Two Boots | Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Wild about mustangs

4 09 2009

This post, from a visit to the basin two weeks ago, has been a long time coming, but before I get to my horses, I’d like to offer a little prayer for the Pryor Mountain mustangs and all those who love and cherish those horses in particular.

Two weeks ago, our Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners were anticipating a visit with Dan Elkins and Karen Herman from New Mexico. Dan has been doing a technique of gathering wild horses called bait trapping for the past six years. Recently in the Carson National Forest in New Mexico, they implemented that state’s first PZP program. By using his unique mineral and salt mix, Dan is able to bring horses to a trap site by band, calmly. He can then corral an entire group of horses by family band or single out particular horses for removal. Since I visited the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range in September 2007 and learned about this alternative to helicopter-driven roundups, and realized documentation of a band could help, I’ve been working toward this goal for our next gather.

Dan and Karen also are certified to administer PZP, a fertility control drug that can reduce birth rates and thus the need for frequent gathers. With Dan and Karen offering both a humane option for gathering and removing horses (with just 22,000 acres of less-than-ideal habitat, it has to be done) AND the ability to implement a program designed to remove horses less often (which incidentally means the horses now in the basin may have the opportunity to live free and wild longer (forever?) on their home range), it seems to be a win-win project for us! Our fingers are collectively crossed that the BLM sees the logic here as well!

I went out early to scout the horses and spend some extra time with them alone. It was the first time I’d been out for an overnight trip since the almost-end of foaling season. And we come to the reason for such a long wait between horse stories: I saw every band but Seven’s, and I was able to spend some time with each of them – a nice change from the never-long-enough day trips. But it made for a LOT of photos, which just took a long time to go through. I do have a day job, ya know!

It was another one of those weekends that make it to the “amazing visit” category. The horses were pretty calm for the most part. Traveler’s band was the most unsettled, with both Chrome and Aspen swirling around them. And no, Jif still has not foaled, which you saw in the previous post.

Kreacher’s band was out past the Spring Creek canyon area when I first drove into the basin.

Hollywood’s band was first up at a close distance. Poco and Roach are still with the band, and they seem to have a relationship that works for all involved.

Mama, Daddy, baby

Piedra, Hollywood and Sage.

Baylee and Hollywood

Oh, that Hollywood; such a lover. 🙂

Perfect scratching post

Sage was very solid while Mama satisfied an itch.

Like begets like

Couldn’t tell these two are related, eh …??

Sage

I dare you to look at this pic and not burst into a spontaneous chuckle! 🙂

Poco

Being the lieutenant has its perks. Poco has clearly been a visitor to the Wildcat Spring and Day Spa!

Roach

Isn’t he in great shape?

Hollywood

Thanks for a terrific visit, pal!

Steeldust’s band was lounging up the hill in the shade east of Wildcat. The usual cast of characters were in attendance, including these two misters:

Twister and Hook

I was glad to see these boys still together. I don’t know that you can say Hook is really taking care of 2-year-old Twister, but at least they’re staying together.

Mahogany and Sable

While I was watching Twister and Hook, who were on a hill across a little drainage from where Steeldust’s band was, Mahogany came walking behind me, followed by baby Sable and yearling Pinon … followed by Lt. Mouse. Hmm. What’s this? I wondered whether Mouse had sort of selected them out … but they went a little farther down the hill past me, then around some trees and back to the band. Like that’s what they had intended to do all along.

Mouse

Sable

A closer look at Mahogany’s little girl.

Alpha and Luna

The queens of Steeldust’s heart, err, band.

Shady boys

Storm and Steeldust and Alpha and others hanging out under the trees. It was warm – up to 92 degrees – but not unbearable.

Had just a short visit with them that time because I got a late start to the basin, and I hadn’t yet seen Grey/Traveler and his band, which meant I hadn’t seen Jif. I got a wonderful surprise when I got around to the formerly (!) dry pond right beside the road …

Water in a dry land

Yay! We’re unfortunately still waiting for just two of the five originally identified ponds to be dug out in the hopes that they will hold water when it rains enough. I’ll say here that my idea of quality and quantity of water don’t match the BLM’s idea for what the horses need, but I’ll also say that we’re working on that issue.

Next, I had the most amazing visit with Bounce’s band.

Gaia, Whisper and Alegre

Beautiful mama with her gorgeous babies. That little Whisper is so cute I can hardly stand it! And Gaia, who has been such a mama’s girl (and step-daddy’s, too), is finding her courage to indulge her curiosity.

Bounce and family

Alegre and Whisper

Whisper

Isn’t he just handsome? Clearly going grey.

Family backyard

Bounce

Coming to say hello.

It was an amazing visit I can’t do justice to with pictures.

Then Grey/Traveler’s band was back in the east pocket beyond the pond – Chrome and Aspen both with the band. And another great surprise! That pond was full, too! Among other things, this might tell you where the rain is falling in the basin.

Little Miss Friendly

I wonder whether Daddy knows his baby girl (Terra) is fraternizing with the enemy (Chrome).

Aspen in the lead

As you can see, Traveler had other concerns. That’s Jif behind him.

Speaking of Jif, let’s show off the belly again:

Jif

She’s in good condition.

Iya and Two Boots

So … Iya, front/left, is a yearling, and Two Boots (named with a nod to Pryor stallion Two Boots, by the way) is her 2-year-old “big” sister. They don’t look much alike, besides the size comparison, do they? But as far as I know (???), they have the same sire, a grey stallion I called Junior who was gathered and removed in 2007.

Cuatro

Little man following Mama. You can see his grey-ness, too.

Terra

Big, beautiful sister! No sign of a limp.

Grandma and grandbaby

Houdini and her baby Two Boots’ baby Cuatro!

Traveler

Chrome

He is persistent …

Git

Traveler going after Aspen.

Leaving it to the lieutenant

Here, he’s letting Chrome take care of Aspen …

Airs above ground

Quite a show, but they didn’t come to blows (sorry).

Traveler had to keep Chrome away, too, and at one point, they came around the band to where I was.

