Resting in the warm sunshine

Summer is finally here and in wild horse country and the grass is growing tall and lush.  A good number of  the wild horse herds have new foals with them.  With some herds it may be only one but with a larger herd, we have counted up to five foals in that particular group.

One observation though, is that with some herds that had foals with them last fall, there are no yearlings, showing that the life of these young wild horses is a very hard and harsh one.  I did photograph two foals, that were in different herds, but roam an area very close to each other.  Both of these young beautiful creatures showed signs of wolf attacks.  Fortunately  their mares and the herds must have fended off their attackers.

Attack survivor, bites on left hip

A lucky one, bite marks on back legs and hips

Then with some of the earlier foals that we had observed in different herds, the foals are gone.  This could be due to weather, sickness or predators.  This evening after I got home, I received a phone call from a concerned  oil well sight operator, of a young foal that was in distress.  Following his directions, I raced out to the general area in order to find the foal and maybe assist it.  Unfortunately by the time I did find it, it was too late.  Despite my best efforts the young thing died as I tried to attend to it.  When I looked up, the herd and  it’s mare were standing off a short distance and just watched me.  I had to cry their tears of sorrow for them.  I did my best to bury the small thing and marked it’s resting site.  So as you can see their little lives are not the easiest.

The good news is that so many of the others are doing just fine and enjoying their new lives.  Two mares that we know of and call Thelma and Louise have almost identical foals born over a week apart.  It was heart-rending to watch them both scratching themselves on a dead bush, to relieve the itch of misquito bites.

Thelma's and Louise's offspring

High mountain babe

Day old grulla foal

This is hard stuff to walk through

Oh, that sun is so nice and warm

Mom that rain is so cold

Very protective stallion

I hope that you enjoy the pictures of some more of this year’s Wild Horses of Alberta, foal crop.  As the summer wears on they will contunue to grow strong as the grazing grass is very lush and plentiful this year.

On another note, the little foal that was rescued earlier by Sandie and her friends now has a name.  On June 21 a naming cermony was held and he was given the name Ganuseda, which in Cherokee means “Ambassador”.  Sandie does hope he will act as an ambassador for it’s free living relatives.  She has started an animated series to tell his story,    �
http://goanimate.com/movie/0E_gKyb1Ie9s?utm_source=linkshare&uid=0itASB1EG–M
It is very cute to watch.  Again thank you to all those that help save Ganu.

Ganuseda ("Ganu")

I have a couple of other notes, while I am typing away.  WHOAS will have an educational display booth at the Spruce Meadows Master’s and we will be situated in the  Equi-plex Building from September 07-11, 2011.  Please drop by to say hello and see what we are all about.  Further we will be there in November at the Christmas Market, November 18-20, 2011, where we will have WHOAS on display and also have for sale at that time our 2012 fund raising calendar.  This year it will be a 14 month one, having a page for December 2011 and one for January 2013, at the request of our followers.

Thanks to all, Bob.

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Although I usually try to be soley focused on keeping our members and supporters updated on the wild horses, I thought that I would mention this beautiful performance.  Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the show at Canada Olympic Park and I found the show to be totally amazing.  The scenery and performers were fantastic but what I saw was the unbelievable relationship this group of people have with their horses.  The bond and trust that these horses have with their trainers is evident throughout the show.  As most of you have read elsewhere, Cavalia adopted two young horses from Kathy and Mike at Bearvalley Rescue.  Cricket and Linus were the first two horses to make their appearance, no halters, just them, amongst all the performers that were on stage.  Unafraid they wandered freely, how beautiful and what an amazing life that they are going to have.

I see this also in so many people who truely love the horse, for what it means to us humans.  With the case of Cavalia I was impressed and I certainly wish that others in our world respected the wild horses here in Alberta the way that they do theirs.

At the beginning of the performance, on the curtains they gave a history of the horse but I truly loved the one quote that indicates how they see their horses.  It was an Arab proverb, ” God’s gift to man was the horse”.  So fitting and how many of us do like to believe it.  Thanks.

Bob.

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Little Miracle

I thought I would take this time to update you on the young foal (A Little Miracle) that was rescued just over two weeks ago now.  The foal is not named as yet, but Sandie will be having a native naming cermony on June 21, 2011, the day of our summer solstice.  She still feels so blessed at having this beautiful young horse come into her life.

It is so tough being a baby

Sandi says that the foal is coming along fine and is gaining strength on a daily basis.  It’s milk intake has increased greatly and it keeps Sandie busy preparing it’s supply of the warm yummy milk.

Is my milk ready yet, Mom.

Between the rain and the mosquitoes, Sandi has taken some great steps to protect the little one from nature.

Baby in rain gear

Safe from those pesky misquitoes

I will let you all know later when this little foal has it’s new name.  Also check out the comments on the previous post as to how the great people that found it, saved it’s life.

Bob.

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