Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

This stout little guy (broad but not tall) has the biggest reach of any of the mustangs in Spring Creek Basin, as far as I can tell. He was warning another stallion that his band is not for the taking. The message was received.

Hiya, handsome!

Halloween was spent on hallowed ground – Spring Creek Basin – always imbued with the magic of wildness.

Next weekend, daylight saving time ends. Which means that when I take this photo – or another like it – next Sunday, it will be FIVE O’CLOCK, not 6. Whew. The year is winding down. Some moisture would be welcome. It has been a very dry – very beautiful but very dry – fall.

The vibrant big land form above/behind Chrome is an area known as Klondike Basin.

That’s Tenaz, giving the eyeball from behind one of his mares. Funny boy.

Happy birthday to my wonderful and wonderfully inspiring mom!

How do you thank a person – your mom – for a lifetime of support and encouragement? Someone asked me recently whether my parents had ever pushed me toward anything particular in life. We were talking about how our “normal” family lives make us rather dysfunctional in these modern times! An interesting perspective, eh?

It wasn’t particular, material things my parents pushed me toward; rather, it was characteristics, I think, that we (my brother and I) were shown – by their behavior – that we just (just!) emulated: high standard of ethics, compassion, tolerance, flexibility, the ability to not only adapt to new situations but thrive in them.

In short, my mom (and dad) is pretty awesome. 🙂

She (and he) also made sure I grew up with horses – as she (and he) did. Thanks, Mom. 🙂

Happy birthday!

Do they do it on purpose? Look so completely, amazingly gorgeous ALL the time?

Silly Ty with the short tail checks me out to see if I’m really planning to cross the arroyo just like he did!

His short tail is a complete mystery. He showed up that way recently. Another stallion – Seven – had a short tail AND mane a few years ago, but fortunately they both grew back. Sometimes horses will get thick “rats nests” in their tails, so maybe it finally became a glob of dead hair that he caught on something and pulled out.

Notice the darkish sky above and behind him. We got some good rain Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Of course, by later Tuesday, the ground was solidly dry, but every little bit helps.

Gaia IS sorrel … and has matured to … *heavenly*! 🙂

Don’t you love that sweet fall light?