Remember Kelly? She is the Pryor horse that was removed last July during the bait trapping. Shortly after she was adopted (by Lisa Friday) and moved to her home at Legacy Mustang Preservation, it was discovered that she was pregnant.
Kelly, June, 2012
After Kelly’s pregnancy discovery, may of us became glued to our computers. You can read more about Kelly and this on going addiction by clicking : KELLY.
I, like probably many others stopped watching quite so faithfully as the days turned into months. I silently wondered if she really was pregnant. But as her tummy begin to get bigger and bigger, it was very apparent that she was. Then I wondered if perhaps she was caring twins. I hoped not, as the outcome for twins born to a horse is not often good. I just hoped everything was okay. I checked in on her once or twice a day.
This morning, the waiting ended, as Kelly gave birth to a beautiful black colt with a stunning white star on his forehead and a right hind sock. He is beautiful. I know all baby foals are beautiful, but for some reason this little guy just has more beauty. Perhaps it is where he was conceived. Wild and free in the Pryor Mountains. Whatever the reason for my new love, I do know I will be following his growth.
Thank you Lisa Friday and Legacy Mustang Preservation for giving him a home. I know he is in the best of hands.
You can see this little guy on camera with his gorgeous mom Kelly, by clicking on LEGACY.
Kelly’s Colt, born today, March 26, 2013Kelly and her colt, March 26, 2013Kelly and her colt.Kelly and her colt, March 26, 2013
If you missed the birth and would like to watch, here it is:
If you can, please support this wonderful group, either by sharing this post or contacting them direct to see what you can do to help. You can click on LEGACY MUSTANG, to find out all of their contact information.
His name is: ‘Cloud’s National Legacy’ or ‘Nate” for short.
Thank you Christina Flint for sending me the photos.
On May 20, when we reached the top of the mountain, it was warm and sunny. Windy, but not bad. Since then the weather has changed up there. I heard that they now have well over a foot of snow on top. The storm came in on Thursday and continued Friday. It will be good for the mountain to have more moisture. Hopefully it will fill the water guzzlers too. I am a bit worried about the really young foals. But in just a few days the temperatures will be back up and the snow will probably melt quickly.
When we got to the top, just below Penns cabin and in the trees I saw Demure, Broken Bow and Demure’s new colt, Mandan.
Mandan, Demure and Broken Bow, May 20, 2012
They are part of Doc’s band now. Jenny is the 5th member of that band. She was napping in the sun close by.
Jenny, May 20, 2012
I could see Madonna through the trees just beyond Demure and Broken Bow. I had learned from Shawn that Madonna was looking close to foaling. I wondered if I would see a new foal with her.
I am waiting for official confirmation, but I learned yesterday that Madonna had her foal a couple days ago. I am worried about her. She will be 23 this year. I hope she will be okay and able to survive the birth of another foal.
Madonna, May 20, 2012
Below are some photos I took of Doc’s and Dukes’s bands. Duke’s band was pretty leery of us being there and quickly moved on. Doc’s band stayed. You can see more photos of these foals by reading my post about the last 4 foals born. Click FOALS to read that post.
Mandan and DemureDocBroken Bow with Custer in the background, May 20, 2012Demure and MandanDoc’s band, May 20, 2012Lancaster, May 20, 2012Helenium, May 20, 2012July and her colt, May 20, 2012July and her foal, May 20, 2012Part of Duke’s bandMore of Duke’s band
The other band that we saw in this area was Custer. I had seen Custer’s band from a distance when I was here in April. It was good to see them up close. Everyone looked good. Kaibab still looked small. Leo had really changed since I saw him close up in October, 2011.
Leo, October 2011Leo, May 20, 2012
When I first saw them Winnemucca (who will be 25 this year!) and Leo were grooming each other.
Winnemucca and Leo
The band did not want to raise their heads up from grazing. It was pretty hard to get a good photo of them.
