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.