Here I am, almost to the day of Lakota’s death two years ago. Has it really been two years? It is hard to believe in some ways, but in others, it seems like it was much longer.
Since that day in July 2012 (LAKOTA) I have seen many births and deaths on the range. I have learned to take them all in stride. Not trying to let them all affect me, trying to be strong. But it seems that each year that passes, there is one little soul that has touch my heart. Last year it was little Nacer (NACER), this year it was a little soul that lived for just one short week. I feel fortunate that I was able to see him on almost each of those days.
I had a wonderful group of woman for my tour in mid July this year. It seems this year, I have had wonderful guests for each trip and miss them when we go our separate ways, bonded by the spirit of the Pryors.
It was our last afternoon and we were returning to the truck after an afternoon hike which we spent with several horses. My guest from Iceland told me she had spotted a horse, so I looked through the binoculars and discovered a beautiful foal with the two-year old filly Moenkopi. With the suggestion of my Iceland guest, we all decided his name should be Obsidian. (Obsidian)
Moenkopi and Obsidian, July 13th, 2014
This was to be Lakota’s first great-grand child. I knew the odds of a two-year old raising a foal was slim. But I have seen Maia (Galaxy band) doing an incredible job, and so I was hopeful. Moenkopi looked healthy and at a good weight, which gave me even more hope. Obsidian seemed liked a determined little guy, even though his size was small, there was a strong will that pushed him on, even in the minutes before he could no longer stand.
It seemed each day, I was blessed with the gift of seeing Capuccino and his band, and yesterday was no exception. I had spotted some horses towards Clouds island yesterday morning and my guests (from France) and I along with my good friend Lanie, decided to hike to see them. It was a beautiful cool morning and we were all anxious to see the horses in this different setting.
Cappuccino and his band were the first that we came to. This band does not always show itself. They prefer to be left alone or give themselves on their terms. I saw the “stink eye” look from Blanca, and knew that I had better move along, and so we did.
I only wish that all people who visited the range would treat the horses with respect, learn to read their body language, give them their space. But this post is not about that, so I will not tell you more about what I witnessed on this day, not now anyway, this is not the time.
We continued to climb up a small hill and perched ourselves well above the several bands that showed themselves that morning. Gringo, Duke, Galaxy, Blue Moon, Bolder, Cloud, Mescalero, Garcia, Doc and Garay. All relaxing, playing, sparring and sleeping in the warm morning sun.
Some time passed (I am not sure how much, it seems that time stands still when I am watching them). I looked over and saw Cappucinno and his band slowly making their way in front of us.
BlancaCappuccino
Moenkopi and her increasingly fragile colt Obsidian were the last to show themselves. I was concerned when I had seen Obsidian the day before. I had been gone from the mountain for one day and was suprised at how fragile he was looking. He looked weak, very thin, but still had that determination about him that gave me hope he would somehow beat the odds that were against him.
Obsidian and Moenkopi, July 21, 2014
Moenkopi loved this young colt. Her every movement showed me that, and little Obsidian felt the same about his young mother. I was touched to see them share many tender moments right in front of me yesterday morning.
Obsidian July 21, 2014
I felt very lucky to witness this and had no idea that I would see this little one take his last breath in just a few minutes. His determination was so obvious. Moenkopi had milk, we saw it drip as this tiny little soul tried with all his might to nurse. But he was never able to nurse for very long, he was too weak, for whatever reason.
Blanca joined these two during their last moments together. Somehow they seemed to know, but he still tried very hard to live.
Blanca, Obsidian and Moenkopi, July 22, 2014. Just minutes before he died.
And then, little Obsidian could no longer hold on. We watched his little body drop to the ground. At that moment, Moenkopi turned and touched her little son. And then she cried out. With that cry came a reaction from the other bands that none of us expected. All the horses turned and cried with her, with Doc’s band ( which included Moenkopi’s mother Galena) rushing towards them. Cappuccino placed his strong body between Obsidian and Doc. Letting him know he should not take another step.
As we watched this scene unfold before us, we still held out hope that little Obsidian would get up. But he did not and we could see he was no longer breathing. Sharing this moment, bonded us all together in a way that is hard to explain. We will all be life long friends, a gift in a tragic moment.
The bands slowly started to move on, and we did as well. We checked from a distance (through binoculars) on Moenkopi several times in the remainder of the day and into the evening. Moenkopi would not leave her colt, she stood there for hours and hours, until it was too dark for me to see if she was still there.
This morning, she was not standing over his little body. She and her band had moved on.
Life in the Pryors goes on, but it is not always easy. Rest in Peace little Obsidian, I know you have caught up to Lakota by now. He will help guide you. Perhaps you will come back again, given another chance, and turn out to be the strong stallion I know you can be.
Sandy
Logo designed by Amber Bushnell. Wild in the Pryors and this logo is copyrighted.
Pryor foal number 16 was born on July 15, 2014 to Lariat. The possible father is Garay. I saw Lariat with Garay and his band several times last summer.
Lariat is the 2011 daughter of Madonna and Duke. Garay is the 2006 son of Mariposa and Conquistador.
The foal was discovered by Micheal Francis and his photography group. The name they choose for him is Oklahoma.
Lariat, Oklahoma and Juniper, July 17, 2014
Logo designed by Amber Bushnell. Wild in the Pryors and this logo is copyrighted.