Custer’s band, busy eating!CusterLeo and WinnemuccaKaibab, Leo and Winnemucca, May 20, 2012
We decided to continue on. We stopped at Penn’s Cabin to eat lunch. While we were eating, I saw a lone horse moving down towards Mystic Pond. I knew as soon as I saw the white blazed face who it was. It was Starman! I also saw two other horses on the other side of the pond. It was Judith and Santa Fe.
StarmanJudith, May 20, 2012Santa Fe, May 20. 2012Judith and Santa Fe
Santa Fe’s former band, including his new son Mandan, (Demure, Broken Bow and Jenny) were just down over the next hill. I wondered if Santa Fe knew they were there. I was pretty sure he did. How could he not? Santa Fe will be 17 this year.
Mystic Pond looked cold and chilly that day. The snow was deep on the side of the hill above it.
Mystic Pond, May 20, 2012The hill above Mystic Pond. Santa Fe way up the hill.
Starman made his way down towards the pond. I was not sure if he knew that Santa Fe and Judith were close by. He seemed to be just walking by, heading down past the pond and towards Penn’s. He was just minding his own business and enjoying the day. Starman is going to be 23 this year. He is another one of my favorite horses. I was so happy to see him. I had not seen him since last July. He looked like he was putting on a little more weight since the last photo I saw of him. He had a cut above his nose, but other wise looked good.
StarmanStarman, May 20, 2012
Starman turned and looked up the hill towards Judith and Santa Fe. That was all Santa Fe needed. He charged down the hill and headed towards Starman. I was worried about Starman. But, he held his own.
Santa Fe heads down the hill towards Starman.Santa Fe, May 20, 2012Santa FeSanta Fe and StarmanSanta Fe and StarmanStarman and Santa Fe, May 20, 2012
After a few minutes of sparing, Santa Fe headed back to Judith almost as fast has he headed towards Starman.
Santa Fe
That wasn’t so bad, I thought. Starman seemed fine. Just move on Starman..But Starman just stood and stared back at Judith and Santa Fe.
Starman
Then, Judith started running towards Starman, but veered off towards the pond. Santa Fe ran for Starman, again. This time he seemed more angry.
Judith runs towards StarmanSanta FeSanta Fe
Starman decided he had enough and started running away. Santa Fe chased him out of sight, beyond Penn’s and then came charging back to find Judith.
Santa Fe chases Starman.Santa FeSanta FeSanta Fe running down towards the pond to get Judith.
Santa Fe ran towards the pond and a second later, Judith popped up running full speed.
Judith, May 20, 2012JudithJudith
It seems like every time I hear about Judith and Santa Fe, it involves Judith running. I think Santa Fe has his work cut out for him. I also think that we will soon see him with some more mares. I don’t think he ready to retire. I think maybe Starman was rethinking his retirement that day as well.
Judith disappeared over a hill with Santa Fe close behind. It was the last we would see of them that day.
Judith
We started to head down Burnt Timber. I will share what I saw there in my next post.
We arrived in Lovell early in the afternoon. It was pouring rain and windy. So we decided to head up the paved road of the Dryhead.
The first horses that we saw were the “Greeters”, Hickok, Jesse James, Seneca and Hightail.
Despite the rain I got out. Covered my camera with my raincoat and took what photos I could. They were very active. More active than what I had seen them ever be. I wonder how much longer Hickok is going to allow Jesse James to remain with this band.
Hickok and Jesse James, May 18, 2012Hickok and Jesse JamesHickok and Jesses JamesJesse James and Hickok, May 18, 2012HightailSenecaJesse James and SenecaJesse James
Hickok
Hickok Band, May 18, 2012Hickok Band
We kept driving. At Mustang Flats we saw Hawk and Issaquah far in the distance. With the rain we decided not to hike to them. I was glad we decided to keep moving because the next horse I saw was Merlin! I had not seen Merlin for a long time. The fall of 2010, was the last time. Merlin is my filly Valerosa’s father. I knew that his mare Fresia had her colt, and I was happy to see them!
