Happy Independence Day!
One side effect of more horses drinking at the water catchment is that Chrome has more “visitors” to his territory than previously. Here he’s marching out to greet Hollywood, who was there with Comanche’s band and ever-present Bounce.
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Please keep in mind the ultra-dry conditions, and celebrate safely this Fourth of July!
A little of this:
led to a little of this:
Because Corazon (in this pic at far right) wasn’t keen to have Copper (in the first pic at left) horning in on his girl, Reya – in the first pic, flipping her tail, and in the second pic, tossing her mane. The flirt. 🙂
For the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighters who died in Arizona.
For their sacrifice and efforts to help others.
For their families.
It is so terribly dry in many parts of the West right now. Please use care and caution when traveling and playing and enjoying the outdoors, whether in your backyard or on public lands.
To all the firefighters working to save the homes and properties of others from wildfires human- or nature-caused, thank you. Be safe.
Winona and Chrome. She was shifting her position, maybe rubbing away flies. Chrome takes it all in stride.
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Happy 18th birthday to my cousin Kayla! XOXO!
Smoke and dust make the sky grey. Red Seneca is greying slowly – except for that white spot on her hip. Such a pretty girl, leggy and beautiful.
Not elephants. Although, as this drought continues, it’s beginning to look a lot like the sere plains of Africa out here.
I call this photo “La Sals, Imagination”:
Whaddya mean you can’t see the mountains … through the smoke? Use your imagination. 🙂 Although Grey/Traveler’s band seems to also be looking for the mountains, they were watching Chrome’s band walking toward them on their way to the water catchment.
Smoke from this fire – way, way, way east of here – apparently has drifted into New Mexico then blown back north and west into Colorado. But it’s not the only fire burning in the region.
Earlier, Grey/Traveler’s band had been drinking at the water catchment’s trough:
Maia, clearly at her leisure, worried me; I thought the worst, that the storage tank had drained and the trough was empty, and she was waiting for someone to come fill it, darnit!
Not to fear.
The trough was full of water. Whew. (The big green tank is the storage tank that holds water from either rain or snow or direct-fill.)
Because of the drought, BLM has been checking to ensure that the horses have enough water sources, and we – National Mustang Association/Colorado – recently got the green light to deliver a load of water – 4,000 gallons – to the catchment tank. Donors and silent-auction-item buyers at the Pati Temple Memorial Benefit Bash, this is the first use of the money you helped us raise! Interestingly, the area of the catchment is used primarily by Chrome’s band and rarely by other bands. But some other bands have started to find the water – and the good forage in this area. Water is a good way to disperse the horses’ grazing and get them to use under-used areas.
Chrome’s band at the catchment trough, drinking clean water. This is an important water source because it’s the only clean source of water in the basin. The others are high in alkalinity and salt because of the basin’s soils. The dusky, hazy color cast is because of the smoke.
The temperature hit 110 degrees Friday. On Thursday, the high was 108. Smoke, wind, heat, zero moisture = ugh.
Cecil Foster, owner of Foster’s Water, to the rescue.
The storage tank is about 15 feet tall, so Cecil brings his ladder to access the hatch at the top. At right is the hose from his water truck.
Seen here are his water truck, the hose to the tank and the water trough in the background at right.
Thanks, Cecil! He also donated a load of water for the benefit’s silent auction. Cecil is a super nice man, and a friend of the mustangs of Spring Creek Basin.
Thank you, NMA/CO, for the delivery of water to the mustangs!
Sunlit Chrome at the end of the day.
A pronghorn doe was nearby, and I think Chrome knew the whereabouts of her fawn. The shadows already had claimed his mares and Kwana, and I couldn’t resist mister handsome with that lovely light. He was calm, as always, but he was distracted. A couple of nights later, visitors and I saw a doe and her fawn. 🙂
Little beauty girl. The top of her star still looks like a horse head, even when seen closer. Like some other members of Spring Creek Basin’s herd, her tapered strip widens into a big snip. I love all their unique markings. 🙂
Master Kwana just gets more and more handsome! He’s in this gorgeous warm-brown grey phase. Any color would go well with those lovely eyes!
Kreacher and Seven had a little discussion around the water hole. Loved their shades of grey and the strands of their manes that seem to flow into each other with the ever-present wind. Love these boys!
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 