Tuscarora band

We saw Tuscarora's band today. He has a few new horses and one that came back... let me explain.

A couple of months ago one of Tuscarora's mature mares (Gaia) was found dead by Lake Draw. About the same time his other lead mare, this one, Talia, dissapeared leaving the grey stud with all young fillies and a 2012 colt. Anyway, today I see Talia has returned and she has a beautiful, vivacious greying out colt by her side. We'll call him Tokio. It is a mystery where she went. I am so glad she has come back to help Tuscarora with this large band.

Isn't he cute? Maybe some stallion stole Talia when she went to have this little guy, but no reports of anyone seeing her with another band.

The little red roan filly is Lucky. She joined Tuscarora with her little colt, Mike. Lucky is only 2 years old!

There's Mike. He is small, but looks super healthy and has three other foals to play with in his family band.

This is Arctic. Her mom was Gaia, the one who died. She is doing good along with her little sister Comet who was born early this spring.

Not a great photo but wanted to show you Comet's body condition. This is pretty amazing considering we are in severe drought and she is getting by without any milk.

Tuscarora now has both of Centauro's yearling fillies. Actually this is Arctic again, but Isis, from Centauro's band, is also a palomino. The grey pinto behind is Tierra, the other Centauro filly. No one has seen Centauro's band for awhile so wonder what is going on with that band.

Tierra, she was one of the first foals born spring of 2011 to Reyna from centauro's band. . I love her exquisite coloring.

I can't tell you how glad I was to see this mare, Talia! She has been with Tuscarora since the 2008 gather. It was so strange how she vanished when the other mare died.

So there they all are...twelve horses all together. Ten of them are three years or younger. The other new horses here are Makani and her colt Watson. Makani is out of Sunspot and Jet. Watson was most likely sired by Femur.

Tuscarora's Band

On the hill we see Tuscarora's little band. I am curious to see how they are doing as the grey stallion has lost both of his mature mares. Gaia was found dead at Lake Draw of unknown causes and Talia is MIA. Now Tuscarora is left with 2 year olds and under.

He has added a two year old filly from Centauro's band, Tierra. She is a beautiful filly, she reminds me a bit of Sugar, the grulla/pinto mare in WildWind's band.

That is Tasca, she is a yearling filly out of Talia. I am so curious to know what happened to Talia. She was very bonded with her daughter and it is unusual she left her. Hopefully she will show up.

The strawberry roan is Lucky. Tuscarora added her after she gave birth to the little sorrel colt, Mike.

Comet is doing good even though she lost her dam at such a young age. Luckily she was born earlier this spring and can survive on grasses.

Tuscarora with his very young family band.

This is Comet's full , yearling sister, Arctic. I am amazed how white she still is. I believe she will be a palomino.

Tuscarora

Mike plops down and takes a short nap. He has a long winter in front of him.

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..