Merlin, May 18, 2012Fresia and Montana, May 18, 2012Kaelia, May 18, 2012Fresia and MontanaHalo and MontanaFresia, May 18, 2012MontanaMerlin Band, May 18, 2012Montana and HaloMontanaMontana
Merlin decides to make his mare move.
Merlin
We spent a long time with this band. Montana was really fun to watch. It started to rain harder, so we headed down the road to see who else we could see.
On our way out we saw Medicine Bow and Joseph. It was raining pretty hard, but I snapped a couple photos.
Medicine Bow, May 18, 2012Joseph, May 18, 2012Medicine Bow
We were heading up Burnt Timber Road by 7:00 am. It was a chilly but sunny morning. We had just started to go up the road when to the left I spotted Two Boots. I saw him in this same place when I was here in March. He had a sore on his nose, but otherwise looked good. Two Boots will be 24 this year.
Two Boots, May 19, 2012Two Boots, May 19, 2012
I heard a sound to my right and looked down. There was Gringo. He looked a little thin, but it seemed that every bachelor stallion I saw this trip looked about the same as he did. They move around so much and goof off, that I think it is pretty typical for them to look like this. Especially in the spring. I want to remind you that we are at the very bottom of Burnt Timber. We would see Gringo again, several hours later, but then he would be several miles up the mountain.
Gringo, May 19, 2012 7:00 am
We continued up the mountain. It had rained the day before. The smell of sage was strong in the air. We were the only ones on the road.
When we got to the first water guzzler that you can see from the road, we saw Cappuccino and his band. This is where I had last seen them a month ago. But this time I knew that Gabrielle had her foal. I was really excited to see him. Because of the new foal, they seemed to be on high alert. We walked slowly and stayed far back from them.
Gabrielle and her new colt, May 19, 2012Cappuccino, May 19, 2012Kootenai and Kodiak, May 19, 2012Lilly, May 19, 2012
After a little while Gabrielle decided it was time to move on.
Gabrielle and colt, May 19, 2012Gabrielle and colt, May 19, 2012Blanca (Mariah), May 19, 2012Kootenai and Kodiak, May 19, 2012Cappuccino band, May 19, 2012Cappuccino band, May 19, 2012
As we walked back to the road, I noticed a few wildflowers and decided to take some photos of them.
Continuing up the road a ways we saw Tecumseh (Chance) and his band from a distance. We decided to hike over to where they were. I had not seen this band since last July and I wanted to see how they were. Even in July I had only seen them as they walked by my campsite in the early morning, at the top of the mountain. I wanted to spend some time with them.
Tecumseh, May 19, 2012
Tecumseh kept his head down the whole time we were there and seemed unconcerned about us.
Beullah (Bella), May 19, 2012Jacinta and Beullah, May 19, 2012Ketchikan, May 19, 2012
Galadrial and LaSalle were over a ridge along a steep canyon and did not want to come up when they saw us.
Galadrial, May 19, 2012LaSalle, May 19, 2012
After spending a short time with them, we decided to go and leave them to their grazing.
Down the road is where I would see Lakota. If you missed that post on Lakota you can click HERE to read it.
Lakota, May 19, 2012
After hiking down to the almost-dried-up guzzler we continued up the mountain. Just as we were heading up the road we encountered the 4 bachelors. Hernando, Hamlet, Inali and Knight. We would see them again later in the afternoon.
Hernando and Knight. May 19, 2012
There were beginning to be little patches of snow here and there in the trees. We did not see much sign of horses, but decided to continue up to the top. The road got really muddy and there was still snow on it. I took a few photos and we headed back down. There was a big snow drift, about 4 feet high where my summer campsite was.
My summer campsite, May 19, 2012The top of the mountain, May 19, 2012
We started to head back down. A couple of miles down the road we saw Jackson and his band to the left. They were a mile or so away. Down a steep hill and up another steep hill, both with thick trees. We thought about hiking over. I wanted to see the 3 new foals. As we were deciding we heard a dirt bike approach from down the road. As soon as Brumby heard the dirt bike, she took her foal and headed over the next hill, with the rest of the band following. We decided that it would not be worth hiking that steep mile (that would have taken us an hour or more). By the time we would get to them, they would probably be long gone.
