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- Cloud in His Grunge Phase
Cloud is in his grunge phase, as evidenced by the dirt on his coat. Here, he is actively engaged in trying to steal an entire band of mares from Mateo, another stallion. The Filmmaker's Take: "Cloud was filthy for much of the time he was a four-year-old. He would roll around in sand and mud and be perpetually dirty, which was interesting because as a younger horse he was always so clean."
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- Bighorn Canyon
This photo -- a dramatic view of Bighorn Canyon with the horse range and Sykes Ridge in the background -- was taken from the air.
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- Cloud's Older Brother
Diamond is Cloud's older brother by a year. Here, he waits on a hilltop for Cloud and the other bachelors to come up the mountain. Horse Fact: Diamond is a blue roan. A color indication, the designation "roan" means a coat that is made up of a combination of any base color of hair and white hair. Blue roans combine black and white hair to create a steel blue color. The white marking on Diamond's head is called a "star."
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- Roundup
Here, two Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundup specialists gate bachelor horses for processing. Regular round-ups are performed to keep control of the wild horse population.
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- Cloud in the Corral
Cloud's been incarcerated into the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) corral, and here he is with two of his bachelor buddies. Shortly after this picture was taken, Cloud was separated and isolated from all the others, who were processed for adoption. The Filmmaker's Take: "Here, I filmed Cloud from a low angle and he's looking right at me. The impression I got of him was that he was saying, 'Get me out of here!'"
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- At the Watering Hole
Cloud and his bachelor friends drink from a water hole. Within a few weeks, every horse in the photo, save Cloud, will be rounded up and sold for adoption. Horse Fact: As the snow melts in the Spring, wild horses climb the mountain past the snow line in search of emerging water sources.
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- Vying for Mares
Two stallions are vying for the mare at the left-hand side of the frame. The Filmmaker's Take: "When Cloud was little, I don't remember any horses being struck by lightning. I have not a clue why this has changed, but it appears that weather patterns may have changed and that lightning has become an increasing killer on the mountaintop."
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- A Storm at Sunset
The top of the Arrowhead Mountains are incredibly dramatic weather-wise. Here, a storm moves in quickly at sunset. The Filmmaker's Take: "The clouds looked like they were being filmed in time-lapse, but they weren't; they were just blowing unbelievably fast across the top of the mountain."
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- A Weak Foal
Whether it was stepped on or just born weak to a young mare, this newborn foal isn't strong enough to survive.
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- Winter
Winter temperatures in the Arrowhead Mountains can dip as low as 60-70 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The Filmmaker's Take: "I finally realized that Cloud did not stay on the horse range in the winter, and a hunter mentioned that he had seen Cloud running down a road in this Lost Water Canyon. So here I'm snowshoeing toward the canyon because I can see horses in the distance."
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- Foraging
Horses forage during the harsh winter season. The Filmmaker's Take: "Usually, everything shuts down in the winter and the horses don't move around too much. One interesting point is that wild horses tend to be smaller than domesticated breeds because they need to be more efficient and require less food than their cared-for brethren."
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- A View of the Desert
There is a large amount of iron in the desert soil, which gives it a reddish hue. The Filmmaker's Take: "Because you have a desert all the way up until you hit sub-alpine, the Arrowheads boast the largest number of plant species of any area of Montana."
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Why can’t they geld Cloud and other males to control breeding and turn them back out to live their lives.I’m sure we can raise enough $$ to accomplish this and save the wild herds from extinction and from multiplying.
In response to Desiree Barbazon’s post, 7-2-08…If they geld or castrate Cloud and the other males to control breeding this will lead to extinction. I Mustangs are part of are national heritage and a real treasure and should be treated as such. I don’t think she has a clue as to what she’s just stated!
As a lover of God’s creations, wild mustangs, let’s save Cloud and the herd. Let’s be good stewards of the earth and preserve this national heritage.
I’ve always thought the wild horses should run free and have always admired their beauty, grace and spirit. We should do whatever we can to give them what they need to survive.
