We interrupt this program …

7 06 2012

… to bring you a different kind of “beast.”

I think he’s smiling at me.

Our herd manager came to the basin today to check the water situation. Four ponds still have water. All but one were dug out in 2009 and 2010 (and one pond dug out in 2009 and one dug out in 2010 are dry). We have talked about water enhancements in the last year or so – and money for that is in the works, thanks to the Director’s Challenge grant we got. We’ve talked about a second water catchment (our current one is about 10+ years old, thanks to the National Mustang Association/Colorado chapter), water guzzlers, enhancing seeps and springs and digging out more ponds. Two more ponds are scheduled for dig-out this year, also thanks to the Director’s Challenge funds.

It’s all about cooperation.

Kiley and I saw the collared lizard on a rock right off the road. I made him stop for a quick portrait shoot. I love these tiny dinos!

It’s dry out there, folks. All rain dances – of all durations, to any music, any style (!) – accepted. 🙂


Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Wildlife

All I want …

6 06 2012

… are more hours in the day. Or night. Anywhere, really, they could be squeezed in.

Lovely Mariah. How could you possibly be almost 2 months old? A stunner, as all your sisters before.

With babysitter Corona. This is the band to watch for family dynamics with three mares with foals, a yearling and a dry 3-year-old! Doesn’t hurt that my boy Grey/Traveler is king. 🙂

She can run faster than you can! Happy girl, testing the legs.

So many gorgeous ponies, so little time to post photos of them all.


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Categories : Corona, Mariah, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

What matters, size?

5 06 2012

Corona (Corona (Sand Wash Basin) x Raven) is 3 years old. Aurora (Bounce x Alegre) is 1.

Yes, Corona does seem thin. She’s had those jutting hip bones for quite a while. She seems healthy enough, just not an “easy keeper.” But I really took this photo to illustrate the size difference – or rather the size similarity and the AGE difference. You can’t see a lot of Aurora behind Corona, but she’s easily as big as Corona, who is two years older. Alegre is a good-sized mare and passes long legs on to her foals. Whisper, her second foal (adopted last year), was a tall boy. Bounce, in contrast, is quite a little guy, probably no taller than 14 hands. Raven is a good-sized mare, and it seems that Corona, Corona’s sire, is a good-sized stallion.

They’re close as sisters or BFFs. You rarely see one far from the other.

Just a thing to make ya go hmm. (Aren’t they cute? :))


Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Aurora, Corona, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Brushed

5 06 2012

Isn’t he just brushed gold?

I spent hours brushing him to a horse-show sheen before our photo shoot … 🙂

He is or was recently back with Kreacher, and that’s who he’s looking at between bites. A little bit of home in the background, looking east.


Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : Duke, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Shake

4 06 2012

Sundance, shaking after a roll. I just liked how his long forelock is swirling. And his funny little folded ear. 🙂

Start your day with a smile!


Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Sundance

Cassidy Rain

3 06 2012

Gaia had her baby. A girl. 🙂

This first-time mama is 4 years old. Baby is a day or less old in these photos.

She’s an excellent mama. 🙂 That’s mud on baby, from one of the ponds (and yes, it was scary seeing her so covered in mud so soon after birth!).

The first time I saw Gaia’s little girl, it was raining. (OK, sprinkling.) So the obvious name Rain leaped to mind. Our new herd manager, Kiley Whited, has been a breath of fresh air. He just celebrated his birthday, and his baby daughter, Cassidy, is the most adorable bundle of cuteness. Having just named Madison after friend Tif’s daughter, the second obvious name hit me like a lightning bolt.

And then I couldn’t pick just one, so baby has two. 🙂

My world got busy, and I haven’t been able to get to photos (!), but I will have more soon.

Welcome to your wild world, beautiful girl!


Comments : 9 Comments »

Categories : Cassidy Rain, Gaia, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Madison

3 06 2012

In honor of my friend Tif, mustang angel extraordinaire, I decided to name Kestrel’s filly Madison, after Tif’s beautiful daughter.

Gorgeous, like her mother, like Tif and her daughter.

I so love mamas and babies. The last light was extraordinary.

Following mama, followed by big sister Juniper.

High-steppin’ through the saltbush.

Darling Madison in the reflected glow of sunset light.


Comments : 7 Comments »

Categories : Juniper, Kestrel, Madison, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Skywalker

3 06 2012

Raven’s colt has a name, thanks to long-time Spring Creek Basin advocates Pat and Frank Amthor!

Four Corners Skywalker

Pat and Frank have honcho’d the Four Corners Back Country Horsemen’s annual wild horse count in Spring Creek Basin for most of the last 13 years – including this year. That makes them among the longest of the horses’ advocates. Pat serves as the 4CBCH representative to Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners.

Notice the rings around his eyes. Pretty certain that although this handsome mister was born black like mama, he’s going to end up grey like daddy (Kreacher)!

Goodness no, we couldn’t miss your spot, just like one of mama’s!

Baby Skywalker cozy between mama Raven and stepdaddy Sundance. You can just see “auntie” Kootenai in the background, and big sister Mysterium also is still with the band.

Skywalker with mama Raven.

Is the cuteness overwhelming yet? It’s OK. Go ahead and admit it. I do!


Comments : 6 Comments »

Categories : Raven, Skywalker, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Sundance

Rising

1 06 2012

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.


Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : Piedra, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Temple

RIP Roach

1 06 2012

I’ve been worried about Roach for weeks. He’s usually with Poco, and they usually split briefly in the spring, then reunite.

It’s never unusual to go weeks without seeing these boys, but something was different this time. I saw Poco several times … but not Roach.

Earlier this spring, I had had a couple of possible sightings of Roach, but I hadn’t seen him for certain since the top photo was taken – April 23. I haven’t seen Poco now since early May. As much as he grieved for Bones …

Yesterday, I found Roach, at the bottom of a steep, narrow arroyo. The best I can hope is that it was quick.

The first time I saw Roach was in about 2004, with Poco, a dark bay mare I later documented as Ceal and her then-yearling colt. Roach was young, full of fire, with a roached mane and forelock and a skimpy, almost-nothing tail.

That was in the double ponds area, and since then, I saw him with Poco, almost always in that area, except these recent springs, when they’d split to go wandering. As far as I know, Roach never had a band/mare of his own, though he stayed with Poco when he had Bones and, later, Iya and Cougar.

I think he was 11-12 years old.

Oh, Roach. Spring Creek Basin has been and will be less without your presence.


Comments : 8 Comments »

Categories : Poco, Roach, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

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