Probably one of the most important things that I noticed on this September trip was seeing 4 bachelor stallions in the upper Skyline Meadow. I wrote a post about this meadow in February 2012. You can click MEADOW, to go there and learn more about this meadow.
On my August trip, I hike up there and did not see any recent signs of horses. The BLM installed a water guzzler up here in 2010 to try to encourage the horses to use this area. This is where BigFoot lived and died and it seemed no other horses wanted to use this area. This is very exciting to see horses up there again. Especially seeing these young bachelors, who will soon have bands of their own and hopefully take them up to this area.
I was more than a mile away when I took these photos. I believe it is Knight, London, Inali and either Hamlet, Grijala or Jasper. I just can not make out the fourth horse very well in any of the photos. I kept an eye on them from below. They stayed there from morning until early afternoon.
As I watched these boys in the upper meadow, I was also watching 59 other horses near me. It was a beautiful day. I had not seen the horses come out and use this mountain top area since my July trip. All of my August days (I spent 7 days on top) the horses were hiding in the trees and would only come out to drink morning and night (for the most part).
Now with the weather cooler, (the nights were in the lower 40’s, the days were in the low 60’s) the horses were not on a regular drinking schedule. There had been a big rain the night before I came up and every morning there was a very thick dew on the grass. It seemed it was eliminating the need for a morning drink. I almost felt they were only drinking once a day now, and at different times.
The bachelor encounters with the other bands are getting increasingly violent. Tecumseh is still following Gringo, but Gringo is not as tolerant as he was a month ago. One evening I saw Gringo take Tecumseh to the ground, something I rarely see with any of the stallions fights.
I did not see Bajas or Cappuccinos. I did see every other band and every other bachelor. Of course I was hoping to see Washakie (Baja’s mare) with a new foal, and check on how McKeahnie’s (Cappuccinos son) wound was doing, but it would not happen this trip.
Below are some of photos that I took from my days on the mountain. If you have an questions, please ask! I fell in love with a certain young filly this trip. She just would not leave me a lone. That started in August. She is now bringing her little brother to see me too. Can you guess who it is?
Sandy
I’m going to guess it’s Manuelita 🙂 I like her little spunky self, too 🙂 What was Moorcroft trying to do with her? lol. Killian is stunning! Love the pic of Gringo and Galaxy <3 Doc and Galaxy are awesome! Madonna is still as beautiful as ever but showing her age. Audubon does not look good. 🙁 I wonder what's happened to her? I hope she makes it through the winter.
Moorcroft was flirting with her and she wanted nothing to do with it! 🙂 Nursing Niyaha seems to really be taking a lot out of Audobon. I am a bit worried for her too. She should have more weight on by now. Winter is coming fast.
Hopefully she will put on at least a little more before winter really settles in. Halcyon is another that seems to be in the same situation.
Wonderful pictures of the horses!
Thank you!
My guess is Manuelita and Nickle. And they are so sweet. 🙂 Boy, Moorcroft really gets around, doesn’t he? He seemed very outgoing for the short time that I observed him in June, and there have been many posts to illustrate that since. He’ll probably end up getting his butt kicked for his social adventures sometimes. 🙂 Especially when it comes to visiting the fillies in other bands. I think he’s going to be a very beautiful stallion as he matures. He reminds me some of Lakota. Some of the horses look as tho they’re getting a little fuzzy for winter. That’s a GOOD thing, but it’s so hard to believe we’re heading into that time again, already. All great pics, as usual. Love the one of muddy Galaxy scratching his knee, and the front view of Felina grazing, and Nickle’s little white sock—and all the rest. 🙂 I get the feeling that Tecumseh has decided he’ll fight to the death, if necessary, rather than adapt to a different life. Sad, but it IS his choice. Time will tell. I like the thought of those bachelor guys growing and biding their time up there on Skyline Meadow. Perhaps the spirit of Big Foot is keeping them company; and it is so good that the grazing is spreading out. Thank you so much for sharing the pics and observations. You have so many great memories to enjoy between visits. 🙂
You are welcome Linda!
Hi Sandy,
I read your blogs faithfully, although I don’t always post a comment. I agree with others who have admired your photographs. Your updates on the individual bands and horses are very much appreciated by those of us who can only make the trip once a summer or so. I am just amazed at your fortitude in making so many trips and camping for days on the mountain! You are always so happy to be there and wishing you could stay longer. I have to admit I lack that kind of endurance.You probably don’t have any idea how special you are!
Thank you for your kind words Chris! I don’t feel special, just lucky. Camping in the wilderness is not for everyone, but being there 24 hours a day to observe the horses, is something that words alone can not describe!
Oh, and when I first glanced at that first picture of Killian walking, I thought it was Cloud! He is really maturing. Is he still nursing? Here’s hoping Niyaha will start getting more of her nourishment from grazing as she grows, so Audubon will be able to eat more for herself. I hope her family goes to one of the better wintering places. Those mares are tough, tho, and some have been really thin and still made it.
