Hurrricane's Band

Well it has been almost 2 years since I have done any documentation of the Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses. I would like to continue my work and join forces with the other photographers to make sure we are supplying accurate numbers to The BLM.  It is good to be back with my friends, the wild horses. This is Hurricane's Band.

The first thing that catches my eye is a new foal for Pablina, the elder grey/white mare who I first met in 2009 when she was with Lightning. She joined Hurricane, along with her bay friend, Floriano, a couple of yesrs ago. The band has added two additional mares, Dusty and Rudi, both I recognize.

This is Dusty's 2014 filly. She was named Allie. Now a days the photographer who spots the foal first gets to put a name on it. It is then added to a spreadsheet, given a number and reported to The BLM. The link between the documentation and The BLM is a group called SWAT. They came on to the scene a couple of years ago. They mostly focus on PZP and counting foals, much like The HSUS did when they were here.  They have put  our herd over AML (appropriate management level) of 363 wild horses. I believe this number is high as their is no way to determine a death/escape rate. Many of us continue to advocate on The Sand Wash Basin Wild Horse face book page where we are biased towards the horses.

This is my first look at Hurricane's "Twins". I had heard a lot about them through face book and have seen them grow up through other people's photos. They are not actual twins. One is from Dusty , the other from Pablina. They are both colts, have stripes on their legs and are a handful for Hurricane! Please check The SWBWH page under 2013 foal albums for their names. They are just stunning!

Our main documenter is from New Zealand. I took these photos for her and others so we can tell the two apart. The BLM is talking of "chemical vastectomies" for our stallions. I am against this.  

The bay is Floriano. She does not have many foals of her own. She had a beautiful colt in 2010, Cabellero, he stayed with the family for a long time, but has now left. I have not seen a photo of him for a long time. I am more concerned with keeping track of the ones gone missing.  Maybe this winter we can focus on that.

After the round up of 2008 Hurricane was young and ran with the bachelors, but it did not take him long to steal a couple of mares. We have many dun stallions here. Hurricane has a snub nose, a trait admired by mustang lovers like myself.

Dusty is a 2009 mare out of Prince's band. I remember when she left her family band. She was briefly with Picasso before settling in with Hurricane. Back then we tried "sponsor a wild horse" for fun on face book. A person got paired up with a horse and was going to keep track of him and her.

Some folks say we are too emotionally attached to these animals, that from a management point of view that makes no sense. The BLM asked me time and time again "How does the social structure affect the way we mange these wild horses"?
I think it matters a lot and we should interfere as little as possible. I think we should have a say in which mare receives PZP and their should be a public album where we can see which of our mares have been darted.

This beautiful band displays primitive markings.

What does the future hold for this filly?

Tonka's band

It is always nice to see the silver grey, Tonka, and his lovely harem of wild horses. I see this band quite often. They are fairly tolerant of people, especially the youngsters who have never experienced a helicopter gather. But not many youngsters here and the mares do not look pregnant. That can be a good thing. I am all for on the range population control.

This is an awesome stallion. When I first met him in 2009 he was a bachelor stallion, but joined up with his first mare, Rudi, in 2010. He has since added Showgirl and her babies.

Tonka's mares, Rudi (left) and Show Girl (pinto). Both of these mares were given PZP in 2008. I do not know if they got a booster dart in 2010. The HSUS has made it clear they will not disclose that information until their study ends and the results have been published. It would be my guess these mare would have been darted. Like I said before, they are fairly used to people.

Rudi and her 2011 colt, Rocket. he is a vivacious little guy and is usually playing rough with his brother, Zorro, or other young colts.

Behind Rocket is his three year old sister, Charm. I think she might be pregnant. Tonka is not her sire. Most likely Viggo (Koda) is. Last year she spent the summer with Viggo and then came back to her mom with Tonka. Often times Tonka and Viggo's bands are seen together.

Here Rocket finds River, a three year old bachelor stallion. The real White horse is the elder, White Out. He supervises the youngsters play. River gets pretty rough with Rocket! But Rocket can take it and loves to play.

"Give me all you got River"

The other youngster in Tonka's band is Zorro, Show Girls 2010 colt. Isn't he big? He is only a two year old!

