:
Mama Reya and baby S’aka.
And a bit of this:
Copper, with Brumley Point in the background.
And a teeny bit of this:
Puzzle with mama Chipeta and stepdaddy Ty.
And we got a nice downpour later. What a wonderful day!
Have been busy with family – hi, Mom and Dad, Tom and Kayla! – and haven’t had much time to post. We did get into the basin this weekend to see the horses, and saw almost all of them. Kreacher has lost Roja and Killian to … drum roll, please … Storm! They’re back in the east pocket. Bounce was close-ish. Kreacher is with Seven. All else seems normal.
The trapsite pond does have water, and the northwest and roadside ponds are dug out and just waiting for a drencher! The hills are so green right now. The range looks fantastic, and the horses look fabulous!
The horses were mostly at a distance, so I’m going back a couple of weeks for this one of sweet Mariah. She looks so rosy with her red coat going grey.
What a stunner. 🙂
