Acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Ginger Kathrens has been filming the life of the remarkable wild stallion, Cloud, since the day of his birth in 1995, allowing NATURE viewers to watch as he grew from tiny foal to the powerful leader of the largest band of wild horses in the Arrowhead Mountains that he is today. Along the way, much has been learned about wild horse society and the importance of family and loyalty in their dangerous and unpredictable world.
In this chapter of his story, Cloud is one of two fathers who bring up each other’s sons. Bolder is Cloud’s son by birth – beautiful and golden, but raised by Shaman, a rival band stallion. Flint, dark and determined, was sired by Shaman, but became Cloud’s adopted son. The two sons mature and progress from playful youths into valid contenders for mares and bands of their own. Will one of them rise to take Cloud’s place?
This poignant and engrossing chronicle explores the challenges presented not only by ambitious sons, but also by the harsh mountain weather, deadly mountain lion attacks, and the changing relationships within and between bands of wild horses in the mountains.
The film also touches upon the effect of the on-going efforts of the Bureau of Land Management (the BLM) to administer a program of population control, including infertility drugs and bait trapping, to remove animals from the mountains. It is yet another hurdle that Cloud and his family and the rest of the horses in the Arrowheads must overcome in the day-to-day efforts to survive in the wilderness.