The Save

Well, we were up north driving around looking for Coffee Pot Springs... I know this sounds unbelievable, but after three years of exploring The Basin I could not tell you which hole is Coffee Pot. Anyway we are driving down CR 67 and come upon this scene. It is Destiny and Ohyhee (Blue's fillies) on the wrong side of the fence and a group of bachelor stallions and colts on the other side.

My first thought is where is Blue? Blue is their band stallion. I think it might be the horse on the right, but can't confirm. He looks too little and not roany enough? I know in the winter he turns a solid color... maybe it is him?? My next thought is how could I help? They clearly wanted out!

Destiny (the pinto) is the clear leader of the two , 2 yr old fillies. Blue got her as a yearling. It is very rare for a yearling filly to get separated from her family band at such a young age, but not unheard of. That was back in 2010, the other little bay came from Cobalt's band (dam Mahogany). Blue got her this spring.

I had to come home to ID these stallions but here we have from L to R Shane, Pete (the guy who had the rope around his neck), Renegade, Half Moon and ?? Is it Blue?
These are some horses I had on the MIA list, so good to see Renegade especially (the grulla). It looked like he had been with a foal as his tail was chewed off...
Also good to see the rope is no longer around Pete's neck
One could mistake Shane, the sorrel pinto for Falcon, but he is out of Shiva from Warrior's band (3 yr old colt).

The fillies stay on the fence line, the studs on the road.

Blue (?) and Half Moon, the beautiful red roan who I think is a 3 year old, but could be wrong. He could be older...Look at how good their feet look! That is a trait of an American mustang.

The fillies turn the other way and head towards a gate we have opened for them. They seem to be asking for help. These young horses have seen plenty of people, this helps in a situation like this. They do not panic.

I slowly herd the fillies down the fence line. All of the other horses take off except for Half Moon. He comes charging down the road and sets himself in position to push the fillies. We work together to herd the young mustangs to the opened gate. It seemed like eternity... maybe a quarter of as mile? We keep them at a walk. My biggest fear is they will take off to the right, but they don't. I cross my fingers and hope they will go through the waiting opened gate! I see the gate....When Half Moon hits that spot he runs left and the fillies follow!
I am smiling ear to ear as I close that gate.

I can't tell you how happy I was to see them gallop away, back into the HMA (Herd Management Area)! They are safer here where we can keep track of them and help them if needed (wishes).  

Rowdy Bachelor Stallions ( East Side)

It is gale force winds out...the bachelor stallions are frisky. It is a joy to watch!

They are in a constant state of motion...play fighting.

There is Sir Duke (grey) having fum with Skerik (black). Skerik came from Silverado's band. I never could figure out if he was the 2009 colt in that band or a satellite stallion. I am leaning towards the 3 yr old colt by the way he acts.

Boy, these greys are hard to ID! My best guss is Sir Duke. I make an educated guess by where he is and who he is with.

Sir Duke was an orphan when I first met him in the spring of 2010. He was on the road running the east fence line. I wonder if his band crossed over to the east side?

L to R Hank (dun), Renegade (grulla), Skerik and Sir Duke.

The sorrel is Clyde the other black is Harlan.

Hank is such a beautiful horse, I was disappointed I did not get more flattering shots of him...just the way it goes. I like him for his multi colored mane against his dun background....really stunning.

The bachelors continue to play down by the water hole. Wow, are they ever frisky! It is really something to see. Their energy makes Sand Wash Basin light up!

Clyde was also an orphan colt in 2010. This was soon after the 2008 round up which really mixed up their complex social order. I think we can do better. Maybe by knowing who the horses are and how they fit into the herd will help them. I am hoping so!

Handsome Hank

The bay on the right is Sundown. He is a submissive, older stallion.

Running from the waterhole.

Clyde is relentless...he goes around and around with the big black.

....and up

I think the roan is Half Moon, but once again, can't confirm. There are other roans that look similar. This is the one I saw with the blacks and Renegade the other day.

The wild horses are rapidly losing their winter coats. It weas almost 70 degrees on this early spring day.

One word for this amazing encounter...FUN!

Bachelor Stallions (Ex Band Stallions)

I see another group of stallions...this time there is no "babysitting" stallion. These are mature studs who have had mares (at least 4 of them) in the last couple of years. They are sluggish and seem to be waking up from a deep winter's sleep.

Look how different Renegade looks with his winter woolies! He sheds out to a beautiful grullo coloring with primitive striping. This was the best look at him I had ever got in all my times going out to the range. He is gorgeous! I am pretty sure the black is Cobalt .I really can't confirm. If it is I am wondering who is only mare ended up with? (Mahogany).

side note...After further review I am not sure the black is Cobalt...maybe Skerik.

The blacks look fantastic...wow, what an easy winter it has been! So different then the extreme one of 2011.

Tag almost looks like a draft horse here. He is an easy keeper.

Look at that hoof! Just perfect....The roan is either Sancho or Half Moon. He would be the youngest in this group.

Good ole Harlan.

Skerik from Silverado's band. 

This was a fun encounter. I had never seen this combination of stallions before. Interesting to see some of the more mature studs banding up and getting along so well. Awesome.