Jackson Band, May 19, 2012Jackson band, May 19, 2012Brumby heading over the hill with her foal, May 19, 2012
We saw Lakota again on our way down.
Lakota, May 19, 2012
As I looked down the road, I saw 3 black horses in the middle of the road. It must be the bachelor stallions up to something, so we headed down to them.
As we got closer I could see what they were doing. The 3 boys, Hernando, Hamlet and Inali were licking the minerals in the road. They were also pawing at it and making some pretty big holes.
They looked pretty silly with the red mud all over their lips. It was fun to watch them. Knight was the newest member of this gang. He was off a little way watching them. I figured he had not errand his way into the group close enough for them to allow him to join them in this ritual.
Knight, May 19, 2012
Knight will be 2 years old this year. He has had a pretty hard life in those two years. His mother, Guinevere died before he was 1. Last summer when I saw him he was with Lakota’s band, which then became Grijala’s band. I saw Knight still in that band in March. But apparently Grijala decided he no longer wanted him with them. I hoped that Knight had finally found a band that he could be with for a while. He really looked good and was growing into a handsome young stallion.
Knight, May 19, 2012Knight, May 19, 2012
We stayed and watched these stallions for a while. It was pretty amusing.
The boys, Hamlet, Hernando and Inali, May 19, 2012
Digging a hole in the road. May 19, 2012Hernando digging deeper.
May 19, 2012Hernando, May 19, 2012
I noticed some horses back up the road and we decided to leave these boys and head up there to see who it might be. It was Baja and his band. We headed up the road towards them. I had only briefly seen Baja and his band last July. They were missing one member, Juneau.
Baja band, May 19, 2012Jicarilla and a pregnant looking Washakie, May 19, 2012Bacardi and Lukachukai, May 19, 2012Jicarilla and WashakieBaja, May 19, 2012Washakie, May 19, 2012
Lukachukai, May 19, 2012
Looking back up the road again, I noticed a horse in the distance. I always snap a photo when I see a horse, even if is far away. That way I have record of it, in case they are gone when I get there. At first when I saw the color, I thought it might be Starman. I really wanted to see him. But when I saw his face I knew it could not be him. Was it Gringo? We had seen him early that morning about 8 miles from here.
Gringo, May 19, 2012 PMGringo
Gringo, May 19, 2012. PM
We were making our way slowly down the mountain when I saw 3 more horses. It was Chino, Topper and Topper Too. I really like Chino. He will be 21 this year. I don’t see him very often. I first saw him in 2010. He was alone then. Having lost both his mares, Topper and Topper Too. I remember reading a post that Matt wrote telling about Chino getting his mares back in the winter of 2011. You can read that post by clicking CHINO. So I was happy to see him and his mares. The mares did not really like us being there (even though we were pretty far away). They still watched us and tried to get Chino to move on. He chose to come a little closer and look at us for a while. The girls hung back and watched.
Chino and Topper, May 19, 2012Chino and Topper and Topper Too.Chino, May 19, 2012
We kept heading down and were almost at the first water guzzler when we saw Cappuccino’s band again. They were closer this time and seemed more relaxed with us there. I took the opportunity to snap a few more photos.
Cappuccino, May 19, 2012 PMLilly and Gabrielle colt.Gabrielle colt, May 19, 2012
Blanca (Mariah), May 19, 2012
By the time we got down to the bottom of Burnt Timber Road, it was almost 8:00 pm. It had been a long day, but a great day. The next day we planned to start at the bottom of Sykes Ridge Road and make a complete circle, ending at the bottom of Burnt Timber again.