One grey

Chrome

Chrome was surprised enough to find himself close to me that he was distracted, and Traveler went confidently back to his band. Sorry, pal. 🙂

As if that wasn’t enough, Bounce came trotting over to get the low-down.

Wind in his mane

Defiant

Bounce and Aspen. My goodness, check out that kick!

Dominance

There was a great deal of sniffing and posturing, but in the end, neither Aspen nor Chrome really challenged elder Bounce.

Belly view

Another view of our girl.

Jif and Iya and band

The band was remarkably calm, given what was going on, but they didn’t stay in one place very long.

So I left them to their evening and decided to try to find Duke’s merry little band. They proved not very hard to find, right by the road near the northwestern entrance.

Duke

Maybe you know my penchant for dark bay horses, but don’t tell me he doesn’t just glow in that lovely light! The sun was very low, and the shadow from the hill on the boundary was creeping steadily toward the horses.

Corona and Raven

Love these lovely girls! Corona seems another “old-soul” girl, a lot like Ember. She doesn’t emote much, but she watches everything.

Overtaken by shade

Duke, Corona and Raven

To end the day, I headed back into the sunshine, looking for horses glowing in the light.

On the move

Alpha leads boys Storm, Butch and Sundance through a shallow little draw to a meadow right by the road back near Wildcat Spring.

Year mates

Yearlings Pinon and Ember, followed by 2-year-old Kestrel.

Comanche

Bringing up the rear.

Three girls

Ember, right, grazes with “aunt” Mahogany and Sable.

Satellites

First Sgt. Comanche, right/foreground, and Lt. Mouse grazing toward the band.

Last light

It was a simply gorgeous evening. That’s Comanche.

End o the day

At some point, you just have to put down the camera and enjoy the scenery … and the company.

A beautiful, beautiful, wonderful day.

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Alegre, Alpha, Aspen, Baylee, Bounce, Chrome, Comanche, Corona, Cuatro, Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners, Duke, Ember, Gaia, Grey, Hollywood, Hook, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kestrel, Luna, Mahogany, Piedra, Pinon, Poco, PZP, Raven, Roach, Sable, Sage, Steeldust, Storm, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Whisper

Family visit

20 08 2009

In this case, the family was mine – literally. My mom and dad’s 40th anniversary (!) was last weekend, so they decided to come to Colorado for their first summer visit ever. My uncle T and cousin K also came – for their first visit to Colorado ever! Naturally, a visit to my four-legged family was high on the list.

It would have been top of the list but for the rain the visitors pushed into Colorado ahead of their visits from points southeast and west. We waited a day to allow the basin to dry out, and except for the washes across the Disappointment Road as we drove there, all was otherwise dry …

But almost immediately we saw the most beloved horse – of this family, anyway! – in the basin: Grey/Traveler’s band, still shadowed by Chrome. They were very near the road to the old trap site, and Kreacher and the girls were also close by, closer to the shallow pond – the only pond that has water currently.

All at ease

The boy with his girls and one little boy. Yes, yes, you see only two little bodies; our dear Jif is taking her own sweet time.

Shadow-Chrome

There’s Chrome at right, looking pretty worn out. I guess his plan isn’t working against the old man of the basin. The horses were considerably calmer than the first time I saw Chrome with them. Ahh … the young men, always thinking their youth is more than a match for wisdom – usually wrongly.

Away, the girls

After we had watched the horses for a few minutes, Kootenai decided to leave, so she turned and led the horses toward the pond. They paused there but didn’t drink. They ended up at the catchment, followed by Traveler’s band.

Keepin-up Kreacher

This is one young man who knows who the boss is! He followed his girls, lickety split.

Traveler’s band looked quite calm, so we headed on to see who else we could see.

Steeldust’s band was up on the northeast hills – we could see them through the binoculars. All was looking good for us getting to where they were … until we came down the hill and around the curve and stopped dead at the wash of mud and boulders where the road had previously gone over the first Spring Creek crossing. Uh oh. To be sure, there were only four boulders, and none were very big – except the first one, closest to the Jeep side of the crossing – but the whole situation stopped us as if we’d been facing a raging river. There was a bit of water still flowing from previous rains, which is always good for the horses, so it was hard to be totally upset that I’ve been able to take everyone else out to the basin to see the horses, but then when my very own family comes, I get stymied at the first major arroyo! 🙂

I do have to mention the bet my uncle lost. He bet that the dry pond by Flat Top would have water in it from the recent rain. Unfortunately, I won.

But of course, all was not lost. Grey/Traveler and his band and Chrome and Kreacher and the girls were calmly grazing west of the catchment, so we got to see them again as we drove out. (Oh, and Cinch and Bruiser were up on the hill with Steeldust’s band.)

We headed down the Disappointment Road with the high hopes of seeing the pintos. Not too far into Dolores County, my dad sounded the horse alert: David and Shadow RIGHT inside the fence RIGHT off the road! So we had a nice little visit with them while they grazed and browsed on greasewood. Shadow barely looked up, and they eventually let us slide on by while they kept on doing what they were doing! Cool!

Unfazed Shadow and David

This was our view – David looking at us and Shadow … well, not.

Two faces

Ah, and there they are, both looking at us calmly. You can see the fencepost at right. We didn’t get out of the Jeep – just shot right out the windows.

Just a little farther down the road, we had the other great good fortune to spot the pintos back in the “valley” below their old favorite hill. Mesa was on the east side of the arroyo, and the rest of the band was on the west side. We couldn’t see everyone because of hills and trees, even when they crossed to the east side of the arroyo, so I wasn’t able to get a good look at the as-yet-unnamed colts, but it was good to be able to point out those ponies that are seldom within view.

