I just got home yesterday from a wonderful trip to the Pryors with my daughter Amber. I wanted to get a post out while I unpack and repack. I will be leaving on Thursday to go to the adoption.
We had beautiful weather and had the mountain completely to ourselves for about 24 hours. I love when it ends up being that way. We were able to watch the horses in their most natural state. Without all of the disruptions of other people. I think they know me, so after a few looks, I feel they go back to doing what they would have been doing if I was not there.
We arrived early on Thursday. I am concerned with how dry the range looked. The forage at the top of hill by Krueger Pond was eaten down very short. The dust was thick. There was still plenty of water in the Pond. Mystic Pond is completely dried up. The other small pond is just a large mud puddle, so Krueger is the main water source for them now.
It rained one night while we were there. Not enough to make mud puddles, but enough to knock the dust back. The range needs more.
As we drove into the Range from the Sage Creek side, we saw some horses. It was White Cloud and some of his band heading down to the water. I was eager to see if Damsel had her foal. Last year she foaled on September 14, so I thought it may be a bit early. She was still very pregnant. Hopefully this year she will have a healthy foal. Last year the foal was born blind and deformed and only survived a few days.
Damsel is the daughter of White Cloud. For whatever reason, she remains with him. His other daughter, Jasmine, has been trying to leave. She was with Jackson’s band (again) when I saw her later on our first day. Brumby actually seemed to be accepting her now. At least her ears were not pinned back! Then a day later Jasmine was back with White Cloud. I hope she can make a permanent break soon.
Mica was really getting big. After a few minutes with them, we left to go set up our camp. I knew I would see them again.
We continued down the road to our camp site. On the right I saw Coronado’s Band and Baja’s band. It was interesting this time to see so many of the bands close by each other, actually forming a big group of 2. They would graze together and follow each other to the water. It was all very peaceful.
I was happy to see Dove and her foal, a beautiful filly. She seemed healthy. We watched her nurse and then run around and play.
Baja and Washakie’s filly Meadowlark, was beautiful. We spent a while watching these two bands together before they moved on.
After setting up our camp, Amber and I decided to head back down to the pond and see who was there. On our way we saw Teton and his band.
We heard thundering hoofs and turned to see Galaxy and his band galloping down the hill. I am always in awe when I see this beautiful stallion. He seems to be such a good band stallion already. Well, he is Lakota’s son after all.
We watched them go into the woods. I knew they were heading for the pond.
When we got there we saw that Galaxy had beaten us there and was wet from the water. Coronado and Baja and their bands were there too.
Duke and his band were above us.
We stood on top of the hill above the pond, next to some trees. I like to watch from up here. I feel if I am down right next to the pond, I would interfere with the natural behavior of the horses. This is the only water source for these horses now. I like to be as unobtrusive as possible.
The next band to come was Bolders. Baja and Bolder had a little discussion, but otherwise it was pretty quiet for a few minutes. Amber and I were concerned with their interaction, only because little Meadowlark was so close by. It ended in just a few seconds though.
Bolder’s band did not stay long and started to head up the hill towards us.
We heard someone in the trees above the pond and saw 3 bachelors walk out. Irial, Goldrush’s son London, and Jupiter. Jupiter had a wound on his right hip.
We watched these boys walk down to the pond and splash and drink. For whatever reason Bacardi decided she was very interested in them. Maybe she saw the wound on Jupiter and wanted to get a closer look. Baja ended that rather quickly.
All of the bands cleared out and we went back to our camp.
Heading towards us was Horizon, Fiesta and Juniper. I call them the Odd Couple. They have been this way for several months now. For a few weeks, Joviana and her colt were with them.
Juniper is one of three buckskins on the mountain.
A little while later, Jackson and his band came by us. The 3 foals had really grown since I saw them last. Jasmine was with them tonight.
I have said before, that if I am patient enough, all the bands seem to find me and go right past my camp. It certainly seemed to be true this trip. Amber and I would see every band walk by us several times in the days that we were there.
Just before dark we saw Knight, Inali and Hernando. Darkness came faster than the last time I was here. It was very dark now at 8:30. Amber and I watched the sunset and the almost full moon rise. This full moon is called a Blue Moon because it is the second full month in the month. I feel lucky that I was able to spend both of them here on top of the Pryors.
I will make more posts about this trip once I get back from the adoption.
Sandy
Thanks for the update. Love the pic of the three musketeers (Moorcroft, Moenkopi and Maelstrom). Looks like you guys had a great time!
Thanks Lola!
I love your posts!! The foals have really grown and changed colors! The horses seem to be settled after the removals.
All the States are in the drought this year, I hope we get rain and snow this fall/winter and NO fires!
Good luck at the adoption!!! 😀
Thank you Clarissa! Yes, let’s hope the Pryors get some rain and more snow this year!
Heartwarming update Sandy! Lokota lives on in a fine Galaxy. The horses and foals look wonderful and healthy and now that the removals are over, the herds can relax and fatten some more before snow falls.
Thanks Diane!
I wish you the best at the adoption! Thank you for this post. It is so good to get such a comprehensive update!
Thank you Chris!
Beautiful pictures……Looking forward to seeing who you bring home from the adoption and prayers that they all go to good homes and forever homes
Thanks Jeannie!
