Sunday, September 21, 2014

Week Two at Mustang Camp

Today was a day off.  So Nadine,  Maurine and I headed to the Chaco Culture National Park.  Pat recommended we go.  She said that it's just the next valley over but to drive it was about 70 miles, 40 of it on very tough dirt roads.  Didn't need the 4x4 but I was sure glad I brought the truck.  If it had rained we'd been in trouble even with the 4x4.

 



On the way we went through some beautiful country.



And guess what?  We saw a band of wild Mustangs.  You can imagine our excitement seeing them!



We arrived at Chaco.  It of course is an amazing place.  Some time ago I watched a PBS show about Chaco and the significance of it - how it was laid out with astronomical significances.  Actually since today is the equinox the Park Service was having a special program at sunset.  




This is Pueblo Bonito, perhaps the largest of the Pueblos in the park. 






There are many round structures or rooms called Kivas.  This is a "great" one which was used for religious worship, dance, prayer vigils, public gatherings and other activites.


This beautiful pattern is seen through out Chaco Culture

There are still roofs on some of the buildings.







A raven finds the remains of a sloppy tourist's lunch.  Good for the raven at least.  Of course raven plays an important roll in most Native American cultures.  I wonder if he was a spirit of an inhabitant of Pueblo Bonito.










Back at the ranch the week was full of video!

Our week was busy. I started my week meeting some of the resident stars.





Here I meet two colts about 3 months old.  They are so cute.  Of course their mom's are here too.












Who says a Zebra can't be tamed?   Pat's trained Spot to be friendly and they even dance together.  He's also going to be a proud papa.  He has a harem of three mustang mares!




We spend lots of time in pre-production this week and that's paying great dividends.  Pat, Nadine, Maurine and I review the days activities after we feed the horses, muck out and have breakfast.  This meeting also includes discussion on on going training they all three are doing.  This weeks meetings have also have set our shooting goals for the day.

Pat's goal is to document her steps in taking an already gentled mustang to a ride-able horse.  We shot over half of these steps this last week and will finish in the next few days.  Then the editing will begin.





Maurine and Nadine have saddled Sidney and Nadine prepares to ride him in the round corral.  This is all done with positive reinforcement.

 Pat's shooting too, here doing some of the "aerial" shots.



Part of the training takes the Mustang into the surrounding countryside.  This insures the horse is comfortable with the training where ever they are.

And it's all in the beautiful and remote Largo Canyon.

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