Here is a short update on a few Dryhead horses. Thank you so much Lori!
On one of my many trips out to the Dry Head I was wondering, as usual, if I would see any of the horses.
Upon entering the range I noticed Seneca on the side of the road and she was all alone. I pulled off of the road quite a distance from her and just watched her. I wondered where the rest of the “Greeters” were.
She crossed the road and seemed to be on a mission to get over and down to Crooked Creek Bay. I followed her to see if any of the others were down by the water. I did see Hightail there, but not a sign of the two stallions. I knew that they had to be around somewhere.
All of a sudden Hickok came galloping from across the road and had his eye on me.
I had made sure that I stayed quite a distance from the route that he would follow to get down to the girls. I stood quietly and when he realized that I was not a threat he went along his way and joined the rest of the group.
As I slowly and quietly made my way over to the top of the ridge I saw all of the Greeters down by the water. Jesse James must have been hiding from me the first time I looked down to see where Seneca was headed, but there he was looking right up at me!
Hickok and Jesse James greeted each other and had a little discussion, then they all seemed to settle down and went about their business of grazing on the green grasses down by the water. I decided to leave them to their peacefulness and continued my drive into the range.
I did not see any other horses through the entire range.
On my way back through, I unexpectedly saw Kemmerer in a place where I had never seen any of the horses before.
He was magnificent, just staring at me. I am so thankful that he is still free and did not get removed last year. He is a robust and beautiful young stallion. I hope
that someday he can win his own harem and have some offspring on the range.
I pulled over, turned my car off and got out to take a few photos of him. He looked very healthy, and was surprised to see me too.
After a few minutes he seemed fine with me there (I was not close to him at all) and he continued on his mission. He made his way down a steep cliff and got to the bottom where I saw there were lots of grasses for him to eat.
He grazed for a minute then went to a clear patch of dirt and began to roll.
I watched him for awhile and expected to see at least one other bachelor somewhere nearby, but that did not happen. He was alone. I said goodbye and as always, thanked him for allowing me to share this moment with him.
I decided to leave then and make my way back out of the range as I wanted to explore the area where the bodies of Admiral and Kapitan had been left. I found the remains of both horses, but never did find Kapitan’s skull.
Their remains were scattered around the area, and I was surprised to find some hair still there.
I was very sad because it brought back those bad memories of that day. Those awful memories and sights will be etched in my mind forever. I was there that day. So for me, this trip to the range was full of mixed emotions. I was happy to have seen the Greeters and Kemmerer, but sad to have found the remains of those two beautiful horses who died needlessly and horribly almost two years ago.
Lori
