Casper's Band

There's Casper, the grey, nudging his band along. We get a quick look before they vanish into their high desert Colorado home. The marker horse for me here is the white, lead mare...Eleganza.

There is Eleganza in the foreround...between her and her dk grey daughter, Gretchen, they shield little Mississippi, Gretchen's 2012 colt. He greyed out quick and is a handsome, healthy looking fellow. Eleganza has not had a foal for a couple of years and will help her daughter raise this little wild guy.

Eleganza! The essence of a wild mare. She is usually leading the way. Last summer she took her time choosing a stallion. She had about five stallions courting her and it was hard to determine who was band stallion. I called them "The Unsetttled Bunch" It would be hard to know who Mississsipi's sire is...Sancho, Rooibos, Half Moon, Casper? In the end she chose Casper. This summer they have been a settled band.

The bay mare in Casper's band we call Lady. She did not foal this year.. nor last. She had a gorgeous stawberry roan filly, Lucky, in 2010. Lucky is now with Tuscarora (who I will post about next). Before Lady ended up here she was with Vegas and  Casino.

Sancho continues to dog Casper.

Closer look at Sancho. It is always a pleasure seeing this elusive band. They all look healthy and ready for the winter ahead.

Unsettled Bunch

These photos were taken over a month ago. I wanted to post them now so I do not forget. This band is very confusing and is real dynamic. I call them "The unsettled bunch" Led by the white mare, Eleganza. She seems to be the source of confusion here.  L to R Tai (Half Moon), Lucky, Rooibos, Casper, Lady (bay mare hidden), Gretchen and the one and only Eleganza.

There is the very elegant Eleganza with her 2 yr old daughter, Gretchen, who clings to her mom like glue.

The last time we saw this band we thought this roan guy, Sancho, was band stallion, but for now he has been kicked out and is left dogging from the the side lines.

For now it looks like the grey stallion, Casper, has claimed the mares. We can tell Eleganza by her black smudge marks on her front knees and her wily demeanor. This mare should be allowed to live her life out on the range. She was born to be wild...you can see it in her eyes.

There are two young roan stallions also in this band. The bay mare's yearling, Lucky, and the light colored one we call Tai. I am starting to think Tai is maybe a bachelor we ID'd as Half Moon last year. Something we need to check. So in this band there are 5 stallions, 2 mares an a yearling filly. Nothing is unusual out here...

The sorrel is Pete, another young stud colt...bachelors have come and gone from this bunch.

Besides Eleganza there is another mare in this band, a bay, we call Lady (not shown). This roan is her daughter, Lucky....behind him the red , Pete...

Sancho's Band

Meet Sancho. I hardly ever see this eleusive band so there are a lot of unsolved mysteries here...like I can not even confirm this is the band stallion, but another friend is pretty sure this is the breeding stallion. This band is strange that it seems to have a mare that is in charge...

.....this white mare, Eleganza, shown with her daughter, Gretchen.

There is one other mare in this band and that is Lady, the bay. She was with Vegas last year.

Lady has the most beautiful roan yearling colt we call Lucky. I really like his looks. I do not know who his sire is as he joined Vegas after he was born.

This band has two mares and three mature stallions! Here is Sancho and Lucky.

This light roan we call Tai. I have no idea how he fits in. He acts like a bachelor stallion, but blends in with the group.

We have quite a few roans in this herd....

Rooibos....another stallion who travels with this band.

I think of this as the "band led by the white mare". I also forgot there was another stallion with them on this day and that was the grey, Casper. Anyway it sure was great running into this mystery band. Another band with no foals..