So, Joe, Whaddya Know?

 Back in 2008, when I was fresh out of the first makeover with Sandy, Darling and I made a trip to Molalla Oregon where I picked up three geldings for TIP (trainer incentive program.)  One of those was a gelding that became known as Joe.

Joe was a pretty little bay with a sweet disposition.  He was easily gentled and enjoyed attention.

For some odd reason, Joe was the last of the three geldings to find a home, despite being the one we felt was going to make the easiest transition.  You can just never tell about people and what they want to adopt.  Joe was here for three months before a woman came along who fell in love and wanted him.

Joe was sent to a trainer and started under saddle.  His adopter loved him, but there was a little accident that set them back a few months.  Joe went to another trainer and again did well, and the adopter still loved him and rode a little in her yard and round pen at home.

Then the adopter had an accident, and Joe has been sitting for the past ten months.  She'd really like to get him out on the trails, like she's done with her halflinger, but she's not sure Joe has the confidence out there just yet.  So Joe is here with Darling and I, and we'll be getting him going so his adopter can enjoy him even more.

Isn't Joe a pretty boy?  We sure think so!

Never Forgotten

 The year was 2008.  It was December, and we were in Oregon to pick up my new mustang for the upcoming Extreme Mustang Makeover.  My friend Andi drove us up the mountain in search of wild horses.  It was the first time I came fact to face with these lovely creatures, and I stood in amazement as they mingled around us, cautious, but not afraid enough to leave.  It's when Darling met Dibs.  It's when I named Honor.  And it's when we first met this incredible stallion who became known as Golden Boy.

Golden Boy kept to himself.  Many other band stallions had a second in command, but not GB.  No, he'd selected some of the finest mares on the mountain and he wasn't about to allow anyone else into his inner circle.  Now and again, as on the first day we saw him, he could be found with the Hollywood Herd, where several bands mingled together, but more often he was on the outskirts, not too far away, but never so close as to encourage another stallion to think he could get away with breeding or stealing one of his mares.

Clover, the buckskin, and Kamali, the pinto, were among the mares with Golden Boy in 2011.

Golden Boy and the always lovely Delight, February 2011.

When we got word last year that Golden Boy was injured, and that he was under attack by other stallions, it was devastating.  Backed up against the rimrock, Golden Boy and his mares fought hard when bachelor stallions came in hopes of picking off mares for themselves.  One photographer was present at the scene.  Golden Boy's injury was such that he had no hopes of living through the onslaught.  She contacted the BLM office, and Golden Boy was immediately put down so as not to suffer any longer.  The mares were then fought over by the remaining stallions.

After a great amount of scuffling, chasing, and stealing, things finally began to settle down on the South Steens.  Delight, her yearling filly (Whisper), and Cotton ended up with Cortez, the feisty little pinto who'd lived as a bachelor the past couple of years.  He'd also picked up Holly and her dam, Noelle, earlier in the year, so he was now quite happy to have four mares and their offspring.  Life was looking good again on the mountain.

The South Steens is loved by photographers as the 'Hollywood' horses, as they are known, tend to stick around near the roads and they don't panic when they see people walking in to get a few pictures.  Of course, a soft approach is needed to get up close and personal with them, but it could be done, and never did we leave disappointed.

Up close and personal with Delight.

With the band broken and mares scattered, photographers began documenting where they'd gone and which stallions had which mares.  New foals were expected to start arriving in February, and everyone was interested to know if Golden Boy's mares had been bred by him, or their new stallions.  Of course, we knew there was no real way to identify sires short of DNA, but odds are always good with GB's girls, that they are carrying his colts.

A visit around the first of the year by my friend Carolyn saw everyone content.  In February, two mares were missing from Cortez's band...Delight and Clover.  But their foals from the previous year were both still with him.  This is odd.  Two mares leaving in the same time frame, but colts not going along?  It just didn't add up.

Zephry, a beautiful colt with one blue eye

Meanwhile, in Cascade and Sox's band, the yearling colt, Zephyr, appeared to be missing.  A colt missing isn't such a surprise...anything could happen to a baby.  But the mares?  They were older, wiser, larger. A big cat can pick off a colt, but rarely an adult unless it's ill or injured.  The mares had been healthy.  And they were both missing.  A predator would not take down two.