Yes, Killian is still nursing. He may be beautiful in looks, but he has a rather strange personality. Not sure what is going on there. It will be interesting to see what kind of a stallion he ends up being.
Hi
As always loving your blog and pictures.
What do you mean about Killian?
It must be really hard to watch Techumseh try again and again to get his mares back. I really admire his spirit and I really wish he would get at least one mare…same for Santa Fe.
I am wondering about Hailstorm & Jasmine…when will it be their turn to have foals?
Hi Thora!
Thank you!
The current PZP program does not vacinate mares ages 5-10. So those are the ones that are supposed to foal. Technically Hailstorm should have foaled this year. She is 6 this year. Jasmine is 4 this year, so she is not in that window yet.
Killian’s personality is hard to describe with words. Almost something that someone needs to see in person. But I will try:
1. He still nurses at age 3. That is not unheard of, but I am not sure how many Stallions still nurse at that age. I have only seen filly’s nursing at that age.
2. Most stallions have kicked their sons out by age 3. It seems to happen mostly when they are age 2.
3. Killians mother Celt, seems to rule Killians life, almost to the unhealthy side. I have seen Killian try and go off with some bachelors, only to have mama come chase him back to the band… It seems he is not allowed to think on his own, or given much of a chance to, or maybe he does not want to..I am not sure which. Then oddly enough, as soon as she does this he nurses..
I had actually been about to ask the same question! 🙂 I wonder if Bolder will decide next spring/summer at the age of 4 it’s time for Echo to be a bachelor. It will be interesting to see what Celt does when that time comes. I anticipate her pitching a fit, then possibly leaving with him. Although if she leaves with him I don’t anticipate that lasting long. Quelle Color did that when Lakota first kicked out Galaxy. Cloud actually picked her up for a couple days after running off Galaxy, but then she went back to Lakota. I had originally thought Echo and Absaroka (Klamath) would end up leaving together as bachelors. I wonder now if Echo and Lobo will leave together. I feel like Bolder wouldn’t decide it was time for Lobo to leave, but not also Echo. I think if Lobo himself decides he wants to go that Echo would want to go join in the rowdy bachelor games as well. I feel like it will definitely be interesting to see how this plays out!
I have fallen in love with pretty little M’lita too through pictures! I bet she is even more lovable in person. Her and Nickel seem to go everywhere together. Dove is still a bit thin on her topline, but so much better than the beginning of the year! And she’s got a belly too. I think it was best for her to not have a foal this year. While it would be great to see her foal next year who knows. She’s had fertility issues through the years. I am happy to have the gift she gave us of pretty M’lita. Love the picture of Bolder’s band. The whole background in it is great. All of the sunset pictures are great. Love the ones of Gringo and Galaxy sparring too! Cloud looks great and so does Mica! Nodin is such a cute little guy too! I’m also happy to see so many of the stallions looking fat and not just their mares. Cloud, Galaxy, Jackson, Custer, Morning Star, Chino, Flint (he’s not in these pictures, but I noticed him last trip.) Moorcroft really makes me think of Lakota in these pictures. Felina doesn’t look as big to me now as she did earlier in the summer.
It looks like Chance is missing most of his tail. I wonder if Gringo ripped that off in one of their fights. I really hope that it doesn’t have to be the end of Chance’s life. That would be so heartbreaking. He’s only 15 this year too, right? When you said Gringo took him to the ground, did he keep him down or once Chance went down did Gringo let him go.
I think these photo’s are some of your best Sandy! Thank you for sharing and for spending the time that you do with these horses! I could not agree more with Chris and what she wrote above! She said it so perfectly! Some people have the gift to put their thoughts into descriptive words so perfectly.
Anyway….I am worried for Madonna. She looks very thin and for sure is showing her age. Winter is coming soon and they need all of the nourishment they can get. What will be will be though!
Interesting things going on with the bachelor’s and other stallions. I love your photos of Doc, he is still the “Hunk” on the mountain!! 🙂 Beautiful ones of Jackson……wow…I could go on and on about each one but don’t want to write a novel right now!!
Thanks again Sandy and keep on sharing your photo’s and adventures!!
Thank you Lori!
Oh….yes….Manuelita for sure!:) I can see why…a special bond going on there.
I can’t begin to express how excited I was to see so many pictures of Manuelita! I knew last year when I saw Dove for the first time I’d found my horse. Like Lakota was for you and Cloud for Ginger. Dove and Fiero, my two special ponies <3
Anyway, from the first pictures of Manuelita last August I knew she was bound to be a very special little gal. I have been really hoping for some more pics of her lately and just seeing her grow has been amazing! I'm also happy to see Dove looking a bit healthier, she was so thin for a while.
Thank you for the update as always!
You are welcome Maleah! Manuelita had a way of finding my camera a lot this time! 🙂