These constituents are of the worst quality I have ever seen.
They are Roman nosed, pig eyed, short necked (my God, their heads are longer than their necks), low neck set, apple butted, short croup, low tail set junk that should all be shot! Craaaaaaap!
I wish I could attach a photo of what a proper constituent is suppose to look like. There is no comparison. The only reason anyone would think these horses are valuable is 1.) ignorance, 2.) Because they are roaming being wild, 3.) Some unknown reason I haven’t thought of.
The bottom line is they are not good examples of what a horse should look like. Go study conformation and breeding before gasping with awe.
Cloud is NOT WHITE – he’s a rare pale shade of palomino known as CREMELLO. In the closeups you can clearly see the white marking of his face, while his body color is a few shades darker.
Tim, you are obviously a horse snob of gigantic proportions. “Shot” That’s pretty strong language from someone who must think of himself as a horse lover – true horse lovers admire and respect all breeds and even ‘wild’ horses for who they are. Go back to your show ring of small boned, head and necks in the air, tails over their backs horses and quit watching PBS! As far as wild horses go – these looked pretty darned good.
Re: Tim’s comments 07/06/2008 … sounds like you are a believer of breeding the ‘Master Race’ … “should all be shot”?? Shades of the horrors of WWII. You are wound up too tight if you can’t find the beauty in these beautiful animals.
You are one scary ‘human’ being (i use the term loosely)!
While a wonderful show on wildlife and freedom.
I’m a believer that believers in “breeding” to the extent that there is no room for the true, wild breeds, are themselves throwbacks … and should be breed out of the human population. In the meanwhile, saving wilderness trumps all the inbreed, overbred species perpetuated by the pinhead purists.
I have worked with horse for years and they’re indomitable spirits never cease to amaze me. They’re undying passion for purpose and love for all things will forever remain imprinted on my heart. They are an incredible gift from God; here only to make our journey’s full of joy. I pray anyone watching this wonderful series will come to expereince the horse as he was meant to be experienced. Thereby,understanding our responsibility to God in how to care for our gifts. Thank you Ginger Katherns for honoring them!
I am not a hunter nor a country boy, strickly a city boy for 50 years and I was fortunate to have lived in Montana 2 years in the 70s while in the Armed Forces. I had the wonderful opportunity to go off roading on my motorbike many times, in one of thos occasions we came accross a band of wild horses, about 15 of them. The term wild is no joke for whatever reason they came after us. One of our riders was bitten by a horse and almost knocked him off the motorbike. I have shear respect for the speed and the aggresiveness these horses displayed. I am not a “horse” person but I do believe that they are a greeat part of out heritage. It is important to keep in mind that without horses we would not have the rich western culture of the past 150 years, that without these animals the lands west of the Mississippi would have taken much longer to settle. I hope that young Americans and “new” Americans understand that the future of this issue and other similar issues concerning wildlife has to be kept on the forefront of education.
Oh yes, Tim is you know nothing.
These horses are not native.
Why should they be allowed to breed?
No, the horses aren’t native. However, they’ve been here for hundreds of yrs. To not see the beauty in them is ridiculous! Watch Cloud when he’s running. His mane and tail flowing, the muscles moving. Absolutely beautiful. Whether or you believe in God or some other supreme being, we are to take care of the animals. They let Cloud go because of his unusual color, to breed with a mare(s) to see his offspring. Surely, adoption and the laws of nature, their numbers could be kept intact. (The thunderstorm took several horses out during the show. Some froze during the winter.) The area they roam in is so remote, at least in Cloud’s case. I think it would be a terrible loss to not have them here any more. I LOVE horses, altho I can’t afford to have one. I live in huge horse country here in north central FL – ALL types of breeds including horses brought in from out west for adoption. Tim’s not right and neither is Mike. People are known by the way they treat animals.
They are beautiful animals. That is not in dispute
Kudzu vine and Purple Loosestrife are beautiful also.
And Nutria are SO cute.
