Amber and I just got back from spending 10 consecutive days in the Pryors. Two of those were in the Dryhead, the first and the last. I really enjoyed being able to watch the horses on such a regular basis. There were a few things that changed, but for the most part everything is the same.
Probably the biggest changes I saw were:
1. Corona and his band are up on top of the mountain (they are Dryhead Horses). Topper seems to be adjusting well with this band (she is Chino’s former mare). She absolutely adores Norte and the feeling seems to be mutual. I watched them play several times together.
I really loved getting to know this band better. I had only seen them a couple of times before (before the addition of Norte and Topper). They really took a piece of my heart this April when I discovered them while coming down Sykes Ridge, about a month after Norte was born. It was a special gift to see them on top of the mountain.
I am sure it was Topper who lead them up there. Taking them to better forage and a beautiful view.
After a few days, they were starting to work they way down further and were interacting with the other bands quite well. There were a few spars, but for the most part it was peaceful. Topper and her daughter Topper Too came within feet of each other, but never interacted. They did not even seem to care. I think they are both were they need to be. I am seeing a side to Topper that I never saw while she was with Chino and her daughter. Her personality is much more relaxed. Yes, she still occasionally gave me the famous “over the shoulder Topper look”, but not nearly as much.
2. Lariat left her family band and joined up with Garay, Quelle Colour and Kohl for one day. Duke made no attempt to stop her or confront Garay. I am sure she was in heat, and I saw Garay trying to breed her. Kohl seemed to enjoy having a “sister” to hang out with. The next day Lariat was back with her family band.
3. Another Dryhead horse Seattle was on top of the mountain. It was really great to see him. I saw him everyday, mostly off by himself. But one afternoon he was mixing it up with the boys for a while. I never noticed how much smaller he is until I saw him next to Hernando.
The foals are getting big and I was able to witness several times where they were playing with other foals from other bands. I never get tired of watching them.
The bachelor boys always bring a smile to my face. Another group I could watch all day.
The following photos are highlights of my 8 days on the mountain top. The last few days I switched from my bigger lens (100-400) to a smaller wider lens (70-200). My new favorite shots are more landscapes. It was fun to try and capture the way the land really looks. I hope you enjoy them. I plan on using that lens for most of my next trip!
A big thank you to my good friend Ross (and Marge) for helping me conquer Burnt Timber Road in my truck. Ross, I don’t think there will ever be a time that I drive that road and don’t hear your voice telling me what to do! HA! Thanks so much.
Burnt Timber Road is now my road of choice for getting to the mountain top.
Sandy
Moenkopi was in heat? Or was that someone else? I think Dove could be pregnant. I like the pacing pose Corona is in 🙂 Seattle does look pretty small next to Hernando! All the horses look good! See you Sunday 🙂
Yes, I believe Moenkopi was in heat. Blanca put a stop to it! 🙂 Yes, I think Dove is pregnant. Looking forward to showing you the mountain! 🙂
🙂 Can’t wait!!
I wonder why so many yearling fillies have been going into heat in the last few years……..
Maybe it is because more people have been witnessing it! 🙂
Good Mama Mariah watching out for her girl 🙂 It looks like Moenkopi wasn’t really interested either. Or at least it looked like that from the pictures.
Moenkopi was flirting with Cappuccino!
I am liking the looks of Hernando
You and me both. He has become one of my favorites!
Love all the pics! Thanks again for sharing.
Dove is definitely rounder since I was there, and it seems like her right hind leg joint looks a bit swollen. Love to see all the foal interaction. I think maybe it’s better to be there when most of them aren’t so new, altho it’s great to see them then, too. Shucks! It’s great to see them anytime. 🙂 Naara sure is a chunk! So cute.
I really like that one of Jackson, too—and all the others. There’s something great about each one.
🙂
Thanks Linda!
PS. I think you’re right about more people witnessing “things”, and maybe it also has something to do with the fact that the horses are in such good health, for the most part.
Gorgeous pictures as always!
Thank you!