Mom and Dad, T and K, thanks so much for “meeting in the middle” and allowing me to show off my “other” family. 🙂

Comments : 10 Comments »

Categories : Chrome, Cuatro, David, Grey, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kootenai, Kreacher, Mona, New girls, Shadow, Terra, Two Boots

Earlier

4 08 2009

So … I should have posted these pix before the ones of Seven’s band and Chipeta’s new colt, but I wasn’t going to post these until I could relate the story of the whole day … and it looks like it might be awhile before I can get to all the pix, so I hope you enjoy the teasers from last Friday until I can get to the rest. I have some really lovely images of stunning Corona and her mama, so I promise it will be worth the wait.

The water situation continues to depress me, especially after seeing all the nice ponds in Sand Wash Basin – with water, not just cracked, dry depressions in the ground where water should be. Grey/Traveler was being harassed, but the fact that it was by bachelor Chrome was just something I couldn’t do anything about. Kreacher picked up the chase at the end of the day, even leaving Mona and Kootenai far behind to keep up with Grey’s band and Chrome. Maybe they didn’t want any part of it, but they always followed. When Aspen was with his band Sunday, it was at a respectful distance, and the horses were relaxed and not moving too far.

But on to happiness. When I checked Wildcat Spring – yes, water – I spied Hollywood on a hill above me, just watching me. Ha. I haven’t spent much time exploring the hills in that area, so I walked on up. The ponies have a good network of trails up there. Poco and Roach are still with them; I did take pix but didn’t tweak any of them yet. It started sprinkling out of the clear blue sky – have you ever looked straight up and had rain falling into your eyeballs, looking silver against turquoise? There was a big cloud, but it wasn’t directly above me … and I learned something new a little later: It’s hard to plan for rain coming when you can’t see it coming. I found a seat under a juniper to hang out with the ponies for a bit.

Hollywood and girls and boy

The theme of “do you think you could stand just so” kinda started with Piedra acting shy behind this little bush. This was taken from one of their trails on the side of a hill looking across a sharp drainage. The spring is basically downhill and to my left. Poco and Roach were in the trees not too far up their hill.

Photos of the babies with their mamas are lovely and aww-inspiring, but I love to see the daddies interacting with their offspring.

073109sageholls1

Sage walked over and stopped at a respectful distance. Piedra did comply with my photo direction here; she had just walked out of the frame to the left.

073109sageholls2

Then Sage made his approach. At first, Hollywood acted a little annoyed and flattened his ears.

073109sageholls3

Now look at his ears. He thinks there might be something interesting about the little mister.

073109sageholls4

Then Hollywood decided Sage was quite sturdy enough to use him as a rubbing post!

073109sageholls5

Sniffing him again. Check out the ears.

073109sageholls6

Synchronicity of tails.

Do you love those misters?? 🙂

Edge of the world

Piedra, Sage and Baylee. You can see part of the road in the distance and part of Filly Peak at far back right.

All together

Including Hollywood in the shot, and you can see more of Filly Peak in the background … which should maybe more appropriately be called Humpback Hill?

Hollywood and Baylee

This is looking almost west … like west-west-southwest-west … and the other end of Filly Peak.

Elder mister

He’s not very good at hide-n-seek. But he’s awfully cute. 🙂

It did rain then a bit later – heavier – but it was also still sort of sunny in most places. I could see the “haze” against the western hills outside the herd area that said rain, but it was weird. But the road was also starting to get gummy already by the time I got to the catchment! When I first got there, I saw Kreacher’s band and Cinch and Bruiser (as not-good as the water is, it’s better in the north than in the south, apparently), then Grey/Traveler’s out on the corral hill. Wouldn’t you know it, by the time I got to the flats below the catchment on my way out – in the rain – and did I mention the road was getting gummy and a hit to the brakes meant a bit of a slide in the wet before actual stoppage – they were right off the road? Confirmed that it was Chrome with them – and so Twister still away (and he’s with Hook, at least) – and no foal for le petite dun Jif. OK, OK, I’m leaving already. I went down the county road to see if I could catch enough of a glimpse of the pintos to see Chipeta and/or walk in to them – nada. A couple of hours later, it was sunny and warm and breezy enough, I decided to try the road into the basin again – no problem-o.

Horses and hills and sunshine and shadows

Left to right: Cuatro, Two Boots, Iya, Grey/Traveler, Jif. Houdini and Terra (still OK) were to the right. Chrome was to the left … and now for a wider view …

Love that after-rain light

I know the horses are small, the land large, but can you make out who’s there? I love the graphic quality of these photos, by the way. This is looking sort of east-east-northeast-east. I don’t think there’s ever an easy single direction anywhere out there! They’re up in the area by the catchment – I think I took this from some point alongside Filly Peak – but although I have confirmed Kreacher and the mares drinking from the catchment troughs, I haven’t yet seen Grey’s band drinking there (and to go slightly off-topic for a minute, I did see Cinch and Bruiser very close to the troughs Sunday). Chrome was (mostly) dogging them pretty hard – he’s the grey at far left in these seemingly quiet moments – so they kept moving and moving – they went down off the “edge” south of the catchment to the flats, then ended up moving toward Spring Creek – north-northeastish. And in the foreground? Left to right: Kootenai, Kreacher and Mona. Just “above” Kootenai are Terra and Jif, and then Houdini out to the right. Horses to the left of Jif same as in the picture above this one.

From here I also spotted Steeldust’s band up in the north hills above the northwest road. Those ponies think they’re mountain goats lately. Driving out to see them, I found Duke, Raven and Corona! Now that was a hoped-for treat, having just seen Raven’s former band stallion and Corona’s likely daddy in Sand Wash Basin!

I hate to leave ya’ll hanging, but as of now, I have just one tweaked photo. Time … it’s all a matter of time. A full-time job, a taking-its-sweet-time computer. I’ll put up more soon; I promise.

Duke

This might be one of my favorite pix of the boy. Isn’t he handsome? They were watching Steeldust’s band in the trees up on the hill, so I walked way out around them to get better light.

And it’s late again …

I must have been happy to see my ponies – I took lots and lots of photos – I was on my second memory card before I left. Always great to visit other horses, but it’s great to be home. 🙂

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Baylee, Chrome, Cuatro, Grey, Hollywood, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kootenai, Kreacher, Mona, New girls, Piedra, Sage, Terra, Two Boots

Terra-ific update

20 07 2009

Terra

All seems to be mostly well with this baby girl. I wouldn’t say she’s 100 percent – still seems to step a little delicately – but she’s not limping at all. Doesn’t she look fabulous?

