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.

Centauro's Band (Feat Isadora)

Centauro's band...this is one of the largest bands out at Sand Wash Basin.

Here is the youngest member of his band....Isadora. Something has happened. it looks like she got stuck in mud and another horse pulled her out? She looks a bit thin and a little tired, but is keeping up.

Look out Isadora! There's  Centauro, the Spanish Grey, getting fresh with Isadora's mom, Isabelle.

Things settle down and the little foal has a drink.

Centauro has another 2012 foal, this colt...Shadow. Shadow was an early foal. He was born back in March. He will be a grey like his sire. You can tell by the grey goggles around his eyes. I love this little guy!

Shadow and Isadora.

Shadow with his half brother, Kona. Kona is the full brother to Isadora.

Centauro with his grey/white mare, Sun Spot. Sun Spot joined this band last spring. She came from Jet's band.

Sun Spot has some good wind knots in her mane going!

Centauro's mare, Reyna. It doesn't look like she will have a foal this year.

Last year she threw this beautiful filly, Tierra.

Sun Spot and Irma. Irma is the mother of Isabelle...grandmother to Isadora.

The band stallion. This band had the most foals last year...four.

Centauro challenging Cimmaron, who has a small band of his own.

I leave the little filly in peace. I hear later soon after this she got separated from her band, but has since rejoined them. The mustangs never cease to amaze me.

Centauro's Band

Centauro's band! I was very excited to see this band of wild horses come streaking across the desert. I just hoped they stopped so I could get a good look at them.

The beautiful dappled grey stallion.

He stops and gives me a big snort. He sees me as no threat and gives me a quick look at his very special family. Centauro has the most 2011 foals on the range....four. They are all beauties.

This is the youngest of the four foals....he is a colt we call Kona.

This little filly, Isis, was born just a week before her brother. She will be a stunning palomino like her mom.

This mare, Sunspot, joined Centauro this spring. She came from Jet's band when they "dismantled". Sunspot loves Centauro. It shows. She was pregnant, but somehow lost her foal.

Here is Sunspot from her "mane" side. She had a foal last year....a colt, Nimbus. He is  with Femur and that gang. I have no idea why she left hm behind, but he is doing OK. He is a beautiful grey like her.

Reyna is a cool mare. She is part of the PZP study, but keeps having foals anyway. This is the first time I have seen her without her 2 yr old filly, Ramona...I wonder if she is alive and who has her? Reyna had the most gorgeous filly early this spring....Her 2 yr old colt, Hawk, is a strong bachelor stallion.

...Tierra. I just love the looks of this filly! I wonder if she will be a rare grulla pinto? Maybe just a grey? She and her brother, Terora, were the first wild foals I saw this spring. They were born a good 3 months before Kona and Isis.

Sofia, the other bay mare, but youn can easily tell her a part from Reyna. She is the most wily and will usually lead the band away.

Centauro's foals.

All four of them together.

The two fillies...Isis and Tierra.

Love her!

Sofia having a roll.

The two palominos are mother/daughter.

This stallion really shows his Spanish ancestory.