Great post and absolutely amazing pictures Sandy!
Thank you Brianna!
I wanted to start off saying you took so many fantastic pictures from this trip and it is greatly appreciated that you share them all with us! I really enjoyed taking time to thoroughly go through and enjoy them all. Haha and of course we both know I’m going to feel the need to comment about everything and will end up writing you another novel 🙂 I really enjoy seeing the change in Topper, I bet it’s because of Norte. You can really tell from the pictures that she does love him. She’s very close to him in all of them. For some reason I hadn’t thought about Topper being the reason Corona’s band is now on top. I bet you’re right, she did lead them up. Hamlet has a such a big trot! And he does make Seattle look small. I LOVE love love all of the foal pictures. I love seeing them interacting with each other and how they’re all changing. It’s a treat to see them all playing together. You can really see how different they all are too. Naara is quite the stout and thick little girl, much like her Dad. And then you have Niyaha with mile long legs who is also petite and dainty. Noble, Encore, and Norte have also seem to have matured very quickly. Niobrara is roaning out now too and I can’t wait to see if her color ends up being closer to Maelstrom or Lady Jane (Kalahari). Another thing I noticed was all of the good big brothers escorting their new little sisters around. Moorcroft was watching over Nye and Niobrara, Miocene was watching Nirvana, and I’ve seen Mica follow Encore around in other pictures. I think it’s cute! All the bachelor boys are looking good. Hamlet has a such a big trot! And he does make Seattle look small. Haha and I love the picture of Jasper laying down in the water. Chino looks good too. It seems like Grijala is enjoying the single life again. I wonder if he is felt like a break from his band stallion role and that contributed to Garay ending up with his band. I wonder if Lariat will be back with Garay, or if Kohl will start giving Garay more trouble since she enjoyed having a “sister” for the day. You got some really great sparring photos this trip. Jackson vs Diamond, Baja vs Corona, Bolder and Echo. Maia looks so much older than a year! Pheonix looks fantastic as does Warbonnet. I think you may be right about her being pregnant, that’s not her normal shape and it reminds me of the way she looked before she had Kayenta. Missoula is turning out stunning as is Mica!! Both of them are gorgeous! I see Flint was NOT happy about Duke flirting with Sequoyah! And looking at the picture of Flint charging him, Duke’s intentions were clear judging by his, ahem, “relaxation.” All of the horses look to be in really great shape. I think Dove does look pregnant, and she also looks to be in better shape. I hope she continues to put on weight before she foals. I’m excited to see what this years foal will look like. I just love little M’lita too. McKeannie and Moenkopi seem to be so close. I wonder if years from now they’ll end up in a band together. Thanks for sharing!! I look forward to hearing about your next trip! Have fun!!!
Thanks Sarah! Love your novels! 🙂
🙂
Oh my gosh I forgot to talk baby bumps haha! How could I forget that!? I’m still keeping with my theory that Electra is pregnant. I really thought she was last year and lost the foal because she went from having a big belly to looking very much slimmer all of the sudden. I wonder if either Hailstorm or Felina or both of them will have foaled by the time you get back. I’ll have to start brainstorming name ideas to suggest in case you are the one who finds them, because you seem to be finding a lot of babies this year 🙂 I also wanted to ask if you thought that was a baby bump on Sequoyah or if she is just looking very good and healthy. I was trying to remember how she looked about that this time last year. Other than Washakie, Hailstorm, Felina, Dove, maybe War Bonnet, maybe Electra were there any other mares you think may foal this year?
I keep remember things I forgot to post! There was a picture of Galadriel that Shawn posted recently where she looked big. I wasn’t sure if it was just the picture or not because before seeing that picture I hadn’t thought she was looking pregnant.
I am not the best at baby bumps! HA! Hopefully I can fill you in soon. If they are pregnant, I would like to see them give birth soon. Dove won’t be until August though.
Linda just posted on facebook that while she was there she saw Chance almost breed Galadriel, so I’m thinking she must not be pregnant.
