April 11, 2009 – Blizzard’s First Foal

Last week, I heard that a newborn foal was sighted with a harem that sounded like Blizzard’s. After hearing this, I took a few trips out devoted to finding Blizzard to see about this new foal. Besides the fact that it was a new foal, there were some other things that made me interested in seeing it. First off, I knew that the foal had to belong to his mare Strawberry as his mare Sacajawea can’t possibly have a foal until next month. Second, Blizzard would be the most probable sire of this foal; and this would be his first offspring. Third, Blizzard is the rare color apricot dun; and so I was hoping that the foal would inherit this color. Blizzard can be a pretty elusive stallion, but I finally found him and his harem in a rugged canyon on Saturday the 11th.

Blizzard is often mistaken for a palomino, but he really is an apricot dun. His dorsal stripe is visible in this photograph from above, and he also has stripes on his legs. Apricot dun is similar to red dun. Blizzard carries on this color tradition passed down from his grandsire (Sir Lancelot) to his sire (Durango) and his sire to him.

I was very excited to see that the foal seems to be an apricot dun too. I have foal pictures of both Durango and Blizzard; and this foal looks a lot like they did. The foal is also a colt, and so he can be the next male in line to carry on this color tradition.

The foal’s mother is a grulla roan mare known as Strawberry.

The foal also joins a grulla mare named Sacajawea, her 2007 colt, and her 2008 filly.

There are some other mares that are looking pretty fat with foals now that should also be foaling soon. It is still going to be interesting to see what the 2009 foal crop will be like.

April 2, 2009 – New Foal

We’ve been having some interesting weather lately; it’s been warm for a few days and then cold and snowy during those other days. Because of this, I have to take advantage of any nice days to get out on the Range. I went out this week with a few goals. One was to see if I could find Corona’s harem because I knew his mare would be foaling soon. Corona is a pretty unmistakable stallion, with his face marking and rich color.

Things have changed a little for Corona’s harem since last year. Their upcoming two year old daughter is now away with Merlin, and last year’s foal has gotten big. Here is a photo of her as a young foal last year and a photo of her now.

When I found the harem, I found they did have a new foal.

The foal is a dark bay filly. She has inherited her father’s face marking.

A few new foals will be appearing periodically for the next month or so before most of the mares start foaling. Elsewhere on the Range, there are some other changes that I am keeping my eye on too that involve some missing horses. Some of these stories may be worth discussing soon too.