I thought it looked like Bacardi in the headline picture, but until I read further wasn’t sure what she would be doing with the boys! Jupiter’s wound didn’t look so good, but it’s hard to tell from pictures. Did you think it looked bad? And on the note about Bacardi, she looks more round than the last time too but again it’s hard to be sure just going off pictures. Do you think she could be in foal or is she just fat. Haha Washaki looks like she could be hiding another foal in there! Dove’s little filly is beautiful and like a mini version of her Mom 🙂 I love when the stallions respect eachother enough to let their bands graze together. Did you get to see Dove’s filly and Meadowlark play at all while they were close? I also loved that picture of Bolder with his legs straight out while fighting. What a stallion he is! And loved the headshot too! He is just so gorgeous. I’m so happy Missoula is going to end up flaxen! He is going to be so flashy with the high stockings, blaze, and the flaxen mane and tail! Love the picture of Jasmine with the babies! Seems like Brumby has somewhat accepted her if she’s letting her so close to the babies. Hopefully without Brumby so willing to chase her off Jasmine won’t be so quick to “go home.” And I hope Dancer foals soon! It’s getting so late in the year, I’m hoping it’s before Sept. 14th. And all I want is a healthy baby for her! Good luck at the adoption! Please send some love Breeze’s way for me. Since I can’t take her I just want her to go to a good home!
P.S. Sorry I always have such long comments. You’re pictures are just so good I want to comment on every one of them!!
Thanks Sarah. I will make a short post on Saturday to let everyone know who I will be bringing home.
I don’t mind your long comments at all! It is good to hear your thoughts!
I thought Jupiters wound looked pretty bad, but hopefully it will heal. The cooler weather should help keep the flies away.
Maybe next spring for Barcardi, although she would fall in the PZP group now. But you never know.
Most of the horses looked really good. They all seem to be putting on more weight right now.
I will give Kierra some love for you and take note on who adopts her.
I’m glad they’re all looking good. And thank you so much! I want them all to find good homes, but she’s extra special to me. Wish I could be there with you. I’d love the chance to meet you in person too. Whoever you end up adopting will be very lucky! Fingers crossed that you end up with who you want!
Thanks so much for the beautiful photos of the horses. I really enjoy your posts, it’s almost like being there.
Thank you Karen!
Galaxy is just soooo awesome — glad he’s been able to keep his band together. Maia has changed so much, well all the foals have. It’s so amazing. I hope Jasmine stays with Jackson, too. At least the foals seem comfortable with her around. And I guess there won’t be a foal from Heritage this year. Your decision to keep some distance from the pond was a good one — your pictures are still great 🙂 — I’m sure not all the horses are comfortable with people around and if water is scarce, it would be a shame to keep them from coming there or cause them to feel stress while being there.
I hope the adoption goes well — looking forward to your first post after you bring your new “band member” home 🙂
I forgot to thank you… Thanks, Sandy! It also looks like Dove’s foal is starting to lighten up already towards her back end. Does she have a dorsal stripe? And since she probably has that cream gene, what are the possibilities for what she might look like later? I suppose this might be a question for Alex…
Thanks Joy. Alex thought that Dove’s foal may be a buckskin. Maybe he will say what he thinks now!
“Always trust your instincts” 🙂
As always Sandy…wonderfully beautiful photos. I wish I could have been there too..another time!
thanks so much for the updates on all of the new babies, and of the bands and how they are doing after the removals.
I keep praying for rain…if not then bring on the snow…lots of it.
I have been concerned about the range condition too. Lets hope the horses move down
to the other water sources and diferent areas of the range that may still have some good forage for them.
I just absolutely love Baja, and Jackson…also Galaxy is becoming quite the hunk!
Speaking of hunks, did you see Doc?
I am sure it will be on another post, and I will see you in just another day so we can catch up then!
thank you again Sandy for keeping us all informed on the horsees and the range up on top.
That Missoula is going to be a beauty…we need to keep our eye on him!!
someday, he will have his own harem!
See you soon!
Thanks Lori! Yes, I did see Doc! 🙂 Also, when I drove down Burnt Timber to go to Britton Springs on Saturday, I stopped by the bottom water guzzler on “Jim’s Farm”. Amber and I walked back to it and I was surprised to see that it was full of water! So it is just waiting there for them. The forage of course was dry, but there seemed to be more of it compared to parts of the upper mountain.
Thank you so much Sandy:) It’s always great to get new updates.. I keep falling more and more in love with these horses, each day discovering a new one that I can’t stop staring at:) Baja is indeed amazing, Galaxy so flashy and London is turning into a really beautiful horse as well.. It makes me so happy to see the other boys take care of him! I do really worry about Jupiters wound though.. I hope you will let us know if you hear anything more about it. He’s becoming more and more lovely every day:) Loving all the new foals as well, and can’t wait to see how they will all turn out. Fingers crossed for another buckskin and flaxen=)
Best of luck on the adoption, both for you and the center! Whoever you end up with, I know you all will be so happy. And to see Exhiliration back at the center was very cool! I didn’t know he was going back there:)
Thank you Anne!
Exhilaration is doing well at the Center. He is so beautiful, and all of the visitors love seeing him there. He will be kept seperate from the two horses that the “Center adopts” until we feel that they will all be ok and get along. I am guesing that it will take some time though.
I am happy to know that the water guzzler is full and that there is some forage for them down low as they will be heading down there soon. Possibly some of the other water guzzlers are full as well.This winter will be tough for the horses but they are survivors. Remember that they have been surviving for hundreds of years up in those mountains without too much interference from humans.
I beleive that Jupiter’s wound will heal, but I wonder how that happened. WE may never know.
Thank you Anne, and Sandy!