Hurricane's Band

On the way out of the range I spot Hurricane's band on a small ridge. They have moved about 10 miles south since the last time I saw the (;ast week). They are looking for food...it is sparce. The sheep are thick towards the entrance and have been parked there for quite a while.

Originally I thought the new grey filly in this band was White Sage, but now I am pretty sure it is Dusty, out of Moonlight, from Prince's band. Dusty has has  quite an adventuresome life for a 2 yr old filly......When Prince's band broke up this spring she and her mom ended up with Blazer, then they were with Rounder.....then Prince got both his mares back along with their 2 yr old fillies (Dusty and Oda). This didn't last long (for Dusty)....Dusty was seen with Greesewood, Picaaso and now, Hurricane....all during the last couple of months! She seems happy here...she likes the 2011 filly Lozaniza. They seem to always be together (for the brief glimpses I get)
I know of no other filly that has been with that many stallions in such a short time. Most of the 2009 fillies are still with their moms.

The ever elegant, Pablina. She is a prolific mare. Lozania is her 2011 baby. She also had the 2009 colt, Flash, and the 2010 colt, Diego. Diego got kicked out at an early age (as a weanling) late this summer. He has been seen with bachelors. Flash is a big strong, social 2 yr old. He is a pinto....I believe the son of Lightning.

The only colt in the band...Cabellero. He is unique in that he has a flaxen mane and dark tail and this stand out blaze. He is the bay mares (Floriana's) yearling colt. Floriana is not as prolific as her grey "sister", Pablina. She did not have a foal in 2009 (to my knowledge) nor this year. She is a wary mare and always on the alert.

There's Hurricane out front (the dun). He is a young, inexperienced band stallion and it shows. He is losing weight and does not have full respect from the mares. They seem a little doubtful about his leadership. It will be interesting to see if he can hold on to all these mares. Notice the ever alert bay mare, she has been really spooky lately.

It's fun to see these young stallions with mares. It really "fluffs their feathers" and makes them happy mustangs! Good luck Hurricane!

Off they go....I also saw Prince's, Yellowman's and Greasewood's bands from the binoculars. It seemed like the domestic mare, Demi was missing. Yarrow is still hanging in there!

Dan's Band

It is always a pleasure to see Dan, the dun's, band. The dynamics of this family are the same as the last time I saw them. I would say the last time I saw these guys was about 2 months ago. They are elusive and flighty (especially the 2 pinto mares).

Here are the two mature stallions in this band...Dan and Spyder. Spyder is Dan's satellite stallion.

The family portrait minus the two stallions. The pinto are the mature mares. They each have a 2 yr old colt by their sides (the dun and the chestnut with the crooked stripe). Neither one of them has had a foal since 2009. The little solid sorrel on the left is a 2 yr old filly Dan stole from Brave. We call her Britta, she is the daughter of Barbie, who is now in the Chief/ Jimmy gang.

I couldn't believe this, but have the photo to prove that Clay, the 2 yr old colt, is still nursing off his mom, Luna! Clay was named after a local landmark...Clay Buttes. I have seen 2 yr old fillies sucking, but never a colt!

I love Spyder, he really has the typey Sand Wash look, down to the pinto splash on his side...he has amazing bone and stands proud. He does a wonderful job being a satellite for Dan. This band is usually alone.

Dan is pretty mellow although his mares are very wily and distrustful of humans. I was lucky to get the few shots I did of them. I also got a video I posted on my You Tube video.

Barcus's Band

Barcus, the big Black, was with the large group consisting if Viggo, Tonka and Brave's bands. Barcus has just one mare (Honey), her yearling daughter (Blondie) and her 2011 colt (Monti).

Here is the young filly...ID'd as Blondie...isn't she something else? The HSUS worker told me she was an apricot dun, but my friend was convinced she is a palomino. She does have a line down her back. Any color you call her she is a real stand out!

Blondie's dam and Barcus's only mare, Honey. Honey was with Solaris's band last year, but somehow ended up with the unsettled bunch (Eleganza and gang) when winter broke. Her 2011 colt, Monti, was one of the first born this spring. When Barcus fought for his life  to win over Honey,  little Monti was just a newborn. Honey does not seem settled with Barcus...maybe she is pining for the company of other mares?

I am almost sure Honey is part of the HSUS PZP study.

