Bounce, sire of Aurora in the previous post. They’re both black with a nearly identical right hind fetlock – you can only barely see the upper part of Bounce’s because of the snow. Additionally, Aurora sports the tiniest, barest crescent of an almost-there “star” on her forehead.
He has been following Hollywood’s and Comanche’s bands for a little while now. This particular morning wasn’t the first I’ve seen him and Aurora fairly close together.
Not that “Shadow,” but dark and sleek and nearly jet black:
Bounce!
He has been following Hollywood’s and Comanche’s bands for a little while now. His daughter Aurora, his spitting image, down to her right hind fetlock, is part of Hollywood’s band. While I visited the horses, I sat in the snow, and Bounce took up guardian position behind me. Aurora wandered close – but not too close – to her daddy.
The elder mister looks pretty good. I bet he could tell some stories of winters weathered in Spring Creek Basin.
So much for the end of the world, eh? What a glorious day was the winter solstice!
Hollywood (apparently) had enough of Bounce hanging around, so he gave chase. Bounce didn’t wait around to chat.
Returning to his band. Very pleased with himself (I’m sure).
Oh so photogenic!
* Did you remember to set your clocks back?
Shadow against the sunset hills:
Bounce was hanging close to Hollywood’s and Comanche’s bands. Nearly his whole other side was covered in mud. This was – literally – his “best side” this night!
These boys were moving across Wildcat Valley the other night while I was visiting Comanche’s and Hollywood’s bands.
Seven, Bounce, Kreacher, Aspen, Apollo, Tenaz and Hayden at sunset.
He still has a hitch in his giddy-up, but this elder mister was hanging with Aspen and the youngsters the other day:
Scarred and shiny. Full of vim and vigor!
Seven, Duke and Kreacher, with Aspen and the young boys a few days ago, were together but farther west. Bounce was last seen in the east pocket, so he wandered some to hook up with some company (this was west of Wildcat Spring).
And pinto update: Maiku IS with the pintos. Seen from the road – a distance – but he was there. No idea where he was the day I visited them.
Life’s too short to take it all seriously. 
But because he’s too handsome not to post more …
He was alone by the east-pocket pond, which has water again. He still has a hitch in his giddy-up, but he’s doing – and looking! – well!
Mr. Handsome!
Bounce is looking fairly lean these days, roaming the sidelines of Seven’s and Aspen’s little bands and ducking Storm along the way, who also is on the outskirts, having lost Shadow back to David. The old boy has new scars, but he’s alert and handsome as ever.
Here, he’s trotting down a hill to follow after the other horses.
On this day, at least, Storm had the upper hand, err, hoof.
Lots of new scars on the boy.
Wild black stallion!
Always handsome.
OK, not quite …
In the foreground, mama Raven and son Apollo (son also of Kreacher); in the background, Bounce and Tenaz.
Just for fun.
As wonderful a visit as I was having with Chrome’s band – in a much more accessible location than they’ve been recently – I spotted horses at a short distance that, without benefit of the binocs and with benefit of earlier sighting in about that area, I thought were Seven and Tenaz. I couldn’t see Bounce through the trees, but I couldn’t see anybody else, either. Hadn’t seen those boys close for a while, so I thought I’d visit and get some pix of them to share.
Then it turned out to be Grey’s band. Always photogenic and worth a visit! But the sun was sinking …
And! Over yonder, I spotted Sundance’s band … and Aspen’s (who also had been closer earlier) … and, is that Storm and Shadow? Thinking Bounce and co. may have followed Aspen’s, I hit the trail. And yep, found Seven and Tenaz, and Bounce, too.
This was basically my view of Seven, similar to the one I posted earlier, trotting back and forth, wanting terribly to get closer to Mona. My thinking was that he had the advantage over Aspen, but they apparently didn’t see it that way, and Aspen prevailed. (Seven is now with Duke and Kreacher – as of last week.)
This is Bounce and Storm. For all Storm’s youth (he was 3 the end of July), he is big and strong – and he knows it. This is significantly cropped. I love Storm’s eye, framed by a wisp of his forelock and the curve of Bounce’s neck.
Mostly, Bounce and Tenaz watched the proceedings with interest and only minor (none for Tenaz) participation. Bounce was aged at this roundup at about 15; in 2007, he was aged at 20 (I want to be aged that way!). Tenaz will be 2 this spring; mama is Piedra, and daddy is Hollywood (can you see his resemblance to Hollywood??). No longer with mama and daddy (he went with auntie Baylee last spring when Comanche stole them (and Iya, Cougar and Sage)), he and Baylee ended up with Storm for the rest of the year, and Sage, Iya and Cougar ended up with Poco and Roach – who pretty quickly kicked Sage out (and he ended up with some other young bachelors (including Ze) and sometimes with Duke or Bruiser).
Did you follow all of that?
Can you just imagine what elder is teaching younger?
Most recently, of course, we saw it last year with Duke and Twister and Cuatro and Sage and Ze and Milagro and Bruiser. … Still, it amazes me.
Seven and Bounce, former heads of bands (and don’t underestimate their potential to regain their status) … Tenaz – the future.