The other big news comes from the same band and is about Mister Twister.

Little boy among big boys

Whether Traveler kicked him out or whether he thought the boys were cooler than hanging out with all the girls, I dunno, but our young orphan was with the bachelor boys: Aspen, Hook and Chrome.

Alegre and Whisper

Bounce and Gaia

Looking up the hill at Cinch and Bruiser in the trees.

Bounce and family

All together just over the hill from Wildcat Spring.

All but Jif

Grey/Traveler’s band off the east-side loop road.

Iya and Jif

Jif

Waiting on the belly.

Cuatro

Growing into his legs.

Nippy

It’s always the same with little brothers, isn’t it? Fortunately for Terra, Cuatro was only annoying in passing. Iya at left.

Brother, sister

Not to mention … aunt and nephew?

Cuatro, Houdini, Terra

Let’s break it down: Houdini is Cuatro’s grandma and Terra’s mom. Cuatro’s mom is Terra’s half-sister. Possibly, Cuatro and Terra have the same sire; I’m only certain Grey/Traveler is Terra’s daddy. Whew.

Grey boy and babies

Terra lying down at left; Cuatro at right. Two Boots behind.

Aspen and Chrome

The boys – who by this time had lost Hook and Twister – take a look at Traveler’s band.

Chat

The boys wisely deferred to da man.

Bounce and Twister

Meanwhile, Twister was checking his options.

Lets go, little buddy

In the above pic, Hook was wisely keeping his distance – in fact, Bounce and Twister are looking at him. Here, he seems to be shepherding the youngster away from Bounce’s family.

Steeldust under the trees

It was hot – between 96 and 100 degrees when I was there – and the horses sought the comfort of the shade.

Seeking shade

A different time of day, and they were back under the “shade trees.”

Sable and Mahogany

Love Sable’s face here.

Ember and Sable

Storm

Storm and Ember have both gone from baby-red to grey. Master Storm will be a year old next Saturday!

Alpha and Storm

Storm here is deliberately stopping mama so he can nurse … and she let him. He’s just a big baby. 🙂

Hannah and Sable

I love to see the babies interacting with each other.

It was a really wonderful day, though pretty warm. A nice breeze all day mostly kept the bugs away, and some clouds came up in the afternoon to provide some spotty shade (not rainmakers, though). Most of the northern bands seem to still be hanging around the Wildcat Spring area. Also saw Hollywood – closer to the dugout – and his band, and Kreacher and the girls by Filly Peak. Didn’t spot Duke’s band or Seven’s, and didn’t have the luck this weekend of seeing David and Shadow or the pintos from the Disappointment Road.

The horses look great, and the babies are growing and shedding their baby hair like crazy. Cuatro has a little line of hair still on his belly that’s very cute. Not much water, which I’m sure is one reason the horses are all close to the spring. They’re taking advantage of the trees for shade and keeping the activity level low in the heat.

Comments : 7 Comments »

Categories : Alegre, Alpha, Aspen, Bounce, Chrome, Cuatro, Ember, Gaia, Grey, Hannah, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Mahogany, Steeldust, Storm, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Whisper

Baby girl hurt

15 07 2009

Don’t panic. But it’s been on my mind and will be till I see her again. Terra-love was limping on her right hind leg this weekend. I couldn’t see any obvious injuries or swelling, but binoculars never give you a close-enough view when that’s what you want to see.

Stiff

Not a good image, of course, but can you see how “humped” she looks? Think good thoughts for our little girl, people. Thanks-a-bunch.

Artist Karen Keene Day was back in the basin to visit the horses. While she was inspired by the wild ones for future artwork, her husband put inspiration to canvas during our weekend trip.

It was another good day for seeing horses. We even saw David and Shadow! The horses are staying close to the water, in this case Wildcat Spring. The small pond off the road to the old trap site still has water from the latest rains, but I haven’t seen horses drinking there. Kreacher and the girls are taking full advantage of the catchment, but they seem to be the only ones. Wildcat Spring is the current “neighborhood watering hole.” Bruiser and Cinch are still up with the northern gang.

It’s warm, and afternoon rain is always something to be aware of. The bugs are out – but not as bad as last year. They seem worse in the south than in the north. The cheat grass also doesn’t seem as sticky. Something to look forward to, I guess!

Corona

Isn’t she a stunning little girl?

Most of the bands were east of the section of road between the intersections. We came first to Duke, Raven and the beauty above. Then Steeldust’s band strolled by us like a wave.

Daddy and baby

Steeldust and Hannah.

Mama and baby

Mahogany and Sable.

Buckskin and bay

Luna and 2-year-old Kestrel and Mahogany and yearling pinon.

Mamas and babies

Luna and Hannah, Mahogany and Sable.

Ember

How she’s changed. She actually looks quite a bit like her big sister, Kestrel, except for her color, of course!

Coupla boys

Aspen and Chrome following the big band.

Wait for me!

Hook-at-the-trot. While we were watching Steeldust’s band walk past – and Aspen and Chrome follow – we looked over to see Hook, apparently forlorn at having been left behind.

Horses and hills

Still le petite Jif hides her treasure from the world. Terra is lying down by Houdini.

The misters

Daddy and Sage. Aren’t they handsome fellows!

Family bonds

Daddy Hollywood stands very nearby as Sage takes an afternoon snack from mama Piedra.

Admiring the scenery

What does he see out there? Does he see something faraway? What’s on his mind? Lizard mesa in the middle distance; the east pocket beyond.

As we drove out, not only were purple clouds rising over the western hills but thunder was rolling, and lightning was striking – not near(ish). We were privileged to see David and Shadow off the county road near dysfunction junction. I left Karen at our lodging and went back to look for the pintos.