Then there was another report.  The remains of a horse and three dead antelope, all in close proximity to one another, had been found.  There was enough hair remaining on the horse to identify  him.  It was Little Brother.  Carolyn had seen him in February, so he'd died after the mares had disappeared.  But the fact that his remains were so close to the antelope, and it appeared that they'd died in the same time frame, that things are looking a little suspicious on the South Steens.

 Little Brother, as he was in June 2012

Another photographer reported back in early April.  He'd made a trip to the mountain and found two skeletons with just enough hair for him to assume that it was Delight and Clover.  They were near a water hole, not far from each other.

While there is no proof of how our horses are dying, there is enough speculation.  And with that speculation, a deluge of people keeping watch over our beloved wild horses on the Steens.  If someone has been up shooting, we know they've been there at least on two occasions.  Please pray that they are never successful again.

Ouch.

"Someday you'll learn," were the parting words of the Cowboy as I hobbled out of the barn, a lovely purple and blue hoof print encircling my knee cap.

The lesson was to work the horse until she was tired before doing something new. It's obviously a lesson one should learn early on, if they're going to work with mustangs, or any youngster for that matter. But such is life, eh? Sometimes 

we slip up and do something that doesn't seem like such a stupid idea at the time.

I'd led Flirt into the big arena rather than the round pen today. Rope, coat and plastic bag work had all gone so well, I thought maybe today I'd introduce her to the saddle blanket. 

That didn't go so well.

She was fascinated by the smells of other horses, burying her face in the blanket, but not liking when I tried to rub it on her neck, or bump her shoulder with it. No huge reactions, just stepping back and pushing her face into it again. I didn't press the matter, I didn't think. I simply approached and retreated, and as I retreated she would approach, wanting to bury her face in it some more.

Eventually I decided I'd walk her back to her stall, carrying the blanket with me. She followed on a somewhat loose lead, her muzzle at my pocket where she knew the treats were hiding. I finally stopped to rub her face and hand her one, but something got into her mind. Something that said, "Run, and kick that nasty saddle pad when you go!" And so she did. Except she kicked my knee cap instead, which dropped me to the ground in relatively short order. She then ran back to the front of the arena, where she paused at the small door that led into the barn. 

I hollered a few times before anyone heard me. There was a horse in the cross ties and I sure didn't want her getting into a wreck. Someone finally heard me, but of course by then Flirt was trotting through the small alleyway out into the barn. She was led back out by someone who was just a little intimidated by my oversized, somewhat frightened yearling (why? I can't imagine, lol), and I managed to get myself up and over to her, led her back to her stall and put her way.

My knee? Oh, a lovely shade of bright purples, blues and black. Swelling? Well, a little, I suppose. Drenched it in DMSO, then vet wrapped an ice pack to it, after which I drove the half hour home. And here I sit, telling you my story so that you make sure you work that horse until it's tired before you go introducing a saddle blanket, okay? Okay. Once I get this unwrapped, I'll take a picture and share the beauty of it with you!

Flirt...Shot!

The morning dawned bright and ever so cold. Our first real frost of the season covered the ground as well as the windshields of our vehicles. I tossed hay to the wrangler horses who were in my barn and waited for Wendy & Ramona to show up.

Wendy had discussed the situation with the BLM vet before heading north. He ordered some unpronounceable drug (not to mention impossible to spell) with whic

h to dart Flirt and had it FedExed overnight up to Kulshan Vet. It was supposed to have arrived on Wednesday...yesterday...but it didn't. And that is why we were sitting at my kitchen table with Wendy mixing up concoctions and filling needles and darts this morning.

New friend and Flirt fan, Dawn, had offered the other day to bring her game camera, and to climb up into a tree and sit and watch to see if she could spot Flirt out there in the woods. Once we found her, Dawn again volunteered to be there to help out. And so it was that the five of us, Wendy, Ramona, Dawn, Katie and myself, headed up the road armed with dart gun, horses and plenty of rope.

