From the Desert

While hiking in Sheep Rock, volcanic, pillar shaped natural rock formations rose around us giving the feeling of being in a giant castle... one with a spectacular view.

From the sage

Mt Shasta

Winters rest

High up on a rocky perch

Remnants of the old Chinese Rock Walls built during the California Gold Rush.

Rock wall in the junipers, Shasta Valley in the distance, Pacific Ocean just over those mountains.

All that shimmers is not made of gold.

Here She Comes!

When she saw me her tail flicked straight up in the air and she came running to meet at the gate

Hopping and bouncing in circles makes a red Rosebud blur

Aahhh scratch that one spot... quick!

Lay By Me

Just stop tickling my feet!

Frogger

Found this on the web and shared here for no other reason than I think its funny! :D

Now Part Of Our Family

Something to be thankful for...

Thanksgiving Day, November 25th 2010

Mother, baby and herd brother reunited after weeks of separation at the corrals.

Nuzzling her sick baby.

November 28th

Ladybug gives reassurance over the fence.

Nibbling Douglas Fir needles.

Mothers milk... the best medicine.

A cloud blanket.

White hooves on black legs.

A strange new world.

More snow.

Naming someone has never been my strong suit, it is hard for me to attach a word to something un-nameable, but as we spent time together the names Sage and Rosebud seemed appropriate for these two.

December 12th

Momma Sage

Sweet little Rosebud

Pableu's Cloud Blanket

Pableu stayed with us during his illness and a quarantine period but has now moved to his real home, December 17th. Read more of his story here pableu's cloud blanket blog.

The last two months have been a blur. All three of the Mustangs were sick with Strangles. Having never dealt with illness like this I had a lot to learn. My friend Kris McCormack (her blog Words About Horses) was my lifeline! She was supportive and encouraging when I was both physically and mentaly exhausted, and helped me find the best natural remedies for my new patients. I will write more about Strangles soon.

Adopting a Wild Mustang

Observing horses in the wild is an incredible, even life changing, experience.

Beautiful wild family, photo taken July 2010.

~~~~~~~
August 20th, 2010

Rounded up and removed from their wild home.  photo from BLM website

Never to return. photo from BLM website

~~~~~~~

August 21st, the day after they were captured.

It is difficult to explain how another being can "communicate" over the distances without really even knowing the other but during the months these two were at the corrals I could feel what was happening to them. I felt their presence constantly, some days it was accompanied by a racing heart, a headache, sometimes even coughing, but I was fine. We waited to find out who would be released and who would be up for adoption, still not planning to bring anyone home (in our minds), but no word from the corrals. We went to visit a couple times to see how they all were fairing and each time there were fewer horses. Where do they go?

October 8th

October 8th

Time passed and we knew they would wean the babies soon so more correspondence with the corrals, they said everyone is doing very well.

More time passed and it became urgent, I knew the baby was sick and we needed to go get them NOW.

We, along with our friend, went back to the high desert and adopted these horses we came to know in the wild...

The date, November 24th, 2010

Mt Shasta in the early morning as we headed out for Litchfield CA WH&B Corrals

Temperatures dipped well below zero as we made our way. Yes, we are still in CA!

Nearing the corrals.

View behind the corrals.

There is more about wild horses here Where The Wild Horses Are blog.

The weanlings. Our baby is the little red behind in the center.

1 to 3 year olds. 

Reunited!

Tiny girl.

Removing neck tag.

Loading up. Momma went straight into the trailer, no plastic bag flogging required.

The babies right behind.

Don't forget me!

Now what?

Adopt a Wild Horse or Burrow

Heading home, Mt Shasta in the distance.

For us it turned out to be even more than experiencing the thrill, power and beauty of nature, we have adopted two new family members.