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"DAMONTE" WILD HORSES
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Part Two
The Damonte Band Horse Survey
Part of our activities on Public Lands Day was to identify and photograph individual members of the wild horse bands on Stockton Flat. Karen and James Mayfield were going to document the horses. Just as we arrived to set up we saw the Damonte Band about a half mile from base camp. Sharon, Marialaina and Tami headed out in the Jeep to follow the horses until the Mayfields arrived so Karen and James wouldn't have to hunt them down.
No problem. Sharon, Marialaina and Tami ended up entertaining the curious horses before they could be photographed and catalogued. They were extremely curious about the Jeep and the volunteers.
"Hey look! Something new to see!"
The alpha mare. "You want to take my picture?"
"This makes a great scratching post."
Tami scratching the mare so she won't scratch the Jeep.
Sentinel, the band stallion.
A little too close for a close-up.
Several of the shots came out like this.
Spreading out to get individual photos.
It wasn't hard to photograph and take notes on individual horses...
...so long as they would stay back far enough to be photographed
IMPORTANT NOTE: The volunteers are experienced in getting up close to the horses without provoking a flight response from the band or a defensive reaction on the part of the band stallion. Furthermore many of the volunteers are familiar to the horses.
When viewing horses in wild horse country respect each band's "space." Observe from a distance and don't walk or drive directly towards the horses as your actions may be perceived as being aggressive. The horses usually behave in a "live and let live" fashion if not startled or provoked.
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