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.