There's Monti with the big guy, he seems to really look up to this wise wild stallion....he is learning the ways of a Sand Wash mustang from him. Monti is a laid back little guy. This summer he was showing signs of being a beautiful roan. Here you can see the unique shape of Barcus's head. No mistaking this guy...plus his legs are like tree trunks.

Barcus lost half an ear to win over Honey.

Brother and sister.

Tonka's Band

We were driving along and we saw a great herd of mustangs streaking across the high desert. Eventually they settled down and we were able to approach them. Among this group was Tonka's band. At first they were inter mingled with Viggo's band, which is not unusual. The two bands are often seen together.

The beautiful grey band stallion, Tonka. That's Rudi looking at the camera. When I first met her in 2009 she was with Cowboy, but has been with Tonka since 2010....she was his first mare post round up (2008). Tonka and Rudi are very bonded.

Rudi, to my knowledge, has not foaled until this year (post round up). She had a colt this April we call Rocket.

This is big boy Zorro...he is only a yearling. He was born into Viggo's band last spring (2010) to ShowGirl, but Tonka claimed the mare with her newborn soon after this guy was born. The former HSUS gal told me she called the mare ShowGirl  "because she gets around the range". Maybe she has settled now with Tonka. I believe the round up of 2008 really messed up their social structure. Now that we know the individual mustangs and their family bands there is no need to break up families so bad.

When ShowGirl and Zorro joined Tonka last spring, Charm stayed back with Viggo's band. She rejoined her mom and Tonka's band early this summer. She has a thing for humans...it is not uncommon for her to approach them. I wonder if the HSUS imprinted her (by mistake) as a foal. I know this band was or is a research group for the HSUS (The Humane Society of the United States) PZP study, which has been going on for four years. They spend hours and hours with the mustangs in the summer time.

See? Here she comes with The Rocket in tow. Little Rocket is Rudi's 2011 rose grey colt. Maybe they are telling us there is no need to chase them with a helicopter? They deserve more respect. Such nice horses...Look at their perfect hooves.

This is about the closest they get before I put my camera down and let them pass peacefully. I made a little noise....which sent them scattering. If, for some reason, we have to remove and adopt out a few mustangs, these would be so easy to bait trap. I hope the next round up is done in a different, more humane way.

Chief/JimmyDarkSand Band



Chief out front and the other bay, Jimmy, behind him. These two stallions coexist. I think it is because their mares want to be together. This is always an interesting band to observe plus they have the foal that was born in October. I really wanted to see how the little guy (Kanoa) was wintering.

There he is (on the left) with his big brother, Dreamer. The two colts are about 6 months apart.

Dreamer gets up first....

....followed by Kanoa. They bee line it to their moms.

He is molting! He looks so funny...what color will he be? For now he looks good and strong ( and a little goofy!).

The grey mare making the funny face is Vermillion, Kanoa's mom.

The chestnut filly is Vermillion's 2 year old daughter, Spook. Kanoa is her half brother. Vermillion was with Brave last year, so that is the most likely sire of the late foal.

This is the yearling filly, Megan. Her dam is the one with Dreamer. She is usually hanging out towards the back with the cocky little dun stallion....

.....Roper.

All of the mustangs here look fat and healthy. It is a good thing to see.

Tashunka's and Prancer's Bands

Here are the stallions Tashunka (roan) and Prancer (frosty buckskin?). They were with a large group of mustangs that were hanging out together on this winter's day. This was a friendly greeting...Tashunka saying he is dominant.

The loyal band stallion, Tashunka. I first met him in 2009, his band has been really dynamic and he has produced some beautiful foals.

That's my  friend, Josie, with her yearling colt, Strider, and her 2011 filly, Cinder. Prancer has just recently acquired her and her babies. Since I have observed her (fall 2009) she has been with White Out. White Out fought off other stallions all summer trying to get her from him. I think he is an older guy judging by his color (white). The last time I saw him he looked really run down...Ranger was dogging him (Oct). A couple of weeks ago a friend had documented Prancer had gotten the mare....no sign of White Out. I do not know much about Prancer except he has had a mare before...I have photos of him in 2010 with Splash and her 2009 colt, Roosevelt. Splash is now in Dan's band.

I really like him....such an unusual color.

