Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Almost there

30 12 2025

I don’t know about ya’ll, but I’m pretty sure that I only just got used to 2025 being, well, 2025. And I’m also pretty sure that I feel pretty much the same just about every year as one year winds down and another one gets ready to kick off.

Fortunately, the only thing that changes is the light on the land and where the wild ponies might be found on the next adventure. (OK, so that’s not really true, but wouldn’t it be nice?) Pic above from Christmas Day, which already feels about 365 days ago (!).

Thanks for following these amazing mustangs. We’re all grateful for your interest! 🙂

Comments : 10 Comments »

Categories : Colorado, Disappointment Valley, La Sal Mountains, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Winter glow

29 12 2025

Maiku didn’t give me long before he tired of posing like the handsome boy he is and turned away to go grazing in the evening sunlight.

It got chilly! Which is actually seasonal. In a string of weird winters, this might be the weirdest. We have some bright, cold days ahead before a chance of moisture. Let’s pick it up, Ma Nature!

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Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Nap buddies

28 12 2025

Who else is feeling the need for a nap between Christmas and New Year’s Day? 🙂

It’s been blessedly quiet and peaceful in Disappointment Valley and Spring Creek Basin lately. The crazily unseasonal 60-degree temps are a thing of the past; today’s high temp is forecast to be a whopping 39F. Some places in Colorado are getting rain or snow from the storms that hit California (thank you, West Coast!). There’s an ever-so-slight possibility of “rain/snow showers” here next weekend. As always, our hopes are higher than the forecast percentages.

Comments : 10 Comments »

Categories : Filly Peak, La Sal Mountains, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Beautiful bald

27 12 2025

The cottonwood tree is almost as cool as the bald eagle. And that light! It was momentary, which makes the mistake harder to bear.

While shooting, I knew there were little branches in front of the eagle, but I didn’t realize until I saw the images on the computer that one branch literally goes right across the eagle’s eye. Sigh.

Here we go; a little better when the eagle ducked a bit to at least allow a shot of his/her (?) eye not directly crossed by a branch.

The eagle stayed “sticky” as I drove a little closer, using my vehicle as a “hide” to try not to spook the eagle (and all of these are taken with a 600mm lens and cropped).

I’m happy to say that s/he was comfortable enough with my presence in the rolling hide that s/he never flew away while I was there. I drove on and left it to its day doing eagle things.

Pretty cool sighting for the (windy) day after Christmas!

Comments : 14 Comments »

Categories : Colorado, Disappointment Creek, Disappointment Valley, Eagle

Peace on Earth

26 12 2025

The mustangs don’t know what day it is, which is to say that they don’t attach any particular significance to one day over any other. We humans do that.

Christmas was beautiful. 🙂

We had a drizzle in the morning, and by the time I went out to look for mustangs, the ground was dry, the light was fabulous, and the mustangs were dry and enjoying the warm south wind (the temp might have hit 60 again?).

Our very own peace on our own little patch of this beautiful planet. Truly. 🙂

Comments : 6 Comments »

Categories : McKenna Peak, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Temple Butte

Season’s best greetings!

25 12 2025

However you celebrate the winter/Christmas/Hanukkah season, with those who are important to you and enrich your lives in all the best ways, from our herd to yours, we wish you peace, joy and love!

Comments : 10 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Au naturel

24 12 2025

Terra framed by Alegre. 🙂

Merry Christmas Eve!

Comments : 14 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Pre-solstice joy

23 12 2025

The day before solstice was cloudy and grey, but in the middle, there was black and white: Corazon! 🙂

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Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Dusty solstice

22 12 2025

Dust on winter solstice? Sure. Because we haven’t had a drop of moisture since the very beginning of the month.

High temp of at least 64F (second day in the 60s after a week in the 50s)? Sure, let’s pretend it’s autumn. And it has been warm enough – and windy lately – that most mud is mostly dry. (See that white spot at far left, though? That’s a patch of snow.)

It’s hard to deny how beautiful the weather has been. … It’s impossible to not start the usual worry about how a terrible (dry) winter will lead to an awful growing season.

Yesterday (see above, Aiyanna following the band down to water on a dusty trail) was winter solstice, the beginning of winter (and now lengthening days), “a promise that the light always returns,” I heard recently. Can we amend that to the start of the season when the snow replenishes the soil and vegetation in anticipation of the coming year?

Please, please, PLEASE, Santa, Mother Nature and Old Man Winter, bring us snow this winter!

Let it snow, let it snow, LET IT SNOW! 🙂

Comments : 7 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Winter solstice

Sooooo sleeeeepy

21 12 2025

We don’t have snow. Mud is drying. Temp was at least 61F recently. Wind hails from the warm south. Rain is forecast for Christmas (in Colorado!?!?).

We have water.

Ah, the little (big) important things. 🙂

Happy winter solstice!

Comments : 6 Comments »

Categories : Ponds, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Water