Pryor Foal number 15 was born yesterday to the mare Moenkopi and the stallion Cappuccino.
Moenkopi is the 2012 daughter of Galena and Jackson. Cappuccino is the 2002 son of Rosarita and Starbuck.
I saw this band the afternoon of July 12th. Moenkopi looked to be bagging up at that time. I just had a feeling it may be that night. As luck would have it, we discovered them late in the afternoon of July 13, 2014. Blanca was busy keeping everyone away from Moenkopi, including Cappuccino.
We were able to locate this band again this morning in a remote area of the mountain, away from all the other bands. It was then that we were able to confirm that Moenkopi’s foal is a colt. Both look to be doing well and Cappuccino was allowed back into the band.
Following in the tradition of the meaning of Moenkopi and Galena, which are rocks and/or minerals. My group and I decided we would name the foal Obsidian. Which is a black volcanic rock. Even though he is not black, it seemed fitting, as this rock is found on the Pryor Mountains. Obsidian is also called an Iceland Agate, making this even more fitting, as one of my guests came all the way from Iceland to see the Pryor Horses.
Sandy
Moenkopi, Obsidian and Blanca, July 13, 2014.
Logo designed by Amber Bushnell. Wild in the Pryors and this logo is copyrighted.
Halcyon, her new filly and Blue Moon. July 2, 2014
Pryor Foal number 14, a filly, was born on July 1 to Blue Moon and Halcyon. Blue Moon is the 2001 son of Sitka and Shaman. Halcyon is the 2007 daughter of Blue Sioux and Coronado. Her name is Olivia, which is the Latin name for Olive, the symbol of peace. This name fits well with the family theme (Halcyon, Nirvana).
Halcyon and her new filly. July 2, 2014Blue Moons bandLogo designed by Amber Bushnell. Wild in the Pryors and this logo is copyrighted.
Foal number 12. Born to the band stallion Galaxy, the 2006 son of Lakota and Quelle Colour and Maia, the 2012 daughter of Hera and Prince. This little foal is a colt, named Oro. Discovered by TCF on June 21, 2014.
Galaxy with his first son.Maia and OroMaia and Oro
Foal number 13. Born to the band stallion Duke, the 1996 son of Flicka and Big Foot and Graciana, the 2006 daughter of Bacardi and Baja. Discovered on June 21 by TCF. A colt, he is not named yet.
Graciana’s colt.Graciana and her colt, June 22, 2014Graciana and colt.Logo designed by Amber Bushnell. Copyrighted.
Pryor Foal number 9. A colt born to Demure and most likely Doc. Discovered today by Ginger (TCF) reported on the PMWMC website. Thank you Livi for bringing this to my attention!
Thank you Jack Sterling for providing these photos of Demure and Omaha.
Demure and Omaha. Photo by Jack Sterling.
I can now take another horses off of the “possible missing” list which makes me really happy!
So thankful that Demure had a healthy foal. Last year her foal died a few weeks after it was born. I will post photos as soon as I can. The colt will be named Omaha. This foal was missing on May 25, 2014 (by TCF). I now have her listed as deceased.
Omaha. Photo by Jack Sterling.
Demure is the 2003 daughter of Broken Bow and Two Boots. Doc is the 2003 son of Winnemucca and Little Foot.
At the time of this discovery, Demure and her colt are with the young bachelor stallion Jupiter.
NOTE: UPDATE at 1:00 pm: (5-7-14) I am having some doubts that this is Fiasco. I think it MAY be Fresia and her foal. Scott the photographer does not have a photo with her looking at the camera so we can see her markings to confirm for sure. I will keep you posted. Consulting others so we can make a decision!
Please place your votes on who you think it is in the comment section! You can see photos of Fresia’s foal (and Fresia) by clicking on this link: FOAL
Either way, cute healthy foal! 🙂
UPDATE: May 15, 2014. The BLM or NPS have not located Custer and band since this possible sighting. But they have seen Fresia. So until I get a confirmation, I am changing this post and calling this foal Fresia’s. Sorry for the confusion. So this is foal number # 7 , again. I thought of just deleting this post, but there have been several interesting conversations in the comments, so I will just leave it up.
Sandy
Fresia and Foal, May 4, 2014Freisia’s foal
Thank you Scott!
Sandy
ps: Scott provided me with more photos of Hataalii and her foal. If you would like to see those, click on this link: Hataalii
I received a message from Nancy (PMWMC) today telling me about the third foal to be born in the Pryors this year.
This foal was a bit of surprise, as she was born to an older mare. But in my opinion there are not many Pryor mares as special as she. It is Sacajewa, one of the most important and oldest blood lines on the mountain and also the mother of my adopted filly, Valerosa, whom I adopted in 2009.
Sacajewa gives birth to some of the most stripped up horses in the Pryors (and I am honored to own one!) I am happy to see she has given us yet another beautiful foal. I am listing the father of this foal as unknown, since Sacajewa has switched stallions several times over the last several years.
Meet Oregon, a filly, discovered today by PMWMC board member Diane. Thank you Diane for sharing with us this special discovery and thank you Nancy for letting me know!
Oregon. Photo by Diane Granger.Sacajewa and her filly, Oregon. Photo by Diane Granger, 4-20-14
Sacajewa is the daughter of 1996 daughter of Calamity and Three Bars. Currently they are in Fiero’s band (also her son).