"Houdini"

Wendy's plan was for to walk in, along with Dawn, and use her gelding Houdini as a shield. I was to follow a short distance behind on Witchknot, then slip over to the left to block a possible escape out toward the road. Katie and Ramona were on foot behind me, staying toward the opening where we'd just crossed the bog.

The dart can be a tricky thing...it can hit a horse and take them out in just a couple of minutes...or it can startle them, get their adrenaline running, and send them running for up to 15 minutes. This was NOT what we wanted to have happen, as Flirt could easily get tangled up in our dense underbrush. 

"Witch Knot"

While Witchknot and I worked our way into place, Wendy, Dawn and Houdini moved forward and disappeared into the trees. We hoped that Flirt was in the same basic place as yesterday, and it didn't take long to realize that was indeed where she stood. We couldn't see a thing from where we waited, but as we listened we knew when the first shot was made. We heard Wendy's voice as she talked to Flirt. No craziness, no sudden flight. It stayed quiet for a moment, and we heard the second dart go pop out of the gun.

It must have been 20 minutes before we were called into the trees. Flirt was on her feet, two dart marks with blood dripping from her hindquaters. Her head was hanging low. She was doing her best to walk, as Wendy and Houdini guided her to the fence behind her. No way were we going to attempt the bog with this super drugged up horse! Thankfully, there was a gate in the barbed wire fence behind us, and we were able to go through that and follow the old road out to a nearby farm.

Flirt wobbled and weaved, but eventually we were out in the open again. Ramona had brought the horse trailer up the driveway and turned it around so that the back end was facing us. The door was opened, and Wendy rode Houdini up to it. She'd thought to just ride right in, bringing Flirt with her, but realized as she approached that this trailer was a bit too low for that. As she climbed off Houdini, Flirt stepped forward and climbed into the trailer. Wobbly, drugged...it didn't matter. I think this girl is a trailer loading fool!

A few minutes later, Flirt was back home. Sound, but looking like she dropped 100 lbs, she went quietly with Wendy out of the trailer and into her paddock.

Flirt his home...tired and hungry. She's not left her food since arriving. She let Wendy rub all over her neck and face (with a little effort) and is now snugly tucked inside for the night. We've draped tarps over the fence where she went through to help her rethink that exit plan, but for the moment I just don't think she wants to be anywhere but where she is. It's dry, there's food. She's home ♥

Where does the time go?

 

Shame be to me for ignoring you for so long!  Where has the time gone?  I must have been dreaming again.  And you know, when I dream...well...I dream wild!

Last month City Boy and I took a little road trip to my favorite destination; Harney County!  I was, naturally, in heaven.  Absolute heaven...except for one little thing.  City Boy decided we were not bringing the horse trailer with us.  

Say, what???

No trailer is an issue, because it simply means I will need to return, because of course I will see a horse that I simply must have and bring home.  Right?  Indeed!  Little Chase, the three year old gelding, found an adopter.  Impulse, too...she left this morning.  Grace has been sold and will be going shortly, and that rascal of a blue eyed pony, Spud Muffin, has found a home with more ponies and will soon be pulling a chuckwagon.  

I know, right?  It's been a long time and I've not shared nearly enough information with you!  I'm so bad.  But just look at that gelding there...he's only a yearling, and a moose!  I needed to make room for him...but where is my horse trailer?

Back to Harney County.  There have been fires and droughts and emergency gathers of wild mustangs, meaning the holding facility is filled to the brim with countless lovelies who are simply calling my name.  How, I ask you, am I to leave here without one?  Where is that horse trailer?  What was City Boy thinking?  Is that not just the most adorable little cremello pony mare up there?  Oh, I'd have died for her as a child.

And this adorable face.  Is that an adorable face, or what?  Who says mustangs have big jug heads?  They didn't meet this sweet filly, to be sure.  She came to the fence.  She visited with us.  She wanted to load into a trailer...she did!  I promise you!

I can't quite say that for the boys below.  They were newly gathered and just a little nervous.  But boy, some beauties there for sure, and in a couple of months they'll be settled in and following hay wagons just like they've always done it.