Kiowa and baby

Did I say I thought the foal was a filly? Then I thought it was a colt. But as it turns out, none of my pictures were close or clear enough to really determine, so baby’s gender remains a mystery. And a little more research into the timing of Copper’s take-over makes it very possible – and given the foal’s color, likely – that he is baby’s daddy.

Surrounded by spots

The little holds his or her own.

Mama-to-be?

Wouldja lookit the size o’ dat belly, la! Time will tell.

And such was the day. We didn’t see Bounce’s or Seven’s. I hope to not see Terra limping this weekend.

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Aspen, Chipeta, Chrome, Corona, Cuatro, Ember, Grey, Hannah, Hollywood, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kestrel, Kiowa, Luna, Mahogany, Piedra, Pinon, pintos, Roach, Spook, Steeldust, Terra, Twister, Two Boots

‘This is so cool!’

7 07 2009

This past weekend, I got to see the horses through new eyes: the eyes of two people who had never before seen horses in the wild. So cool! Naturally, they have joined the ranks of those enveloped by the magic, and I’m so thrilled to have been there to witness it. C and L, of California, thank you so much for coming out to see our wild horses of Spring Creek Basin!

We first spotted Kreacher and the girls, way up high above Spring Creek canyon, then spotted and made our way toward Steeldust’s band, up in the trees near the road to Horse Park. Bounce’s band was close by the road, so they were the first objects of our up-close-and-personal visit.

Who you lookin at?

They were very at ease with our presence; that little black body at Alegre and Gaia’s feet is Whisper, flat out taking a nap.

Got bugs

I missed Bounce actually bucking to get rid of some big mongo bug, but if you’re planning a visit, be aware of the hordes of bugs.

All well

Ignoring the bugs for a while.

Band ne Steeldust

Then we walked just up the hill and found Steeldust’s band – with bachelors Aspen, Hook and Chrome – napping under the sunshine and periodic clouds. Mouse and Comanche, of course, as usual, were with the band.

Horseplay

Ya gotta watch those boys! Always wantin’ to play! Aspen looking on while Chrome tries to tackle Hook, who just walked away from the cheeky pal.

Hannah

Three months old tomorrow!

Sweet face

Hannah with Mahogany, Pinon, Sable (not very well seen), Butch and Ember at far right.

Lunch time

Love Luna’s expression here while her baby girl nurses.

The ponies finally started waking up and moving on to graze, so we went on to see what we could see. Seven and his band are still in the east pocket – babies seen long distance but look good. Oh, I forgot that first Bruiser and Cinch and then Hollywood’s band – still with Poco and Roach – had appeared out in the open below Steeldust’s band while we watched them.

Cinch and Bruiser

Muddy boys. In fact, it took me a few minutes to first identify them (from a considerably farther distance than this photo was taken from) because of the glare of the sun and the coating of mud on Bruiser!

Steeldust’s band went to water at Wildcat Spring, so we waited for them to drink, then we walked back to see what it looked like. Steeldust’s band and the bachelors were still in the area, standing up on the near hill … so we walked on to see the water … and unfortunately surprised Grey/Traveler’s band there drinking. 😦 They ran up the opposite hill and over to the open area by the road. Argh. Sure never expected to see them right there, drinking immediately after Steeldust’s band, or we wouldn’t have gone back at that time! Waited a bit, then drove around the curve to get a look and make sure everybody was well and good – and they were, calmly grazing.

Traveler and family

You can see Jif, still sporting her big belly, at left.

We drove into the far northwestern portion to see if we could find Duke, Raven and Corona – and did! Almost to the boundary fence. We backed way up to keep them from feeling crowded against the fence, but they came out for a better look – and better viewing!

Raven and Corona

Corona – like all the babies – is growing fast!

And with that, we had seen all but the pinto band and David and Shadow – not too shabby for C&L’s first visit to see wild horses. THIS WAS SO COOL! 🙂

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Alegre, Aspen, Bounce, Bruiser, Chrome, Cinch, Comanche, Corona, Gaia, Grey, Hannah, Houdini, Jif, Luna, Mahogany, Pinon, Raven, Steeldust, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Whisper

The dry and the wet of it

1 07 2009

They might have been waiting for me, as close as Steeldust’s and Hollywood’s bands were to the entrance when I returned to Spring Creek Basin for the first time after my recent vacation. They were working their way up the main drainage that comes down to Spring Creek from the upper north hills. Spring Creek has some water in places; the arroyo they were in is dry.

Some good news: The little pond by the road to the old trap site at Spring Creek has water! The proof of recent rain is evident, but the roads were all dry. It’s pretty green, and even though most of that is vegetation like four-winged saltbush and greasewood and sage and etcetera, there actually is some grass – besides the gone-to-brown cheat grass.

The ponies are in great shape. The babies are growing stout and healthy, and even the stallions, who got a little lean last spring sparring for the girls, look super. So good to be back!

Sage

The little mister is trying to give us a glimpse of his true color … but what will it be? Keep in mind his dorsal and zebra stripes. Mama is grey – likely born bay; Daddy is dun … grandma may have been grulla (that is to say, the mare I think is grandma was grulla).

Watchful

Steeldust and his band pay close attention to Hollywood’s band and friends Poco and Roach.

Siblings?

Little Hannah, now almost 3 months old, with big sister Ember, barely seen behind Butch, with Sundance at right. Brothers? Hannah and Ember’s brothers? You can see Sundance is still keeping his “pink” shade, while Butch is tending more toward grey now.

Must be lunch time

Storm, 11 months old, is still nursing from Alpha. At left, you can just barely see Hannah’s chinny-chin-chin as she nurses from Luna. Two-year-old Kestrel (who no longer shows signs of a bulging belly) is in front; big daddy Steeldust is in back.

Pinon and Storm

And a little action: Although Pinon is two months older than Storm, Storm’s mama is an “alpha” mare – that would be Alpha! – and he inherits some of her status. He’s a big boy, outgoing, confident and strong. And look how grey he has become!

