Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Last week, I caught the spots at nap time.

This was right after Ty laid down, but he looks like he’s enjoying the sunshine, doesn’t he?

They’re all there but Copper – he was on my side of the arroyo to the left.

Chipeta and Puzzle

Big guy dreamed hard for a couple of minutes. I saw Sundance dream that hard once: Ears flickering from pricked to laid flat, legs trembling, hips and shoulders shaking, eyes rolling. Then up he woke, but he didn’t get up until Chipeta decided nap time was over and grazing time commenced.

Even Copper laid down …

… right before he rolled!

Not a lot of snow (you can see some patches in the above photos), but you can see by Copper’s waving hooves how muddy it is.

We got moisture in the basin! A little snow, a little rain. Lots of mud. So here are some more pix of the pintos from a week ago.

Mama Chipeta

Not-so-baby anymore Puzzle

Very alike, yes?

Puzzle and half-brother Maiku

Maiku’s half-sister Reya

Reya and possible-brother Corazon

Copper, daddy of Maiku and Puzzle

Ty, daddy of Asher

Ah, the pintos.

Like Poco and Roach, they have a “home territory.” The roundup disrupted it some, but they also had come “up” to the “front country” this spring – with Cinch and his band and Spook and Bruiser coming and staying. Chipeta is leading the band now, and after a bit of wandering, they’re back.

Apparently, “there’s no place like home,” and that’s where they are. Saw some of them from a distance Wednesday afternoon, then all the rest that evening (the first spotting not only was from a distance, obstacles of trees and hill prevented a clear line of sight). Thursday morning afore the sun rose, I was with them in a tiny “valley” between “islands” of trees … and on … after the sun rose into a glorious day. (And snow is back in the forecast in Southwest Colorado!)

Chipeta showing off her dredlocks.

Chipeta and her yearling daughter, Puzzle.

Band stallion Ty.

Former band stallion Copper, now kept at bay by Ty and lieutenant Corazon.

Corazon – and yep, he has some pretty fresh scars.

Ty and Copper

Copper being chased up the hill by Ty …

Up and over, around and down and across below the hill … Ty breaking off and making the turn back to the band!

Maiku and Puzzle. Maiku, born the end of June, is significantly smaller than Puzzle, born the first of September (2010).

Maiku and Chipeta

Maiku is the son of Kiowa and Copper; Puzzle is the daughter of Chipeta and Copper.

Puzzle, Chipeta and Reya on the shady side of the hill, waking basin behind them.

Gorgeous.