Yes, several horses of all different sizes and colors to fall in love with.  My trailer, City Boy?  Look at this family, here.  I have a three horse trailer...I could bring all three home!  If my trailer was here, that is.

Seriously...why not just stick a knife in my heart?  Will you look at this filly?  To die for.  Truly!

You know how it feels when you've eaten too many chocolates?  Well, I sure do.  You get woozy and a little sick to your stomach.  Not so when viewing mustangs.  You can never see or have too many.  Ever.

Stop!

Hold everything!!!

Who is that?  Oh, my...who is that?  Gulp. Gasp.  Sputter.  I'm feeling more than woozy.  My knees are weakening.  My mouth is dry...where did all the air go?

Now, this...this is what I'm here for.  Long legs, shapely hips, and those flirtatious eyes!  Uh huh...this is the one.  There is no doubt in my mind.  This is my horse.

Trailer!  My kingdom for a horse trailer!  Well, I have no choice.  She came to the fence.  She sniffed me.  She's left her mark.  I must return.

 

 To be continued...

Weekend Getaway with Wild Horses

Recently, Darling and I traveled south for a couple days to visit our favorite ponies, the wild mustangs of the South Steens, bringing along my niece, Miss Banana Head.  Her Christmas gift this past year was a trip to Oregon with us, and it only took us six months to get it done.  Was it worth the wait?  You bet it was!

Miss Banana visits with a yearling at the Wild Horse Corrals

As is our custom, we left our home late in the day, traveling through the night, in the dark, across mountain passes from Northwest Washington  and down into Oregon.  By the time we hit Grass Valley, Oregon, the sky had the first hint of dawn's early light, and Darling took over the driving while I snored away in the passenger seat.  We pulled into the Wild Horse Corrals about mid morning, surprised to see the gate open since they're normally closed on weekends.  But lucky us, there was a special tour going on, so in we went, waved at some friends who work with the BLM, and made our way out back to investigate the horses.  Both Darling and Miss Banana made friends with a couple of curious yearling geldings.

Our stay at the corrals was brief...a happy, unexpected stop on Saturday morning.  We were back on the road within 30 minutes, heading to the Bell A ranch where the High Desert Cutters were holding one of their summer competitions.

Cutting is fun...but certainly better when you're riding a mustang!  Here is one of the BLM wranglers, who has both Quarter Horses and a handful of mustangs that she rides.  In this particular class, she's riding her 3 year old South Steens mustang, Junior, who is learning the basics this year.  Most of the horses in these classes are ranch horses, used every day to drive cattle, rope, drag calves to brandings, etc, so they're much taller than what we see at cuttings in my neck of the woods.  It always makes me giggle just a bit (inwardly, of course...!) when I hear folks talk about mustangs being small and scrawny.  Maybe they need to meet Junior?

Crystal Crane Hot Springs at dawn 

From the cutting, we made our way south toward Crane, Oregon.  This was a bit of a new direction for us, but I'd found a lovely little place to stay called Crystal Crane Hot Springs.  You rent a cabin, and if you're lucky you get the one with the little half bath or you're stuck using the community restroom.  We were lucky.

The hot springs had a naturally heated pool, which was 97 degrees the day we were there.  Oh...so warm!  We waded about in it before the mosquitoes came out in the evening, and I decided I need a hot spring in my backyard.  Do you think they sell them at Wally World?

The following morning we were up early, with an anxious Banana Head waiting to see what she'd traveled so many miles for.  Wild Horses!  

The Hollywood Herd

We spotted them up along a ridge, about a mile from the road.  The highway through the desert has extremely wide shoulders, making it quite easy to pull a vehicle off the road and park it, which is what we did.  We climbed over the fence that keeps horses from wandering onto the the highway and began our trek up the hill.

This particular group of mustangs are known as the Hollywood Herd, as they are typically hanging out not far from the road where people can see them.  Photographers visit frequently, and the horses are typically pretty content to just hang out, so long as the two legged intruders don't appear threatening.  The three of us didn't walk straight into the herd, but weaved back and forth, meandering a bit, casually approaching and trying to give the feeling of, "Oh, we're just out for a Sunday stroll.  Didn't see you there, how are you doing today?  Well, we'll just park ourselves over here and rest a bit, if you don't mind," so as not to alarm anyone.