Heads and tails and a baby face

Extended family

Comanche at left, Steeldust’s in the middle, Hollywood’s at right. Poco and Roach were out of the frame to the right. Steeldust’s is Piedra and Baylee’s original family band; Mahogany is Baylee’s dam, possibly Piedra’s … possibly Sage’s grandma! Fun. I love watching their family interactions. This is looking to the northwest. Between the nearer green hills and the hills dotted with pinon-juniper is the little valley through which the upper northwest entrance road runs.

As I headed into the heart of the basin, clouds were looming over the western horizon, but I was prepared to wait out any rain from inside the basin (serious danger alert: you better be prepared with food, water and possibly sleeping bag and extra clothes if you’re going to do that; know that the roads will – eventually – dry out, but it might be several hours, even the next day). After three weeks away, I really wanted to re-connect with Grey-my-boy.

I spotted Bounce and his girls and little boy up on a clear hill near the road to Horse Park. My, they were up high(er than usual). Then, below them and more west or northwest, ghosts in the trees … Grey/Traveler and Houdini and the fam! They were headed down out of the trees toward Wildcat Spring. By the time I got around to that area, the horses were on the trail to the open from the spring.

Time to play

When I got to them, I was surprised to see a couple of the youngsters playing “chase.” Now for the cool part: That’s Twister – 2 years old – chasing 2-month-old Terra! Houdini was already across the road (to the right) by this time. Cuatro, infected by the fun, was trying to get mama Two Boots (also 2!) to play, but she wasn’t nearly as accommodating. Jif leading and Iya bringing up the rear.

Playful Cuatro

Catch me if you can

Hide n seek

I love this scene. Daddy Grey in the foreground – ears up, happy. Cuatro at right, trying to get mama to play. Then, see that butt? That’s Twister. See the sly little girl hiding around the tree at left? Ha! A couple of moments later, she took off for mama.

All right with the world

Grey/Traveler, Terra and Houdini

Jif with da belly

Someday soon …

Two Boots and Cuatro

Just about now it was starting to rain, so I headed back to the Jeep – all the better to protect the camera, see.

It rained for about an hour and a half – a nice, gentle, excellent rain. The ponies mostly stood napping as it rained, but as the rain started to ease, the horses started grazing, moving back toward me but not all that close. The ground was wet, with puddles, but it wasn’t sloppy muddy. It had cooled down quite a bit, from the 70s to the 60s, so I put a jacket on and started to head out toward them … when I heard a sound – loud, like ATVs.

Watching

I kept watching back around the curve of the road for people on four-wheelers, wondering why they were out so soon after it rained (but look at me, waiting out the rain IN the basin). The ponies watched, too …

Away

But then they started running …

… and then I realized why.

Bird of prey

To wild horses, especially those that have been rounded up by helicopter, helicopters might as well be hawks, the horses, rabbits. “Mad” doesn’t begin to describe my emotion watching that helicopter cruise over the basin – over Grey’s band, over Bounce’s band and over, as I found out in the next moments, the bachelors (Aspen, Chrome, Hook, Cinch and Bruiser – yeah, they were back in the north). Traveler, Bounce and Bruiser all were gathered in 2007 – with their families, by helicopter.

I don’t know the origin of the helicopter, private or otherwise, or on-the-ground launch site. It came from the west and flew almost directly east. How low was it? Low enough. I’m willing to entertain the thought that it was related to some kind of firefighting effort – bless those brave folks – but way not cool to fly a helicopter so low over a wild horse herd management area.

Still running

They ran from about the middle of that big open area west (southwest?) of the east-side loop road to the road past where it curves south.

STILL RUNNING

They’re on the road now … still running. I don’t know that it’s possible to convey the distance with photos, but they were running after the helicopter – and the sound of it – was gone.

Bounce’s band just disappeared. I became aware of the bachelors when they came galloping down out of the hills and into that open area.

Running away

They ran in the opposite direction from the helicopter, got to the cottonwoods in the Wildcat drainage and finally stopped. Then they headed toward the arroyo and the east-west hill.

Rollin

They found the spot to roll in the mud – yummy! Cinch had already rolled; Bruiser went all the way over!

Thats the spot

There’s Cinch checking out Aspen.

Telling secrets

It’s gotta be the sweetness that keeps the spotted boys coming back …! Is this weird: Cinch and Bruiser come to the north, but I’ve never seen the northern boys in the south. First thing that comes to mind: water.

The clouds disappeared, and the sky was bluer than blue (well, it was). I wasn’t driving anywhere any time soon, so I followed the path Traveler’s band had taken. They got to the dry pond around the curve (still dry), then headed toward one of the saddles of Lizard Mesa, up and over. I found them grazing on the east side of Knife Edge.

But this is the real news:

Water, flowing

How cool is that! OK, so it’s pretty cool. Hard to tell, I know, and it was muddy, but no one looks down their muzzle at flowing water in the basin – unless it’s while they’re sipping.

Water - more - flowing!

What can I say, flowing water deserves photographic celebration.

I went on up to the crest of the east-west hill to watch Grey/Traveler and family, and I got another surprise: Seven’s family was on or near the west-side loop road! How ironic; can’t get to them because of the mud, and they wouldn’t have stayed on/near the road with company of the two-legged variety anyway, but there they were. I watched them (both bands) through the binocs for a while and did finally see both of Seven’s foals – Ze and Liberty – so I headed west along the top of the hill back toward the Jeep. Beautiful, glowing light. Lovely visits with the horses – dumb, crappy, insert-bad-name-here helicopter notwithstanding. Did I mention I was glad to be back?

You can get lost in the basin. Not geographically (too many landmarks) but in thoughts and emotions. The magic of the basin, when it envelopes you, does it subtly, gently. It’s the horses – they have their own magic – but it’s the light, too, and bucking the “nothing is out there” myth, the air, the breeze (against you when it brings dust, dries out ponds; your friend when it keeps the gnats away). It’s miles away from people and what doesn’t matter.

