Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Darling Calls Dibs...AGAIN!

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On Saturday morning, bright and early, we met our friends Maggie & Farrel for a quick continental breakfast in the lobby of the Silver Spur. Maggs & I wanted to head out and get an early start up to the mountain, so by 7 am we were in our vehicles and heading towards the South Steens.

This was City Boy's first trip to the mountains, and he wasn't sure what to expect. 70 miles outside of town, we turned off the paved road and headed up a well maintained gravel road. We'd not gone far before we spotted what we were after...a set of ears poked over the top of a ridge, so off to the side we pulled and we began our trek on foot across the lava rocks in search of wild mustangs.

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A bachelor band of five greeted us, and imagine Darling's delight when she found her old pal, Dibs, up on the hill among them!

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Darling began her slow approach to the young stallion. We had originally thought that Dibs and his buddy were roughly 1-2 years old when we first spotted them a couple of years ago, but Dibs' friend had been aged by the BLM as a 5 year old this year, and we expect that Dibs is the same age.

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Two years ago, Dibs barely gave Darling a second glance. This time? He watched intently and with great curiosity as she quietly and confidently circled toward him.

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I'm not sure what City Boy was thinking as his daughter approached the stallion. I know that Maggie was standing next to me absolutely trembling. Emotions were running rampant inside of her as she whispered, "This is so cool! But my grandma genes are screaming to be careful! But it's just so cool!!!"

Then Dibs did something that had me catch my breath. He turned and faced up to Darling. I swear, had she reached out her hand he'd have reached forward to sniff.

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Rather than take the chance of him retreating first, Darling quietly stepped back from her friend. Who would have guessed that she'd have had that wild horse moment of a lifetime, twice in a lifetime?

11 comments:

Paint Girl said...

WOW! All I can say is WOW! I have chills looking at those pictures of that beautiful wild Mustang and Darling almost making contact! What an amazing sight to see!!

Unknown said...

OMG! Incredible. Gave me goosebumps!

You mention circling toward the horse - can you describe how you approach? I'm just curious.

Jeni said...

How completely awesome is that?!?!?!

CTG Ponies said...

Now that is very cool! He's is absolutely stunning.

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

Truly amazing.

jane augenstein said...

Wow!!! What an experience that only a few ever get to do in a lifetime! Brave Darling for moving so close and then how hard it must have been to retreat to give him his space. I know you will go again and the next time I'll bet he will come closer to her there is a connection there, you can see it in his eyes!
My heart would be in my mouth and pounding in my ears....beautiful!!! Just beautiful!!!
give that girl a hug!!!

Maggie J said...

I was uphill from her, her parents in the middle and my husband videoing from bottom...there's just no words I can used to describe how thrilling it was to be a part of 'Darling and Dibs' second encounter! I think if she had put her hand slowly out he would have touched it with his nose...maybe next time?! I hope I am there to be part of it, again.

Christa said...

Yep...gave me goosebumps to :)

This is just beautiful and what an amaizing experience for Darling. I am so glad you were able to capture it in pictures Tracey. I would love to be able to go with you some time...just an FYI ;)

Mikey said...

Something special between those two.. I'm interested to see what their future brings. Very cool pictures!

JennyB said...

WOW...INCREDIBLE...GOOSEBUMPS...I'm right there with all the others!! Dibs is absolutely gorgeous!! How indescribably wonderful that he let Darling get so close! The curiousity and intelligence he shows is so amazing!! Good girl, Darling, perfectly done to take a little step back instead of push things and possibly ruin what was happening. Smart, sensitive, wonderful girl!

~~ JennyB, Horsefeathers

Crystal said...

Wow thats amazing, that girl has some good senses in her and knows exactly what to do! That would have been awesome to watch!