Lori’s report from yesterday! Thanks so much Lori.
Sandy
View of the Pryors last week.
When Shawn Ivie asked me if I wanted to go up Burnt Timber road on Friday, I jumped at the chance since
I don’t have a vehicle with high enough clearance to make it up that road! I was excited about this trip.
We met at 7:45 AM and headed up Burnt Timber road. It was a cloudy day for the most part, but there were a few times
that the sun did appear. Some of my photo’s did not come out too well because it was cloudy, and it was impossible to get in a position where the sun was behind me.
The first band we spotted was Cappuccino and his harem. He still has Gabrielle, Blanca and the two youngsters, Moenkopi & McKeahnie.
They all appeared to be in good shape and were grazing on some of the new forage. Blanca and the two young ones were down in a ravine, while Cappuccino and Gabrielle were up on top grazing. They did not mind that we were there.
I have to admire Blanca for taking care of the two youngsters, she is a good “sub” mother or Aunt whichever fits her best.
Gabrielle is definitely pregnant. She probably will foal next month.
Gabriele, April 19, 2013
Cappuccino and GabrieleMckeahnie and MoenkopiBlanca
We spent some time with them and when Blanca whinnied to make sure that Cappuccino was still up on top, she gathered the two youngsters and joined the rest of the family! We decided to move on and let them all graze peacefully.
Further up the road we spotted some horses, way off in the distance down by the water guzzler. We saw that it was White Clouds band, but decided to hike all the way out to that on our way back down, so we continued up to Cheyenne Flats.
We could spot some horses near another water catchment way over on Sykes. It appeared to be Horizon Juniper and Fiesta. We could not see them very well as they were so far away, but we knew it was those three.
I did not even take a picture because you would not even be able to see the three horses at all. There was another two or three horses just down on the next ledge or finger of the mountain, but we could not tell who they were.
As we continued into the trees after Cheyenne Flats we came across Two Boots and Santa Fe. When they saw us, they continued on into the woods.
We quietly got out of the vehicle and hiked a little ways so that we could get a good sighting of them. Two Boots will be 25 this year and Santa Fe is 18. They were shy and I don’t think they wanted us there, so we left them alone after we took a few photo’s. They both look good, but Two Boots seems a bit on the thin side.
Santa Fe, April 19, 2013Two Boots, April 19, 2013
We climbed back into Shawn’s vehicle and drove up a little ways to eat our lunch.
I just got an email from Cass at NPS with an update. I wanted to share right away, because I know there are several people who were concerned about Mica. He was last seen with the stallion Santa Fe.
Mica, 2-17-13
Mica is now back with Feldspar, Inocentes and Cloud. Aztec was also back.
Jackson’s wound continues to look better. He had Heritage, Brumby, Moorcroft, Galena, Jasmine and Maelstrom.
Firestorm was not with the band, but is now with Santa Fe!
Firestorm, 2-17-13Santa Fe, July 8, 2012
Galaxy’s band is the same. Cappuccino’s is the same and Moenkopi is still with them. They also saw Teton (still the same), Blue Moon (the same) and Mescalaro with Rosarita and Polaris (the same).
It seems like it is an ever-changing saga with Jackson and Cloud.
I will be sure to let you know if I hear anything else. I am really getting anxious for next week to get here, so I can head to the Pryors!
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.
