Bachelor Stallions & 3 Year Old Colts

Rounder. He is one of the four stallions dogging Cosmo's band. He is an ex band stallion. He "appeared" out of nowhere spring of 2010 when he stole Lightning's mares.. The HSUS girl told me she had never seen him before that (its that big out here) and she had been documenting since 2008 (summer months). He is a beautiful liver chestnut. He is looking a little run down....he wants a mare! He challenges Cosmo, but stays away from the other doggers.

Last year he had quite a few mares, maybe too many. His band splintered last fall.

This is Hoot. For now he seems to have claimed Cosmo's 3 year old filly, Juniper. But he is still with Cosmo. He goes back and forth with Kiowa and Outlaw.

Kiowa. He had Juniper for awhile last fall, but she ended up with Cosmo and her family band. He is relentlessly trying to get her back. He is a fighter. A true American Mustang!

This is a different scene....a different day. These are young East Side bachelors, Sir Duke (Grey) and Clyde (Sorrel). Lots of folks have been seeing these 3 year old colts...Sir Duke seems to change daily with his looks. The greys are hard to ID. I am so glad The HSUS is going to help us with the ID cards. I think together we can have a pretty good documentation. I think this will help the wild horses if they are gathered as planned, Oct 2013. The HSUS has spent hours and hours studying their markings.

This is an older East Side bachelor, Sundown. He was "babysitting" the two previous colts on this fine day. I like this photo because it is a good one for an ID card. It shows his leg marking and facial ones too. I would say he is somewhat of a submissive stallion. I have not observed him with any other mares since the 2008 gather.

Another encounter.... I have been seeing quite a bit of this beautiful blue grey bachelor and I think I have finally figured out who he is! Takoda from Tashunka's band. He would be a 3 year old colt. He has befriended Tripod our disabled colt. He is a lively guy who is very bold and likes to have fun with the other colts.

The pretty palomino is from Maestro's (Bug's) band. He is another 3 year old. There are a lot of these 3 year olds. The HSUS reported more then 60...(.we have 50 some recorded). These are the post 2008 gather babies. I personally believe round ups cause larger foal crops the next year. It is wrong to gather the entire herd at once. It would make more sense to deal with the horses band by band in a larger period of time if some need to be adopted out.

Anyway shown with Nick is Tripod, the disabled perlino colt. It is nicwe to see him with other horses. I observed him really playing hard...rearing up, getting down. It is amazing to me how he has adopted to his deformed hock.

* Note... I have learned The HSUS has names for the band stallions. Out of courtesy to them I will start using some...So Bugs become Maestro. The most important thing about names (to me) is that we are all using the same ones.

Tripod's injured hock. He sustained this injury as a newborn. He is the 2009 colt out of Corona and Cheyenne. The HSUS mentioned they were interested if any one would like to give him a home.

The chestnut is actually Voodoo, a band stallion. He left his 2 mares and came to have a romp with the young bachelors. I love to watch them play! The palo is Skip.

Good ole' Lightning. He has left his pasture by Two Bar to join in the Cosmo fiasco. He really looks good and is giving the boys a run for their money!

Outlaw is a scrappy little guy. He has a wonderful flaxen mane and tail. He is out of one of Prince's chestnut mares. I saw a foal photo of him pre 2008. he is also involved in taking over Cosmo.

These three have been observed together all week. The whites are two older stallions, Snowman and White Out. White out is the likely sire of the darker grey 3 yr old, River. This is the first time I have observed a colt returning to his band stallion without his Dam.

I think of Snowman as the guru of SWB. He is quite timid, but friends to a lot of horses. Occasionally he gets real beat up and then one of his friends will help him. White Out is more bold and will still challenge other stallions.

Bachelor Stallions (feat Tripod)

Finally! I am back on The Range and happen upon this little bachelor stallion band. It is the wise old White Out with three beautiful colts, including Tripod, the lame perlino. I was really worried about him The last time I saw him his damaged hock was red and inflamed and he was alone. He looks much better today and I am glad to see he is with other stallions.

This is Tripod's third winter out here surviving the brutal elements with such a severe disability, he is testimony to the hardiness of a mustang, but it is tough to see.

I can't figure out who this little grey is. Kinda looks like River, but I think too young. I put him in an "unidentified folder" and will try to work it out. I knew the greys would be hard to ID....He is good friends with Tripod.

This sorrel was in Eleganza's mixed up band last summer as one of the doggers. He is really shy and does not like to look at the camera. We named him Rooibos.

A closer look at the grey...I am pretty sure it is a 2 yr old..maybe Aspen from Cortez's band?

Here is the elder babysitting stallion, White Out. He looks great after getting so run down last year for his one mare Josie, who ended up with Prancer. He has regained his strength and is looking after these youngsters.

Two underdogs come together and persevere!

We can tell the shy Rooibos by his split stripe.

Tripod is Corona's and Cheyenne's 3 yr old colt. He suffered this injury as a newborn. It looks bad, but a whole lot better then a couple of months ago. He limps, but gets around OK. People have offered to adopt him, but The BLM has chosen to leave him be. Maybe in the future we could think of ways to deal with situations like this? This is a permanent injury, his hock has been deformed for a long time now. One thing I know for sure....you can not chase this wild horse with a helicopter!

My personal opinion is that is abscessed and healed, but I am no vet, but I can see where it drained. How he survived the infection we will never know.

For now Tripod is safe and of good weight. This little colt is a true surviver....with a little help from his friends.

Comments

Thank you for all the nice comments. I read each and everyone...I am unable to reply for some reason. (technical difficulties). These wild horses are lucky to have so many admirers. I am hoping this helps them in some way. Let's hang in there for the mustangs. Nancy

Snow Man finds a friend

I find Snowman with Liberty ! Do not mistake these guys for domesticated horses. They are wild and free and would like it to stay that way!  12/11 I think the white horse is White Out

Battered White Out and Big Benson

I spot the 2 bachelors in Sand Wash proper. White Out has blood on his sides and quite a few wounds. What went on? I wonder.