Sox let's Cruiser know that Chenoa is off limits

We saw many faces familiar to us, introducing them to Miss Banana Head so that she, too, could know them.  I didn't get a solid count, but there were roughly 70 wild mustangs standing up there with us.  The South Steens has 130,000 acres set aside, and a recent fly over showed a count of 330 head of horses, not including this years foal crop.  By next fall, they will likely gather horses off this range again, placing many up for adoption.

Miss Banana gave Faith her name during this visit.

While many mustangs are put up for adoption, there are several who are left out in the wild.  For instance, Faith, the mare on the left.  We first saw her after the last gather in 2009.  She was at the wild horse corrals where she'd been kept over the course of the winter and following spring.  She'd foaled, a lovely colt that was marked just like her, and once he was weaned, she was returned to her mountain.  

New to the Hollywood Herd is Drifter, a striking palomino pinto stallion who'd been spotted earlier this year in the back country.  At some point, he began hanging about on the fringe of Ranger's band, slowly working his way into being accepted.  The Hollywood Herd is made up of several smaller bands, which change now and then, but mainly stay with the same core group.  Stallions, unlike what most of us imagine, allow other stallions into their band, but typically it's a senior stallion and a junior stallion, and no more than that.  Drifter is now Ranger's junior stallion, and as such, he has a job to do.  

At one point, Ranger and his band wandered down the hill a ways, but a sleeping colt was left behind.  When he woke up, he galloped and whinnied frantically, looking for his mother.  While his mother paid little heed, Drifter heard and recognized the voice of the colt.  From 1000 feet away, he stood and called to the colt.  When the colt finally realized where his band was, he started down the hill.  Drifter came charging up to gather him, pinning his ears in mock anger, scolding the colt for not paying attention.  All was good and safe this time, but a lagging colt could bring danger not only to himself, but the entire band, and Drifter wanted to make that clear.  I find it absolutely amazing how this horse stepped right up to the plate after being allowed to join up with the others.  If something ever happens to Ranger, Drifter will be right there to take care of his band.

Majesty, a lovely Silver Dapple in color, was put down due to severe injuries.

Two horses we missed seeing on the mountain this visit were Majesty, who suffered a fatal injury earlier this year.  He leaves behind a legacy of silver dapple offspring on the mountain.  Majesty had a second in command; One Eared Jack.  When we lost Majesty, the mares simply followed Jack, with little disruption to the band.

By stark contrast, Golden Boy had no other stallion with him.  Often found just outside of the Hollywood crowd, GB was a loner who kept to himself.  He had a colorful group of mares, and they were highly devoted to him.  While other stallions had skirmishes and lost or gained mares throughout the year, Golden Boy held fast to his mares since the last gather.  He was wise and cagey...but about the time of our visit, something had happened to him.  One of photographer friends had spotted him with an injury, and it didn't look good.

Golden Boy, as we last saw him in October 2011.  May he rest in peace.

She took video of the stallion, who was having trouble walking, and showed it to the folks at the BLM, who agreed that our lovely boy here was not only in severe pain, but likely would never recover.  By the time they located him again, he had his mares up against the rimrock, where he could more easily defend them.  Stallions, bachelors without their own mares for the most part, were swarming like sharks.  They knew the old stallion was fading, and they were going in for the kill.  One of those stallions was Blue, a scrappy roan who sparred frequently with other stallions, but never seemed to end up with any mares.  He went into the battle early, wearing down Golden Boy, making it easier for other stallions to strike.  What was amazing to Barbara was how the mares in GB's band were fighting off the unwanted advances of these outside stallions, as well.  

Not everything on the mountain is beautiful and peaceful.  We are so thankful that the BLM is willing to end the suffering of a horse in pain, rather than allow them to be torn to shreds until death.  Some folks may disagree...but in my mind, it is hardly debatable.  Had Golden Boy had a junior in command, the battling likely wouldn't have taken place, and who knows if it would have changed the outcome of Golden Boy's fate?  That is one thing we'll never know, but he certainly wouldn't have had to fend off the advances of others in his weakened state.  But that was the way he chose to live, and he fought a valiant fight until the end.