My new friend and wonderful photographer Shawn Ivie was up on the mountain this past weekend and discovered three new foals! I thought I would share some of his photos. But first I wanted to share one of his images of the foal that I discovered last month (click HERE to view that post). It is a photo of the colt Missoula. Missoula is the son of Half Moon and Teton.
Missoula, May 12, 2012. Photo by Shawn Ivie.
Now on to all of the new foals.
The first one is Firestorm and Jackson’s foal. Firestorm is the 2005 daughter of Cloud and Scarlett (Velvet). Jackson is the 1998 son of Broken Bow and Two Boots. This is the second foal born to Jackson’s band the first was Galena’s. You can read about that foal by clicking HERE.
Firestorm and Jackson’s foal, May 12, 2012.Firestorm’s foal, May 2012. Photo by Shawn Ivie.
The next foal is Blue Moon and Halcyon’s foal. Blue Moon is the 2001 son of Sitka and Shaman. Halcyon is the 2007 daughter of Blue Sioux and Coronado.
Halcyon foal, May 13, 2012. Photo by Shawn Ivie.Halcyon’s foal, May 2012. Photo by Shawn Ivie.
The third foal that Shawn discovered is Greta’s. She has been with the stallion Garcia since last spring, so the foal is most likely his. Greta is the 2006 daughter of Belle Star and Chino. Garcia is the 2006 son of Topper and Tony.
Greta and foal, May 13, 2012. Photo by Shawn Ivie.Greta’s foal, May 2012. Photo by Shawn Ivie.
Thank you Shawn for sharing your photos! You can see more of Shawn’s photos on his Facebook page. Click HERE .
I leave for the Pryors again in just a few days! I can’t wait!
Montana and his mom Fresia. Photo taken by PMWMC board member Diane Granger.
Foal number six was discovered just a couple days ago. Born to the mare Fresia, 2005 (Buffalo Girl and Durango) and the stallion Merlin, 1997 (Wounded Knee and Lancelot). This is the second foal in Merlin’s band, but his third foal born this year. Click on Jewel to see that foal.
You can read about this beautiful grullo colt, named Montana, by clicking here. Thank you Lori Graham ( PMWMC ) for giving us this news!
Thank you Diane Granger for the use of you photos!
Montana. Photo taken by PMWMC board member: Diane Granger
Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area has another post about another foal! Here is what they said on their Facebook page:
Yet another fabulous foal! Park biologist Bill Pickett captured this fantastic scene near the Burnt Timber Road. The Blue Roan is
named Hera and is part of Prince’s harem… — at Wyoming. Photo by Bill Pickett.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area had this posted on their Facebook page last night:
Another beautiful Mustang foal! Park staff came across this new foal yesterday on Sykes Ridge. The mother’s name is Jewel, who spent the majority of last summer in the park with a stallion named Merlin. This year she has been with the stallion called Hidalgo, who also spent last summer in the park around mustang flats… — at Wyoming. Photo by Bill Pickett.
The mother of the foal is Jewel (Waif and Corona) and the father is Merlin (Wounded Knee and Lancelot). This is Merlin’s second foal this year. The first one is Morgana, born last month. You can read about her here: Morgana.
I just got back from the Pryors a few minutes ago. The first update that I am going to give is about the new foal that we found. He was born to the mare Half Moon(Rosarita and Starman) and the stallion Teton (Diamond)(Isabella and Raven).
My friend Brigitte and I were on our way down Burnt Timber Sunday when we made the discovery. We were pretty far away, but I took several photos. Be sure to click on the photo so you can see it full size and then can zoom in closer. They are a bit blurry, but you can see the foal pretty well.
I contacted Matt right away and let him know. He looks to be healthy! I look forward to watching him grow up on the mountain! What a special discovery.
UPDATE: MAY 12, 2012 Confirmed. The foal is a colt and his name will be Missoula! Thanks Matt!
Half Moon, March, 2012Teton (Diamond), October 2010Half Moon and her new foal Missoula, April 21, 2012. Photo taken by Ginger Katherns of The Cloud Foundation.