Oh .. i’m glad to see all the foals and many hoses who i don’t know yet.
They are all so nice and if i had money (but it isn’t realy) i would like one day come here in the mountain to let somme days with the horses ..
Thank you! Hopefully someday you can come here! 🙂
Sandy, as of last night, Nancy said they have definitely named Graciana’s foal Naolin. It means Aztec God of the Sun. I hope he turns out to be a glorious golden dun whose coat shines like liquid gold in the morning and evening light, like so many of his relatives’ does. 🙂 She’ll probably let you know soon.
Hi Linda! HA! She let me know last night too! I really like it (I changed it under his photos!!) 🙂
Thanks for the great pictures. I really like the ones that show the landscape and , of course the horses. I wonder if you could list who the parents of the foals are. I’m try to keep track of them. I have Nye, Noble, Nodin,Norte, Nimbus. I would love to get the others.
Thanks so much.
Thanks Karen. Here you go:
Noble: Duke and Helenium (colt)
Norte: Corona and Waif (colt)
Nodin: Custer and Fiasco (colt)
Nimbus: Cloud and Feldspar (filly)
Naolin: Duke and Graciana (colt)
Nirvana: Blue Moon and Halcyon (filly)
Ninotchka: Garcia and Greta (filly)
Nye: Jackson and Galena (filly)
Niobrara: Jackson and Firestorm (filly)
Niyaha: Morning Star and Audobon (filly)
Naive: Doc and Demure…deceased (filly)
Nacer: LaBrava and unknown…deceased (filly)
Nickel: Coronado and Fools Gold (colt)
Naara: Cappuccino and Gabrielle (filly)
Thanks so much Sandy. Now I know whose is whose ,
You are welcome Karen!
AWESOME Photos Sandy! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks Lori!
If you look closely at the places where Nodin is shedding out his baby coat, it looks like he is going to be grullo.
I am hoping he will be!!
You’re not going to regret making the switch to Burnt Timber, too much. I have always loved it because it means you can see any horses that might be down for some reason, and it is quicker. I will warn you that it really wears down tires. I just had to replace my front 2 and even my 1 year old tire is looking pretty chipped. I am switching to a 10-ply for my next set, just for that road.
As always, thanks for the report.
I am betting you go much faster than I do Shawn! 🙂 I do have 10 ply tires on already! 🙂 I will keep a watch though. Yes, that is one of my favorite parts about that road, being on the range. I am still holding out hope that maybe Starman, Two Boots and Prince (but he is less likely) might still be down lower since the guzzlers still have plenty of water in them.
I’m still hoping someone will see them too. I know Prince hasn’t been seen in quite some time and I’m not sure about whether anyone saw Starman, but I know Two Boots was seen a few times over winter. So I really hope he shows up.
Would be nice if Damsel would be with one of those guys, if you should see them…
Hi Linda,
I am sorry to say that I heard a pretty solid report that Damsel’s body was discovered by the Cloud Foundation. She was in a draw near the Crossroads. It’s sad, but I always appreciate knowing for sure.
Nancy
I was about to agree Linda. Thank you for sharing that Nancy. Dancer was a very beautiful mare, definitely a favorite of mine. Reminded me a lot of her mother Sitka. The only Cloud x Sitka offspring left too. It’s too bad neither Arrow or Image are still on the range to pass on her bloodline. But I’m happy knowing she lived free her whole life. I’ll definitely treasure the many beautiful photos people have taken of her. I know the last time she was seen she was very very pregnant. I think she may have had complications foaling. I know many of us had hoped she got picked up by a bachelor when she went off to foal.
Sandy,
Wow! What an amazing job you are doing with these horses. You just capture the pictures and the stories to keep all of us so well informed. Thank you so much for your “eyes on the mountain.” I really like your pictures with the new lens. They present another view of the Pryor world!
Nancy
Thank you Nancy!
Really, really enjoying the posts, pictures, and comments! Photography is unbelievable!!!! Thanks, Sandy, for the “foal list” – I had missed a few!
Thank you so much Ruby!