We knew that Golden Boy was missing during our trip, and that he was hurt, but most of what happened we didn't find out about until we returned home the following day.  For us, it was still a warm, sunny, and joyful trip, full of adventure and new babies, such as Zephyr!  Is this blue eyed baby not just the most beautiful thing you've seen?

Zephyr is out of a mare named Chinook.  

Sunday night put us back in Burns, quite ready to sleep after a long, successful day on the mountain with our wild ones.  Come Monday, we'd be on our way home, but not without a morning hay ride during feeding time at the Wild Horse Corrals.

 Sorrel two year old gelding could just be what I need.

(Yes, I said need!)

This is when I like to take a look at potential prospects.  (Shhhh...don't let City Boy read this part!)  I'm always, always, always looking for that horse that may just make the perfect mustang cutter, and these two super cute geldings really caught my eye!

This three year old hails from Coyote Lakes, same HMA as Tika.

From here, we were back on the road, ready for our 12 hour drive home.  A couple of stops along the way, first to eat ice cream cones in Shaniko, and then a quick tour of the Maryhill Museum.  It was a wonderful trip.  Hope you enjoyed it!

Sculpture at the Maryhill Museum, just above the Columbia River.

It's MOVIE Time!

Legendario, still in the stallion pen at the BLM in Oregon.






South Steens Excursion!

Ditto and Jingles (the old mare, now 28), and Juniper make their way across the desert. The bachelors...or are they former bachelors?...way out in the distance, include Dibs, Little Brother, Red Vogue and Yellow Boy. This spring you may recall Red Vogue actively pursuing a mare I dubbed Fruit Loop (Lupe is her official name.) Here, he seems hardly his virile self, which has us concerned. Yellow Boy (last clip) has two mares and a yearling colt with him now. These mares were with McCloud just 10 days earlier. We are left wondering what has happened that McCloud would lose all of his mares (a coming 2 year old is also now with another stallion) in the past couple of weeks.

McCloud, photographed in May, 2011

Call of the Wild

I am a little fish
with great big Dreams
Sometimes my dreams are so big
I feel my head may EXPLODE

My dreams lift me high
like a hot air Balloon
Where I float and soar
in my Fantasy World

Until someone comes along with a pin
and POP!
my dreams are deflated...
and I wonder, shall I'll dream no more?

***************



Allow me to introduce you to Legendario

Dario was eight years old when gathered last August from Riddle Mountain in Oregon. He is one of the famous Kiger Mustangs...though not in the preferred (and usual) color. Dario is, obviously, gray! This made him less sought after than the other Kigers, and during the adoption in October, he (along with most other aged stallions) was passed by.

All Kigers who were not adopted in person while we were there last fall were placed on the online internet adoption a month later. All horses, including Legendario, received bids. Except that something happened...and we soon heard that the bidder on horse number 1230 was not taking him. My guess is, they bid on a couple of horses, and they won the bid on more than one, so took their favorite and backed out of the other...being this gray stallion.

Now, I just happen to know someone who'd looking for a nice, stout horse. A mustang, of course. And he's been wanting me to locate such a horse and gentle it for him. I'd found a couple of nice two year olds and we'd planned on picking one up at the first of the year (when they are officially three and eligible for the trainer incentive program), but they ended up being shipped east to another facility, so that was a no-go.

But when no one took the gray, I asked the BLM if they'd consider placing him as a TIP horse. Normally, a gray horse isn't eligible (people tend to leave bays, blacks, sorrels and browns behind, while fancy colors get selected for adoption), but due to his age, they opted to allow it.

And so the gray stallion was gelded the beginning of the year, and today...this afternoon...I will head south to pick up this living legend, this Kiger of a different color. His would be adopter hadn't come up with a name for him, so I did it for him. It's fitting, I think.

Legendario


photo by Matt Clark

Impulsive Moment...

