On any given morning or afternoon I have a mental checklist I run through upon locating the horses. Once I find the mares and foals, I do a […]
Inseparable Trio
Considering that there was no affiliation or loyalty between these two mares before the older mare gave birth this year, it is a wonder that the young paint […]
Persistent, Non Violent Takeover
In an opportunistic moment of acquisition, this old mare stubbornly defies the new mother’s claim to her foal. The pensive face on the new mother shows her confused […]
Quiet Negotiations
Interactions between mares and stallions are surprisingly varied. While some meetings are boisterous, squalling, dust-raising, kicking and pawing affairs, others are gentler, less obvious and barely noticeable. Often, […]
Evidence of a Good Mother
This mare, bless her heart, waited patiently with her sleeping two-day-old foal while the rest of the herd drank and played at the pond on a warm spring […]
The Broken Oak
The first light of morning is just hitting the hill behind a few young horses investigating a broken oak tree. They are curious, not unlike any child. The […]
Privileges of Youth
frolic |ˈfrälik| verb (of an animal or person) play and move about cheerfully, excitedly, or energetically
Introduction
About to be introduced to the rest of the herd for the first time, this mare reassures her new foal.
Taken by Surprise
In search of the mares one spring morning, the fog just burning off, I finally had some luck. These three mares and their new foals were the first […]
Are You My Mother?
When a filly wakes from a nap and cannot immediately find her mother, she makes several mistakes while soliciting each mare she comes upon for comfort. It was […]
The Warning
During the first few days of life the mares are very vigilant with other herd members about keeping their distance from the newborns. As a whole, though, the […]
Portrait of a Natural Existence
” … we lost our ancient proximity to animals, and the clouds past [passed] swiftly by without us.” -William Kittredge Something has caught the attention of the herd […]