This is Tashunka's grulla mare, Ska Wakan, with her 2011 filly, Tecomseh. She is a real come back story. Back in June after she had the filly (Tecomseh was an early foal), she lost an incredible amount of weight and was having trouble keeping up with her family band, but somehow she came back and the filly started gaining weight as well. I believe her to be an older mare. My guess is she is always allowed to return to The Range after round ups because of her sought after, unusual coloring.

The black mare, Kangee, had this gorgeous little bay filly we call Ladore. Kangee joined Tashunka last summer (2010). I do not know what band she came from. One day she just seemed to appear...it's like that out here....so vast and full of secrets...

I noticed the yearling filly, Nahmana, is missing. She is the bay mares daughter. My guess it is Ohitika who has  her. He has taken a couple of other mares from the roan (Wi Wakan and Mina). Tashunka's and Ohitika's bands were almost always together last year. I have no idea why. It is not unusual for bands to buddy up out here.

Moda, the bay mare with the missing ear tips, is Tashunka's lead mare. She has had two roan fillies in a row....Nahmana (the one missing) and this one on the left...Lilka. This was a quick encounter...the mustangs were wily and spooky.

Bachelor Stallions

As we were entering the range we came across bachelor stallions right away. These three were together...Outlaw (flaxen mane), Haze (chesnut with one blue eye) and , I am pretty sure, River (the grey). River is Josie and White Out's 2009 colt.

Like I've said befre, the greys are the hardest to ID. I am guessing this is River by 1. where is at on The Range 2. his behavior (he was acting like a 2 yr old with these older stallions) and 3. by his star.

The Hazer. He was satellite to Lightning back in 2009/2010 and has been a bachelor ever since that band has broken up. Look for him to get mares sometime soon. For now he has buddied up with these guys. Outlaw is normally with Chrome, but Chrome has found mares (Femur's).

Teaching the young guy the ways of Sand Wash Basin. These studs were near a huge flock of sheep. I am sure they are used to the coming and goings of the woolies.

I am pretty sure this is little Diego. The yearling colt from Rounder's band. He was a ways away from the older bachelors, but I am glad he was not completely alone.

Further down the road we see Lightning...alone...as usual...ever since he lost his beloved mares in 2010. He likes the pasture by Two Bar Spring. His two mares he lost (Pablina and Floriana) were about a mile away with Hurricane...I believe he still pines for them. A friend called the HSUS and they told her Lightning was aged as "old" at the 2008 round up. Any how he looks great. The friend I was with said he looked like a "plush pony". So fat and fluffy! It has been such a mild winter.

Prince's Band

On our way out, we see Prince's band. They were right where they should be, by the entrance. I love this band, they are so peaceful and wily at the same time. This is the Moonlight mare. Isn't her mane something? Moonlight's 2 year old daughter, Dusty, is missing and this time I think for good. Someone spotted her with Picasso looking very content. Moonlight has not has a foal since 2009. She is part of the HSUS PZP study and I am sure was easy to dart with the drug last year. She is quite tolerant of people.

Speaking of tolerant...the band stallion, Prince. Oh how I love this little Spanish looking mustang. He has quite a story to tell...This spring he lost his entire band with consisted of all mares and fillies. I have no idea what happened, but he was beat up and looking quite defeated all summer.... He was not easy to approach then.

At the time he had three mares...these two chestnuts and the ghost pinto, Mystic,plus all of their daughters. They all got scattered. Mystic, Moonlight and Dusty ended up with Blazer, Sunshine (the other chestnut mare) and her daughter, Oda, ended up with Rounder. Mystic's yearling daughter, Madeleine, showed up in Bug's band and Prince was left alone.

This is the other chestnut, Sunshine, and her 2 yr old daughter, Oda. They are the ones that were with Rounder initially after the breakup. After about a month Moonlight and Dusty found their way back to these two. It was amazing, especially since Rounder and Blazer do not live in the same part of the HMA. The bonds that these horses have towards each other runs deep.

I'll never forget the day this fall when I saw Prince had gottten his chestnut beauties back from Rounder, along with their daughters. He seemed so content. This is a harmonious band.

Oda, the remaining two year old filly.

When I first met this band in 2009 Prince had these two mares and the fillies were just weanlings. It has been fun to watch them grow up and observe the dynamics of a wild horse band. The whole Prince story has proved to me (once again) how family orientated these animals are. That is why I believe it is important to document them and make sure we do not tear the bands apart if there is a round up in 2013.