Just a reminder that today is the deadline for votes! I’m headed out to visit the horses under threat of snow, and voting will close when I get back – which ought to be about two hours after sunset, Mountain time – unless it blizzards!
Again, thank you to everyone who has voted and commented and expressed your interest in these wonderful wild ones!
Thank you all so very much for all your attention and votes and reasons for choosing and stories about the horses you’ve met! I love to know what you love about the horses!
I’m going to list the choices by name just to see where we are. Wednesday evening, I’ll make a final tally and list the winners with the photos! Some new names are still popping up to vote – you have to actually vote to be counted (no waffling – you know who you are! :)). Votes will close Wednesday, and my friend will draw a name Friday – because that’s when I’ll be close to a friend who can draw!
January – Kiowa & Milagro by a mile
February – Cuatro & Hayden by a mile
March – Kestrel & Ember; Iya & Baylee fairly close second
April – Houdini & Gemma very close over Bounce
May – Kestrel & Winona very close over Two Boots & Rio and Tenaz
June – David, sky very close over Liberty, Gaia & Whisper
July – Hayden by a mile
* August – Hollywood’s band tied with Gideon & Winona; Chrome & 2B and Duke both close behind
September – see my dilemma
October – Duke very close over Hook
November Hook’s, mountains by a mile
December – Jif & Hayden, unanimously!
cover – Grey/Traveler pretty close over Seven 🙂
Wow! You all have made excellent choices, and for most of the months, a clear winner has emerged. I’m going to list the highest-rated choices in a minute, but let’s talk about September.
The image of Maiku, Spook and Chipeta got the most votes by far, but Grey/Traveler is the clear choice for the cover, so I need your thoughts:
For September:
Maiku, Spook & Chipeta
or
Seven
???
I already know which way I’m leaning here, but you did vote originally! 🙂
Please help me with just one more selection – the calendar’s cover.
Two choices this year, two stallions – two visits – that rank among my absolute favorites.
Grey/Traveler
This stallion has had my heart since my first visit to the basin eight years ago – how dark he was then! What I know of his story is amazing. I can only guess at his full story. He has been rounded up, had his family removed, gathered them again, lost them again, lost his freedom, been removed from his home, returned to his home, found and created new family. He is known to countless visitors – the extreme presence visible in this photo has made him a favorite to many, many admirers. His “official” name is Traveler; I’ve always called him Sir Grey.
Seven
In 2007, this stallion was aged at 7. It was a monumental year for him (for all of them). His family was taken from him, but he was released back to his home. Not surprisingly, humans are not among a few of his favorite things. He had Houdini – and lost her to Grey (who had had her years ago). He stole Roja and Molly from Kreacher and last year lost Molly to age. This fall, he added Mona and her filly, Shane, to his family. As he has matured, his resemblance to Grey has been remarkable; I believe he is Grey’s son.
Both, to me, embody the spirit of Spring Creek Basin – bold, protective, larger than life, peaceful, golden – silver! – magical.
Which will you choose? And thank you, thank you, thank you – for all the choices you have made! For your interest in our Spring Creek Basin mustangs!
Reminder: The deadline for votes is Wednesday, Dec. 15. I’ll tally them up and should have the results Friday, Dec. 17. Also Friday, I’m going to have a helper draw one of your names out of a hat. I’ve been keeping track of all your names who have actually voted, and this is who I have so far (please make sure I have your name, so I make sure everyone goes in the hat!): Barbara Warner, Tami, Joanne Belasco, Teresa Irick, Lynn & Kathy, Pat Amthor, Karen Schmiede, Prairie Wind Lady, Linda Horn, C/G, Toppyrocks, Rochlia, Millie, Nicole, Linda, Morgan Griffith, Jan Eaker, Sandra Longley, Billie, Katherine, Karen Day, Violet Strawn, Lanny Boone, Cathy Boone, Amber, Deleese Pryor, T&K.
Purchase info: If you’d like to buy a calendar, I’ve settled on $15, which includes the cost of the calendar and printing the photos and a $5 donation to NMA/CO – and I will send all the calendars with our most recent newsletter and the new brochure we did with BLM. E-mail me at mtbgrrl (at) fone dot net with your full name and mailing address. I know descriptions and even photos can be misleading, so I want to make sure you all know this is NOT a commercially-produced, large-format, glossy calendar. It IS small – the calendar itself is about 5 3/4 inches by 7 3/4inches and opens to 5 3/4 by 11 1/4 inches long. The photos ARE custom – all Spring Creek Basin mustangs, all taken by yours truly in 2010, in the months they represent. The photos are 4×6 inches. I print the photos and attach them to the calendar by pre-set adhesive strips. (The calendars are printed on recycled paper, and the company is based in Colorado Springs. Learn more about them at Photographer’s Edge.)
I create about five a year for family. I ordered some extra this year, and I’ll try to get them mailed before Christmas (the drawing winner’s will definitely go out before then), otherwise, I’ll guarantee delivery in January (avoiding major catastrophe!). Again, not commercially produced, and I work a full-time job! 🙂
This year, I wanted to involve you readers in the choices as well as giving us all a look back at the year of the horses. And I thank you all again and again for your help!
Last month! December’s choices:
Mesa
Chrome, Rio & Two Boots
Duke & Twister
Jif & Hayden
Comanche & Winona
And there you have it! Thank you all so much for voting. It has been a fantastic experience to see your choices and why you’ve made the ones you have. The horses affect us all in different ways – that they affects us all is an incredible gift!
Just one more choice to make … the cover.
Almost done! November’s choices:
Hook's, mountains
Seven, Mona & Shane
Kootenai
Gemma
It was a month of horses and mountains and hills, oh my!
Here are the choices for October:
Chrome & Rio
Hook
Duke
Mona & Shane
Bruiser & Tenaz
Great faces, great light, great place!
September’s selections:
Corazon & Mesa
Mouse & Sundance
Sundance, Mouse & Aspen
Puzzle
Maiku, Spook & Chipeta
Mona & Shane
Seven
Note: The photo of Seven also is a contender for the calendar’s cover.
Tough, right? For me, this is at least as difficult as May. And the cover? Grey/Traveler … or an equally stunning stallion I believe is his son? I’m still not even sure which one *I* would choose.
August choices:
Duke
Hollywood's band
Chrome & Two Boots
Gideon & Winona
Which will you choose??
Gideon nap
Hayden
Winona
Ember & Fierro
Chipeta
We’re halfway through the year – thank you for all the great comments so far!