I was lost in THAT place walking across a bench above the arroyo (flowing water!) toward a hill when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye: Alegre … Whisper … Gaia … I froze, camera on the monopod over my shoulder (I cleaned out my Jeep for the trip home, so excited to get back to the basin, forgot to replace my backpack; I know, I said I was prepared – mostly!), and watched them come up out of the arroyo. I thought Gaia saw me, but Alegre – leading – didn’t until she had come many steps closer … to me … frozen in … THAT place … in wonder … in the magic.

Then ‘Legs saw me, and Bounce came up at the same moment, and they changed course and trotted up the hill in front of me.

Mama and her boy and her girl

Those horses … that light … that place.

Sweet girl, lovely mama

They stopped at the top of the hill. I was glad to see them at the end of the day, and again, after the helicopter.

Bounce

Magic.

Doesn’t get much better than that.

Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Alegre, Alpha, Aspen, Baylee, Bounce, Bruiser, Chrome, Cinch, Comanche, Cuatro, Ember, Gaia, Grey, Hannah, Hollywood, Houdini, Iya, Jif, Kestrel, Luna, Mahogany, Piedra, Pinon, Poco, Roach, Sage, Steeldust, Storm, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Whisper

New name

22 06 2009

Little boy brown has a name! Thanks to members of the Four Corners Back Country Horsemen for naming Two Boots’ colt … drum roll, please … Cuatro!

Can you see why?

All four!

Four bright whites

Is he cute or what?

Cuatro and Two Boots

Baby and mama with some colorful globe mallow thrown in for good measure.

Cuatro was born – surprise! – the day of the wild horse count by the 4CBCH – also attended by three members of the Mesa Verde Back Country Horsemen, so it was only fitting that they came up with his name. Very simple; very perfect!

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Cuatro, Two Boots

Checkup and another surprise

3 06 2009

Rain kept me from visiting the basin as much as usual the past couple of weeks, and life has kept me from posting recently.

I made a very quick, short trip to the basin last-last weekend – almost got stuck but didn’t (and no, those ruts by the V arroyo aren’t mine) – and took pix only of Roach, which probably sets some kind of record. My main objective was to check on Two Boots’ baby, but as it turned out, rained chased me away before I could find them. Did see Steeldust’s band with Mouse and Comanche, Aspen, Chrome and Hook nearby, Bounce’s band (only Whisper appeared to see me, but he didn’t give me away), Hollywood’s band – with Poco and Roach – and Kreacher and the girls.

Fast forward to this past weekend. Rain again so I waited then hiked. Far. Long. Sunshine appeared between waves of rain, then dark skies again. Saw Duke, Raven and Corona up in the north hills and Kreacher and the dunnies by the water catchment. All the other ponies were back in the east pocket … including the surprise.

Some pix in random order:

Three generations

Houdini and her baby and her OTHER baby and HER baby.

Two Boots and her colt

Just for fun …

Before names

I dug this photo out of my 2007 archives. That’s Houdini and Two Boots from April 22, 2007, when they were with Junior, before the roundup. Two Boots was just a day or two old there, I figured.

2Bs boy

Two weeks old.

Hello, silver

Jif, ever-expanding, was playing mountain goat up on the hill in front of Grey/Traveler. He came around the hill and looked up – before I knew she was there – and that’s how I knew she was there. She didn’t come down, though, so a little later, he went around the other side and up, and pretty soon, here she came, back down to the meadow with the others.

Piedra and Sage

Pretty girl and her little boy.

Gaia and Whisper

Pretty girl and her little brother.

When did my babies grow up into yearlings?! They all look so big … and more than one young lady was being investigated by the stallion of her band, who is NOT her daddy, biologically. How do they know?!

Did you notice the shift from sunshine to shade? Clouds moving in, thunder booming; time for the long walk back.

Another day, and I was back. Lotsa clouds early gave way – without raindrops – to lotsa blue sky over paradise. I didn’t find Grey/Traveler and his band, but the news was that Jif still hadn’t foaled. But it turned out to be better luck for getting pictures of our newest herd member.

Pied piper

Test your knowledge. The surprise is the wee-est in the middle.

Studly Seven

Have you made the ID now? Molly was VERY disinterested, but she finally stood for him.

Almost 2 months old now; what a handsome little bugger!

Baby makes nine

I was in stealth mode because this band is one of the most wary (and rightfully so). Based on my feeling that the baby – a filly – was about a week old and basically confirmed by Seven breeding Molly on her foaling heat, I’m giving the foal a Memorial Day (May 25) birthday (which also happens to be the birthday of one of my uncles!). So I asked my dad, a 20-year Army veteran, to name her. Welcome to the world, Liberty. 🙂 (Is that not perfect?? Thanks, Dad!)

Sky ranger

Seven could hear my camera shutter but wasn’t quite sure where it was coming from. Molly and Roja and the foals were down in a wide arroyo, browsing on greasewood.

By the way, Molly’s surprise comes from the fact that she got the PZP in 2007. Her foal Starla died in August 2008 (after the band was chased by that moron, but there’s no proof he had anything to do with it); she should not have had a foal this year. Ninety-percent effective, I believe?

Roach

Looking toward the band.

Poco

Round Top in the background.

Sage

He’s standing on the road; the Round Top intersection is to the left.

And that’s all I have for now. Haven’t had a close sighting of Duke, Raven and Corona for a while, so I’ll be looking for them. We’re down to just one pond holding water – east pocket. It’s very shallow, and it was clear Sunday, so the horses hadn’t been there recently.

Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Gaia, Grey, Houdini, Piedra, Poco, PZP, Roach, Sage, Seven, Terra, Two Boots, Whisper, Ze

Count day and a wee surprise

21 05 2009

Saturday was the big day, and it was a beautiful day. The wind was a little nippy early, but eventually the sunshine conquered the chill. Four groups of riders rode out to different areas, one group drove up to hike up on Round Top, and another group drove in to look for horses from the vehicle.

On the way to Round Top, we spotted Hollywood’s band with Poco and Roach in a meadow northeast of the second intersection. We stopped to watch them, and it got pretty intense over there – especially when Kreacher came up out of the trees. The mares never were visible from our location. We also saw Seven and his band at the crest of the east-west hill (oh, and I forgot to say, they were down toward the arroyo east of the road Friday night).

