Bounce, sire of Aurora in the previous post. They’re both black with a nearly identical right hind fetlock – you can only barely see the upper part of Bounce’s because of the snow. Additionally, Aurora sports the tiniest, barest crescent of an almost-there “star” on her forehead.
He has been following Hollywood’s and Comanche’s bands for a little while now. This particular morning wasn’t the first I’ve seen him and Aurora fairly close together.
Mona and Aurora were hanging out with Bounce. Bounce is following Hollywood’s and Comanche’s bands. Bounce is Aurora’s daddy, but she’s in Hollywood’s band now. Mona is definitely Hollywood’s mare. They wandered as they grazed, and pretty soon, Mona and Aurora and Bounce were on one side of a shallow arroyo, and everybody else was on the other side. Hollywood looked and grazed, then looked and made a decision, and he trotted down the hill and across the arroyo, bluffed Bounce away and brought his girls back to the fold.
Even in his snaking attitude, he’s so cute. Look at his nostril all puckered up. I wish I hadn’t chopped Aurora’s ears off, but I was focused on Holls when she trotted up the hill between us.
And that Aurora looks just like daddy … and mama Alegre. She’s really a beautiful blending of both.
Grey/Traveler did his best to bring the girls to me, but wise Houdini wasn’t having any of it. Can you see Mariah’s face greying?
Would you believe this is one of only a few shots (all in the same sequence) I got of Corazon that day that show his left side?
With baby S’aka and mama Reya. They also have Reya’s little brother Maiku in their band.
Following the “snowy muzzle” theme, this is Corazon, so named for the heart on his left side. He’s one of two black-and-white pintos in the basin. Raven, originally from Sand Wash Basin, is the other.
Love the snow bokeh in the background – snowy spots through the pinon-juniper on the far ridge, outside Spring Creek Basin.
Until recently, part of the white part of Corazon’s mane was threaded through his forelock. He must have flipped it back into place!
And seriously, if you don’t love that cooler-than-cool fringe of white that looks *just* like frost along the white-black transition on the side you can see …! Frosty handsome snow boy!
On super snowy days, S’aka very nearly blends in! Love his snowy muzzle, too! Just like uncle Maiku.
Maiku wins the cute award this week!
Speaking of late babies, this little girl, born Sept. 23, is doing perfectly well!
Baby Seneca with mama Chipeta.
Baby Seneca with daddy Ty.
She IS a daddy’s girl.
Seneca with mama and daddy.
We got some good snow a few days ago, and most of the basin has quite a good cover. Now it’s cold – sometimes bitterly cold – under the crystal-clear sky. But the horses have thick, rich, furry coats, and they’re in excellent shape!
A day full of snow would leave a basin full of snow, you’d think – and you’d be right! Such interesting climate zones in Disappointment Valley. Some snow in the lower, broader valley; lots of snow higher as the valley narrows to the east-southeast. It all means moisture for the horses and deer and elk and coyotes and bobcats and other critters that call the valley home.
Someone told me the other day that he saw “a big tom” (bobcat) on a newborn calf – bovine, not wapiti. I’m not sure what surprised me most: a calf born at this time of year (or that the cow still is here) or a bobcat! I’ve seen one in the basin, way too quick for photos, after a rabbit. I’m not sure about the rabbit, but the bobcat got away (from me)!
Mariah, Houdini, Alegre and Maia.
Grey/Traveler. He could do with a little more fat on his old bones, but he looks pretty hearty.
The temperature ranged from 12 to 17 degrees, according to the Jeep, while I was in the basin. After snowing all day, it stopped for an hour or two, then picked up again around sunset.
Yes, they’re all grey. 🙂
This gorgeous girl gets only more beautiful.
Fuzzy divine.
A la beautiful.
Simply a stunner – with a snow mustachio! 🙂
How beautiful, glorious Winona.