But, we are destroying what is unique by allowing this constant stream of alien invaders to supplant our native species.
I love Mustangs. I think they should be allowed to roam free and live wild.
I believe humans should mind their own business. Our government needs to figure out how to take care of the people first, before they decided how to take care of wild horses or other animals. The animals seem to do much better than we humans. It’s called having a heart and soul.
RE:Tim: yikes! What do YOU look like? These animals are likely much kinder than you could ever become, based on your remarks.
RE: Mike: Are you a native here? Have you bred? And if so, what do YOUR children look like. I wouldn’t want to see you in person. You sound quite scary!
What have these animals done to either or both of you that you are so full of venom?
The simple fact is that Tim has a very valid point, and I will add to. Wild horses were introduced to Northern America. They are feral. They do not belong here in the wild. There is not enough land, not enough food, not enough water, and not enough resources for an introduced species that is suffering from years and years of inbreeding.
Shot? Well, would you rather have them shot or starve to death?
Tim, you are narrow minded and clearly evil and apparently mentally ill (i.e., in the category of Hitler and a master race).
Mike, you are just plain ignorant. I like what Dina says to you, “Have you bred?” And if so, what gives you the right? Unless you are an American Indian, you are not native. Why should you breed? And what gives you the right to determine what other species breed?
07/07/2008 :: 11:30:15 PM
Dina Says:
RE: Mike: Are you a native here? Have you bred? And if so, what do YOUR children look like. I wouldn’t want to see you in person. You sound quite scary!
To Dina:
I am native and have not bred. It is my way of giving back to the planet.
What have these animals done to either or both of you that you are so full of venom?
To Dina:
They have done nothing.They are victims of human meddling and manipulation. There is no venom. Only a realistic and pratical viewpoin concerning our ever dwindleing native speices.
-Mike
Who among us has the right to say who lives and who dies? Tim, you must be in the horse business for money only. If you own horses, you have learned nothing from them and you have flunked your test here on Earth!
This country wouldn’t be what it is today without the contribution these hourses have made in its history.
All horses came to this country one way or another the wild horses have survived for hundreds of years. As for inbreeding by looking at them I don’t see the effects they are a beautiful animal in the fact that they are free to roam. I beleive that in a way it is called selective breeding because only the strongest and wisest stallions have mares.
It seems as though Tim is comparing these wild mustangs to quality show horses–REALITY CHECK!! These AREN’T show-quality horses! They are not thoroughbreds, nor should they be compared as such. Thoroughbreds are ungainly, emaciated, brittle-boned horses who collapse when too much weight is applied. Wild horses are the exact opposite–They are magnificent creatures who yes, inter-breed,(*gasp*) not for beauty but for the SURVIVAL of the species. Why is that any worse than mix-breed dogs, cats, or humans?
And if they can survive in this brutal world we humans have created for them, I’d say they’re doing rather well. So how dare you say they should all be murdered!! SHAME on you.
Yes I too think that Gelding the stallions is better then killing the wil horses. they can do around ups, geld most of the stallions they have then let them go, and also I no they have a number of wild horses in a very small paddock and are thinking of killing them all since they don’t have enough money to feed them. But what i think is they should let them go, and no there may not be enough food, since there numbers would be greatter so some may die but from natual causes. & Mustanges are none to live in Harsh conditions. SO they may even be able to live though the no food, or find something else to eat. we have to stop this soon though, contact th BLM and tell them your point.
I own 2 horses, one which is a mustang, there wonderful :)
Thxs
Oh and RE to: Pamelia Brow, they don’t have to geld all the stallions just most, say 7 out of 10. so that there still will be wild foals, but not as many.