While hiking up to Round Top’s summit, we spotted one group of riders, off their horses. Then we saw the pintos way, way out down yonder, very close to where I’d seen them the previous morning. Each of the rider groups had a radio, as did one person on Round Top and someone in the vehicle so they could communicate about where they were and which horses they saw – also so the folks on Round Top could give a location of horses, like the pintos, and tell the riders their approximate location relative to the group.

One of the groups that went south saw all the southern horses – the pintos with all their boys, David and Shadow and Bruiser and Cinch. D&S and B&C ended up being the horses I did NOT see over the weekend. Another group that went south and made a big loop that took them up into the east pocket didn’t see any of the southern horses but then got lucky with a few bands gathered – still – in the east pocket. One group didn’t see any horses, but two of their members were riding Spring Creek Basin mustangs that they adopted after the 2000 roundup! And the fourth group saw a black horse that I think must have been Shadow and Hollywood’s band.

And then the ponies had one more group of visitors – birders on a tour as part of the Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival. Now when you can combine seeing birds with seeing wild horses, I’d call that a pretty cool opportunity! My plan was to take them back to the east pocket to have the best chance of seeing horses. We met at the water catchment, and I realized we could see Seven’s band from there, so I pointed them out. Then we found Hollywood’s band and the boys down on the north side of the east-west hill (and a group of riders heading back on the road). Then a quick scan up in the north hills turned up Raven, Corona and Duke. They were all considerable distances away, but still pretty good sightings for not having to work too hard.

When we got back around to the Wildcat Spring area, Hollywood and pals had moved east so they were fairly close to the road. We stopped before we got to them so folks could get out and have a look. Sage was lying down out of sight the whole time, and while we watched, Baylee laid down, too. They were really calm, so we saddled up (figuratively speaking) and slipped slowly by them. Four SUVs full o’ folks. Super slow. I kept watching the horses … they never moved, and neither Sage nor Baylee was bothered enough to even get up! I was so proud! Of the horses AND the people! 🙂

We got back to a little “meadow” before the little triangle doubletrack that leads back to the east-pocket pond, and Grey/Traveler’s band was back against the hill. Close for viewing, and also napping in the sunshine. We could just see the top of Terra’s head and back at Houdini’s feet. We couldn’t see Iya.

We went around … and found Kreacher and the girls off the doubletrack toward the pond, Bounce’s band just past the pond and Aspen and Chrome out sort of south of the pond. We stopped on the road and took to the shade for lunch (K, thanks so much for the sandwich!). Then Steeldust’s band members started to become visible at the pond. Cool!

While we were there, the rider group came up from the south and also hung out to watch the horses. Kreacher and the girls were so worried they ALL laid down! 🙂 (Obviously, they weren’t worried at all.) Steeldust and his band ended up moving into their meadow, but they didn’t immediately get up at that intrusion, either.

Pretty nice sighting for the birders and the riders. They left after lunch, going back out the same way so they’d see horses again on their way out. I stayed to watch the horses and take notes. I told the riders they’d find Traveler just around the bend. I spent another little while watching the horses from the Jeep, then headed back the same way.

The grey boy and his band were still in the meadow, a little closer to the road. Iya was with them (just checking) … and Alegre and Whisper were farther back toward the back side of a hill. There’s a little valley behind that hill, and there’s a little gap that comes out in the little meadow where Kreacher and the girls and Steeldust’s band were, right by the pond. Hmm. But Alegre and her band were behind the other horses. It seemed weird that she’d come up through them and through the gap or over the hill to the back valley … And something looked weird about her …

I looked back at the band and realized Two Boots was missing. Now what. She had been with the band earlier. I looked back at “Alegre” … But the foal? Do you see where this is starting to go?

I had to go for the binoculars. Holy horse. It wasn’t Alegre; it was Two Boots. And it wasn’t Whisper … it was Two Boots’ foal. Dear, sweet, 2-year-old Two Boots. Two-year-young Two Boots. Oh my goodness.

If I hadn’t gone back past them, I wouldn’t have known (yet). Remember when I saw the band the day before? No mystery foals. So there’s the background. Now some pix.

One extra

So at left is Two Boots. Looking at me is Twister. Baby seen through his legs. Terra and Houdini at right.

Visit

Aunt Iya comes to visit.

Twister, Two Boots and baby

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: Twister adores Two Boots. If I was a betting gal, I’d put money on Twister as the “teenage daddy.” No practical way to know for sure. They were almost yearlings when Traveler stole them and Houdini from Seven last March (2008).

Boogie-baby

Terra’s curiosity overcomes her certainty that she is approaching something scary.

Terra

No words for the cuteness.

Mama and girls

How weird is it to have a baby two weeks before your baby has a baby?! Maybe not so weird for a wild mare, but goodness me. Iya, right, is Houdini’s yearling.

Up and at em

Baby finds the milk bar.

Uh oh

Whoa, mister. Wrong warm body.

Right body

He figured it out.

Baby boy

So he’s a colt and brown – but I’d also bet he’ll go grey – and he has front socks that zip up taller at the back of his front legs (if that makes sense) and hind stockings. His star looks like a backward apostrophe or speech bubble. A looker, for sure.

Birthday boy

In honor of the colt being born on the day of the count, I asked P, the 4CBCH rep, to ask the club members to come up with a name for the little guy.

So our foal count stands at eight, with Jif expecting … and remember Kestrel? Now you know why I’m suspicious of that belly!

I’m a little nervous about Two Boots’ mothering skills, but a new life is always something to celebrate! And what a truly wonderful weekend.

Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Houdini, Iya, Terra, Twister, Two Boots, Uncategorized

Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Wild about mustangs

Family visit

Earlier

Terra-ific update

Baby girl hurt

‘This is so cool!’

The dry and the wet of it

New name

Checkup and another surprise

Count day and a wee surprise

Archives

Blogroll