Wild Horses of the Little Book Cliffs-Billie's Space

Went to the range again. Thought I should since there is another storm on the way, and this time of year that could mean the end to getting on top. I only went to the Indian Park, Low Gap, Round Mountain area this time. The last few times in this area it has been like a ghost town! Today, however, I got lucky. Medicine Hat, Nitro and the bachelors were in the big field at Indian Park. Interesting to note that  Medicine Hat has picked up Metate, but Belle, Onaqui and Shadow are no longer with him. Nitro has recovered from his hip injury and has regained all of his mares, plus he has inherited a satellite bachelor with Black Bart joining the group. Chief and Onyx were both in Big Ed's Field. Chief was right by the road and was pretty mellow today. I was able to sit with them for over an hour! What a treat! Onyx was even mellower than usual. I sat with his band for 30 minutes or so, but they never completely relaxed so I moved on so as not to stress them. Chief was more than accomodating though. All in all a wonderful day. I got to see horses I hadn't seen in a while and it was a beautiful day too. Lakota and Brownie (the  bachelors) were a treat to see, haven't seen them for a while. Chief and Onyx didn't run, so that was a treat. Hadn't seen Medicine Hat in a month or more, so was nice to see him too. Just wonder where his other mares are, darn it!!  Oh, notice also that Drummer's mane and tail are really getting light, almost flaxen colored. Really cool!

 

It is time now to start haunting the lower canyons and get acquainted with those horses again. It will be fun to see if any of the Round Mountain horses come down again this winter.  Onward and upward!

Finally got back up to the range today. What a gorgeous day! It was absolutely clear blue skies in the morning and then partly cloudy in the afternoon. The temperature was in the upper 50's to lower 60's, just about perfect!  There are still a few, scant patches of snow left from the snow storm we had a while back, but nothing that affected anything, they were mostly in the shade under trees. Other than that it was dry.

 

The main goal today was to try to solve a few of the mysteries that we have. Only got two of them solved, but that was better than none! Found Onyx at Bench Camp and he was back with the band as was Tall Girl so all is right there now. Nitro only has Sassy and Sonoma, so I assume that Conquista and her boys are back with Flame, but that is still on the mystery list till we find out for sure. Couple other mysteries to solve but didn't see the horses that are involved in those mysteries. They may have to wait until spring darn it!

 

Saw 4 bands in the Indian Park, Low Gap, Round Mountain area and 3 bands in North Soda. The Indian Park, Low Gap, Round Mountain area is beginning to look like a ghost town! Horses are really hard to find over there right now, we were just really lucky to see 4 bands. The other day someone else was up and didn't see a single horse!! Yep, winter is on the way. Sigh......

 

Meanwhile, in the lower canyons.....reports are in that the horses are moving down a bit and are getting a bit closer to the trail head. Time to start hiking the lower canyons again. Laramie's mare, Lady and her foal, were spotted alone, so now the question is where is Laramie and his other mare! More mysteries!! I tell you, just be around these horses for a while and you will not see a need for television drama!  It is unfolding before your eyes with the horses! The mares run off to another stallion, get bred, run back to their main band. The stallions steal each other's mares, the young fillies run off and join other bands, the young colts leave to be one of the boys.....the drama just goes on!   LOL   What a great life!

 

That is about it for now. Until next time my friends....

Haven't been to the range for a few weeks. We had a small snow storm and the roads are just now drying out so I hope to go this weekend. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the photos I took of my last trip up. It was a beautiful day and the horses were out and about, at least at North Soda. They were scarce on the other side of the range. The ones I saw however, all look great! Not too much to report, only a few band changes, but they have changed back since I was up there. Someone else was up and I heard about it. There are still some mysteries though that I hope will be solved before we can no longer get up there. Maybe this weekend will have some answers.

 

I will try to get lots of pictures and a write up early next week. Until then, enjoy the weather and think good thoughts for the horses!

Not too much to report. Sir Tristan is limping and Buttermilk has a big gash on his hip.  Looks like all the boys have been scrapping again. There have been reports of several other stallions with gashes and limps and what not!! Must be the time of the year.

 

Conditions are very dry right now and we really need the rain. The horses seem to be doing okay, but rain would really help a lot!

 

Mystic has left her family band and is now with Rico Boy. That leaves Sir Tristan with only Coquette now and Rico Boy has three mares. 

 

Dapple Jack has made an appearance on the Far Side finally and hopefully, that means he will come to the Cabin Side soon. He has spent most of the summer across Lane Canyon and has been difficult to find! I have no photos of that band from this summer! Challenger still has not made an appearance on the Cabin Side, but he should soon.

 

Meanwhile, over at Indian Park, Round Mountain area....Durango appears to have spent the summer in that area, guess he decided it was much nicer than Monument Rock. He has not been seen much, but is still in this area. One of his mare's (Skylark) colt has changed color. He is no longer a sorrel paint, but has become a roan paint. His mother is a roan so that makes sense.

 

Finally saw Chief again as I have not seen him in a month or so. He still has all of his mares and all look well. Chrome's yearling is getting to be quite handsome! He resembles his sire, Phantom, just a little.

 

No more bachelor sightings. Hopefully, they will show up in the lower canyons this winter. That would be a thrill!

 

That is about it for now.

Good News!!! Nitro is alive and has two of his mares back. He is walking a bit stiffly and his injury looks awful, but he is doing very well! Good to know that he got some of his mares back. I think that is a good sign. Anyway, just a short update on this horse!