Earth and Storm

It sprinkled today, but you’d never know it. Gaia-girl and Storm, along with Cassidy Rain and Roja, were at the Sorrel Flats pond. Walking to the east-pocket pond (to the north) were Seven, Puzzle, Shadow and Tesora. That’s a little change of location for them. There was a lone pronghorn with them when I first saw them, but it didn’t follow them to the pond.

Roja is due to foal in a couple of days, but she doesn’t look imminently due. She lost her foal in 2012, so I’m basing her due date on the approximate time she should have foaled last year.

Some high, thin clouds allowed some light to filter down during the early evening, and it rims the girl in such a lovely way.

And because we can’t forget Miss Cassidy Rain:

She pops up over a little hill, and she gives ME the schnortle! She’ll celebrate her first birthday in early June.

Outstanding from the shadows

Gaia and daughter Cassidy Rain. Love the richness of their coats against the green of their world.

Precious water

All but three of our 10 ponds have water. Of the three that don’t, one still is on the list of priority ponds to be dug out (set by Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners and BLM in 2008), one was dug out last year, and one was started last year and about half dug out before rain hit. To date, only two ponds haven’t been dug out since 2009.

Storm and his band are seen here drinking from the main double pond (both have water, but only one was dug out, so I should amend my earlier statement, but only the main pond holds water reliably). From left: Gaia, Storm, Cassidy Rain, Killian and Roja. Do you see the ice still on the pond?

So dainty!

Hello, my pretties!

The lovely Gaia and her gorgeous daughter, Cassidy Rain. They’re in Storm’s band with Roja and her almost-2-year-old colt, Killian.

It was a cloudy, stormy-looking day, but no moisture for Spring Creek Basin. The band was near the roller-coaster ridge pond, which has water, and closer to a big arroyo, which has water trickling downstream. And there’s still a bit of snow in that area (and mud on my boots to prove it!), which is reassuring.

On the run to water

Evening drink time:

Gaia, Cassidy Rain, Killian and Roja run down a slope to join Storm at a water seep in an arroyo!

Love the rich colors of their fuzzy coats in diffuse sunset light.

It’s so dry – still. Seeing them drink was a welcome sight. Ranchers are hauling water to their cattle that still are on the range (not Spring Creek Basin but in nearby areas). All rain and/or snow dances welcome!

Two red, one dark

These beauties are in Storm’s band:

Red Roja, red Gaia and dark Cassidy Rain. Watchful girls in the wind.

In other news, happy birthday, Mom! Love you!

Third *heart* a charm!

Well, let’s just continue the theme, shall we?

Cassidy Rain with mama Gaia and new stepdaddy Storm.

The new family: Killian, Roja, Storm, Gaia and Cassidy Rain.

Beauties!

Gaia & Cassidy Rain

Gaia and her daughter, Cassidy Rain, formerly with Grey/Traveler’s band, now are with Storm’s band, which previously consisted just of Roja and her yearling son, Killian.

Pretty mama and baby girl.

Isn’t it strange to see a foal turning not lighter but darker?? (In our basin of dominant greys, it is!) Now she’s the rich, dark brown of her sire, Cinch. The question is: Will she stay this color?

Storm’s + 2

Did no one guess the answers to the questions posed under the “Change” post? Their names were in tags, of course, but … anyone?

Maybe it’s just that this young stallion continues to amaze me. Aspen has been dogging Grey/Traveler’s band for the last week or so, but it wasn’t Aspen who stole a mare. It was …

Storm!

As a side note, can you believe how dark Cassidy Rain now is? Look back at this post or this post and compare.

The ponies are showing definite signs of “fuzzying up”!

Change

Who are they, and who are they with?