It has been over a month now that we have had Image and Ember out with our older girls in the big pasture.
It has been interesting to see how the addition of the kids would change the hierarchy within the herd. Shy Ann continues her Alpha female status. Touchy continues as second in command, but would really like to just be left alone. Abi is no longer the last one in the pecking order. Surprisingly, Image is next and Ember comes in last. Image and Ember tend to stick together and don’t hang out with the older girls all of the time. Abi probably has the most interest in the kids and will try to initiate conversation with Ember.
Even though Ember craves that interaction, she is still a little unsure of the situation and will generally leave the area quickly. I have also seen Shy Ann trying to herd the kids around, but with 4 to watch over now with her Alpha status, it gets a little difficult when they all go in different directions. So, she stays somewhat content in moving Abi around.
We use an ATV to feed the horses their hay in the winter. The older girls know that the ATV means it’s time to eat. They love running along side of Terry, kicking up and having fun.
So far the kids just watch this from a distance.
We still bring the kids over to the corral every day for continued fun and games in the round pen. That means crossing the creek to get to the corral area. Image knows that there will be a treat involved so he usually likes to be first.
A few days ago the heavy rains left the creek very high and the corral and paddock area a muddy mess.
So we decided to work on our training in the pasture. Terry took the big girls over the back pasture so we would be able to concentrate on the kids and them on us without any drama in the open area. We practiced leading and making our figure 8’s. After a job well done, rewards of feed and hay were enjoyed greatly!
We decided it was time to open up the back pasture for the kids. We have always left this pasture open to the big girls, but thought it best to let the kids get used to the regular pasture before introducing them to more places to run. The big girls have just been going over there on their own and it took a couple of days for Ember to join them. Image seemed to have no interest at all in going over there, so he stayed in the main pasture. When he looked up and couldn’t see his cousin, he cried out to her. He ran closer to the fence that separated them. Ember heard his cry and came running to him.
He was clearly confused as to how to get to her. He ran up and down the fence line and finally settled in on a place up at the top of the pasture where there are cedar, crabapple and apple trees.
This is one of the places that Ember and Image spend their nights, tucked in to the cedar trees. I think it is probably the closest they have come to feeling like their mountain home, when they used to tuck in against the Douglas Fir trees. Ember came running over to Image and they spoke to one another.
I can only imagine what they were saying. Perhaps Ember was telling Image: “Come on! There’s more grass over here!” Image saying back: “yeah, but how do I get there?”
Terry and I were already halfway out there to help him get to the opening to the back pasture. We put a lead rope on him and started walking him down to the opening. Ember tore down to the opening and came up to help us get her cousin to the other side.
It was if she was saying: “Come on! It’s up here!”
This actually turned out to be a good thing as we were able to help Image figure out the new boundaries of this part of the pasture. We walked them to the far side and started up the hill.
We looked up to see Shy Ann and Abi tearing our way, wanting to run and have some fun.
I was a little surprised that Ember did not join in. Perhaps she sensed Image’s reluctance to be left alone.
She seemed to be content by Image’s side, grazing.
Shy Ann went over to the kids to start moving them around.
The kids checking out their new boundaries
Another good thing for them to know where it is in the light of day. We watched them all settle down and start to graze again.
2010 will be a great year for cultivating new friendships and strengthening older ones.
Loved the update and pictures, Deb! The older kids look HUGE next to Image & Ember! 🙂
Thanks for the pictures and update Deb, all appreciated!
Great update – thanks for sharing. It’s so nice to be able to continue to follow Image and Ember through your blog.
Hey Deb!
i just wonted to know if imag has bin gelded???
bicous as the only domestic palomino pryor mustang it would have bin kull to let him be a stallion.
Lovely! Thank you so much for the updates. The horses are having so much fun! My old dude (38) has been kicking up his heels lately, too. Cantering through the snow towards the gate desperate for supper! Everyday is a blessing, there is magic in watching our horses make us happy. Thanks-Kathy
Hey Db.
Is image a gelding
Hi Alex,
I am sorry I have not gotten to your earlier question about Image.
We have not gelded Image yet, but we will as soon as the weather breaks. With so many wild horses waiting to be adopted in long term holding facilities, it would be irresponsible for us to breed the wild horses that we have adopted.
Thank you for your interest in Image,
Deb
Could you leave him un-gelded but not breed him unless the offspring were to be used for future stock at the Pryor Mountains or elsewhere?
Hi Janet,
Thank you so much for your interest in Image and Ember. As interesting as the idea of leaving Image a stallion is, our place just isn’t set up to keep a stallion separated from the girls. And keeping Image with the girls, Ember especially, has been integral to his well-being. Hoping that my next entry will explain that a little better.
Thanks!
deb
???
JUST CAME UPON IMAGE AND EMBER UPDATED PIX/TEXT. LOVING, AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL. MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND WORK. YOU CERTAINLY SHOW WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH LOVE. THE STRONG FAMILY ATTACHMENT BETWEEN EMBER AND IMAGE IS MORE THAN INCREDIBLE AND SIMPLY REFLECTS ALL THE TEACHINGS THE CLOUD FDN., YOU AND KNOWLEDGABLE SUPPORTERS HAVE TAUGHT. WHY CANNOT THE BLM AND OTHER TOUGH MINDS LEARN THIS? UNFORTUNATELY, TENDERNESS AND LOVE AND AFFECTION AMONG THESE WILD HORSES/BURROS IS MISTAKEN FOR WEAKNESS AND EASY DISPOSAL. THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED FOR THE HIGH EQUINE CHARACTER QUALITY THEY SHARE AMONG THEMSELVES AND CAN WITH MAN. WISH BLM AND THE LIKE WOULD JUST LEAVE ALL THESE FREE ROAMING ANIMALS ALONE AND FREE THE CAPTIVES. KEEP UP YOUR WONDERFUL WORK WITH THE KIDS’ TRAINING AND INTEGRATING THEM INTO YOUR OVERALL FAMILY. YOU HAVE MUCH PRAYER AND SUPPORT.
CINDY–NEW JERSEY
Wonderful pictures! Thank you SO much, Deb, for keeping us up to date on the kids. It cheers me a lot to come here and see them so happy and well adjusted.
When I get depressed about this ugly situation, I come here and to the pictures at the Cloud Foundation of Conquistador, Grumpy Grulla, and the others that the Freedom Fund and the Foundation saved. I always cheer up after the visits.
Thanks again! See you later.
Thank you for these great updates. . . they have a beautiful home and good parents!!!
Thank you Janet.
deb
Hey Terry and Deb,
How you doing. Long time no see. I think i had stopped by only a time or two since Heritage’s last hay ride. Love the pics of the girls and the new kids. I would love to catch up sometime and maybe even see the new kids. Email me or give me a call sometime.
God Bless
Jen
Hey Jen!
Good to hear from you. Stop on by anytime. We would love to see you.
Take care,
deb
Can we get a update? Thanks
I am hoping to get an update online soon. Image and Ember are both doing very well!
Thanks for you interest.
deb