Call it an impulse buy...call it a reflex...call it an accidental bid. All are true! In fact, they are so true that the Kiger community have begun calling her Impulse.

City Boy seems to be somewhat smitten with her. She's no Lefty, of course (no one ever will be), but there is something to her, something that gives a hint to a sweet lady who'll take you down the trail without complaint. It will be fun to see how she progresses.

We had one more day in Burns; a day without Kigers or wild horse corrals. We were heading up to the mountain again in search of more wild ponies. This time, rather than heading down past the water hole, I pointed toward Burnt Car Rd (so named for the burnt car at the end of it), and City Boy turned the Dodge to the right and headed up the hill.

Burnt Car is where Darling and I first met the love of her equine life...Dibs. My, how long ago that seems! It's where we met and named Honor, Sox, and Darling Calls Dibs. Who else was there then? Cascade was there; so was Golden Boy. Bird, Gunner and Raven, all later gathered and adopted out. Last Cry was there...we hadn't known it would be the only time we'd see him. A friend photographed him last year and he was a walking skeleton...so sad. But mostly our memories of that hill are good ones.

But as we drove, I think the others had their doubts about this new direction. Up on the horizon, though...what was that shape I saw? I studied, quietly from the back seat, not saying anything until I knew for sure. Horse on the horizon!

She? He? I haven't a clue. It stood like a sentry overlooking the valleys on both sides. We climbed slowly over the knoll, and up ahead we spotted our friends Cortez, Noelle and Holly walking up from the shaded region below. Yet off to the left is where my attention was diverted. Horses I'd not met before, though at least one who's been spotted by a couple other photographers now and again. The elusive silver bay...

He is not one known to tolerate company. He has charged a photographer. He runs his herd off. And he is definitely not one to be spotted with the rest of our well known cast of characters. But on this day, he didn't charge, and while they didn't stick around long, it was long enough to get some lovely shots of him and his band.

Another sentry, posted at the opposite end. A black horse reminding me so much of Sox on my first visit...young, not quite enough seniority to join the band. He paced the ridge, looking down below, sensing and seeing danger approaching...

But the danger he saw was not us. It was Cortez, the lovable rascal who's always in scrapes and fights with every stallion he comes across. The elusive Silver Bay and the rest of his band moved silently out beyond the tall grasses and disappeared from sight. Cortez and his ladies, however, did not seem the least bit fazed by the goings on of the horses on the ridge. They simply marched on up the hill, pausing to look at us, then continuing on their journey.

I told you they paused to look! Holly stopped at stared at my father for the longest time before following her mother and stallion up the hill. It's so hard to believe that Holly is just 18 months old. Look how tall that girl is! I swear she's at least 15 hands already. And pregnant...she looks very pregnant.

Down below to our right we could see more horses, so we trekked the half mile or so across the desert and got some good shots of some dear friends, including a mare who's stolen my wild side heart...Delight! And look at that new baby of hers! Delight lost her foal last year. We don't know what happened to it, but after a couple of months, it disappeared. We sure hope that doesn't happen again. Delight is in Golden Boy's band still, and there are a few pinto babies...but Delight's by far is the cutest!

We walked back to the road (well...gravel excuse for one) and started back the way we came, very happy with finding such a nice couple of bands. That's when I spotted more ears. Majesty, One Eared Jack, and their band were quickly spotted, and we made one more stop to snap a few more photos. We'd seen these horses two days before, but one can never have too many wild horse close encounters, can one? Another vehicle had stopped to talk to us when we pulled over, saying that Cortez had been by and fought a bit with Jack. When I started looking at photos once we were home, I thought Jack's eye looked a bit odd. I blew it up to get a better look.

Well, this is definitely not right. There'd been no trouble with it two days ago, so this was likely from his close encounter with Cortez. The other stallions do not like Cortez, but Jack is the most willing to engage in battle with him, it appears. And this time he seems to have come up short. The injured eye is normally blue. Not sure when I'll be back down to see if that eye heals up or not. If it doesn't, he'll not only be one eared Jack, but One Eyed Jack, as well.

Poor Jack...