Tonka breaks up the bachelor play and gathers his sons.

I am glad all of the wild horses in Tonka's band look so healthy. He is a wonderful example of a SWB band stallion....proud, loyal and beautiful!

Tonka's Band

We were driving along and we saw a great herd of mustangs streaking across the high desert. Eventually they settled down and we were able to approach them. Among this group was Tonka's band. At first they were inter mingled with Viggo's band, which is not unusual. The two bands are often seen together.

The beautiful grey band stallion, Tonka. That's Rudi looking at the camera. When I first met her in 2009 she was with Cowboy, but has been with Tonka since 2010....she was his first mare post round up (2008). Tonka and Rudi are very bonded.

Rudi, to my knowledge, has not foaled until this year (post round up). She had a colt this April we call Rocket.

This is big boy Zorro...he is only a yearling. He was born into Viggo's band last spring (2010) to ShowGirl, but Tonka claimed the mare with her newborn soon after this guy was born. The former HSUS gal told me she called the mare ShowGirl  "because she gets around the range". Maybe she has settled now with Tonka. I believe the round up of 2008 really messed up their social structure. Now that we know the individual mustangs and their family bands there is no need to break up families so bad.

When ShowGirl and Zorro joined Tonka last spring, Charm stayed back with Viggo's band. She rejoined her mom and Tonka's band early this summer. She has a thing for humans...it is not uncommon for her to approach them. I wonder if the HSUS imprinted her (by mistake) as a foal. I know this band was or is a research group for the HSUS (The Humane Society of the United States) PZP study, which has been going on for four years. They spend hours and hours with the mustangs in the summer time.

See? Here she comes with The Rocket in tow. Little Rocket is Rudi's 2011 rose grey colt. Maybe they are telling us there is no need to chase them with a helicopter? They deserve more respect. Such nice horses...Look at their perfect hooves.

This is about the closest they get before I put my camera down and let them pass peacefully. I made a little noise....which sent them scattering. If, for some reason, we have to remove and adopt out a few mustangs, these would be so easy to bait trap. I hope the next round up is done in a different, more humane way.

Viggo's Band (feat Zorro & Rocket)

The two frisky brothers in Viggo's band have a romp...

The little grey colt is Rocket, he was born early this spring. The handsome sorrel is Zorro, he is a 2010 colt.

Zorro was an only foal untill Rocket came along.

"Come on big guy show me what you got!"

These two are in Viggo's band.

Such a joy to watch wild mustangs play.

Back to mom to have a drink of her milk.

Tonka's Band

I wanted to show you the grey's band. We call him Tonka. Here he is in the foreground with his two beautiful mares, Rudi and Show Girl. The two mustangs in the background are Nomad and Feather.....not in this band....just hanging out near by.
Tonka.
Tonka wooing his sorrel pinto mare, Show Girl. He has only had her since last spring. She came over from Viggo's band. When she had her colt (Zorro) last spring she left Viggo and her daughter, Charm, with him, but she still likes to be near them. Tonka and Viggo's bands are often seen together.
The filly Tonka is snaking is Show Girls two year old daughter, Charm. Just recently she has joined her mom and is now part of Tonka's band. This is nature's way of getting the young fillies away from their sires.
Family portrait. Charm is a real ham and will walk right up to people with cameras....She used to do this with Stomper. Stomper is the two year old colt in Viggo's band. He grew up with this filly. They were the best of friends. Anyway left to right...Rocket, Rudi, Show Girl, Zorro, Tonka and Charm.
That's the new guy, Rocket. He was born to Tonka's first mare, Rudi, early this spring. This is Rudi's first foal since the round up of 2008 (that I know of).
Tonka, Zorro and Show Girl. This is a very handsome Sand Wash family for sure!
Charm is showing Rocket how to pose for the camera. She will be a good "auntie" to this little foal.
Tonka gathers his troops and leads them away....

Greasewood.. athletic and proud!

That's Greasewood picking on Roany. The other 2 horses are Cowboy (lead) and Rudi. Many of the impressive stallions I have met are bays, Corona's bay foal also looks like he is going to have nice build. This is GREASEWOOD!