Thank you,Ginger Katherns, for the deeply moving (to me)films about Cloud and his greater tribe. I am thrilled they exist, saddened to know they are rounded up regularly. Unlike some above, I do not have a solution in mind for their situation. Maybe one isn’t needed. That which people call God doesn’t seem to interfere with homosapiens. I would love to know your view on this.
the horses are awsome and really should be considered as native as they are part of the main foundation of the original american west you should be greatfull to have such wonderful animals as part of your heritage afterall they have battled the harsh elemnts to survive for so many years and a reply to tim is that these horses are purebreds!… purebred MUSTANGS probably the best bush horses to walk the earth they are very sure footed and have amazing natural instincts i would definatley feel safer out there on the back of one of those sturdy looking little horses than the fine boned horses you seem to take pride in a horse that diddnt stumble on every bump in he ground would be a much better ride! hmm maybe one like cloud! and their heads and necks arent ugly they are built that way inorder to survive the terrain on which they live. maybethe BLM could still round up the horses but not so many and if there are any ranchers around that want mustangs let them o out and catch what they want by themselves if they know how to muster cattle then surley they could do the same for the horses it would be less stressful for them anyway
You know, I think Tim himself is a Roman nosed, pig eyed, short necked,low neck set, apple butted, short crouped, low tail set junk of a horse lover himself. To what he said, all I can give is a wild snort and shake of my mane! What I feel about his little comment is not expressable. We Mustangs know what people say about us online, got it?
Cloud is a beutiful horse.I was so excited when he got his first mare.please keep filming him becausewe want to see if his first foul looks like him or not.
HI All. It has been as interesting reading the comments as it has been watching the clip. I believe there is beauty in all and there is so much to protect, from the lowest blade of grass to those beautiful wild horses running free. In this world such a feat is hard to achieve when people continue to condemn other groups/other ideas etc. Without each other be it a native plant to a wild horse we are/have nothing. Physically, spiritually, mentally all has a place on the earth now. However Tim, your comments are negative and you forget that the genetics these horses carry are the beginnings of the fancy warmbloods that some covert.
Wow, talk about battle of the opposites!
To such wonderful, considerate people such as Dina, Sharon, and Ashleigh among others: thank you for being such awesome supporters of mustangs and horses in general! The world needs more people like you. Horses, mustangs, and Cloud in particular are one of the most beautiful things God put on this green earth.
To Tim and Mike and similar…people. (Perhaps.) I see no ‘constituents’ here. I see Horses. Just because your idea of supreme equine beauty is a shiny, inbred showpony with a stack of papers higher than your narrow mind is tall does NOT mean that anyone else feels this way. All horses are beautiful and deserve to be so. Should we shoot all ugly humans? Have I ever seen you in a Gucci for Men ad? NO! And, Mike, unless you are a Native American, you’re just as ‘foreign’ as the mustangs.
I personally agree with Tim and Mike. I hate to admit it, but there is so much more we (as a country) could be doing with our money! And it is stupid, ignorant people like you that have caused so much hurt in the horse world. Now, before name calling starts, I DO love horses. Had them ever since I was nine, and I’ll proably have them till the day I die. But the fact of the matter is, there’s too many of them! Domestic or not, there is just too many to care for. And for all you city slicker idiots who want to say, ‘There’s a home for every unwanted horse’, get a life! I don’t see you out there, trying to support these animals. And being that I work with a rescue group, I do know what I’m talking about. We’ve been having so many people phone in, saying ‘Please take our horses. We love them, but we’ve lost our job and they’re starving.’ We want to take the horses, but we already have way more than WE can feed! So where do THESE horses go? Lets just get rid of the mustangs, or just leave them be, and put our money into the horses that matter, the horses that CAN’T fend for themselves. Instead of donating to BLM or where ever, donate to a Horse Rescue group who needs it. And honestly, if you really want to help the issue all around. Re-Open Slaughter. It is one of those nessacary evils. And instead of banning it, put your money, time and energy into making it humane and quick. It would really help boost the econonmy. I really do love horses, but we must be practical. I mean, look at the breeders over in Arabia. For centuries they have done so well. And why? Because they kill stuff that is crap. That is really blunt, but true. So please people, stop being dumb and put your effort into securing the horses that CAN’T fend for themselves. Who can’t forage for food. I personally think its kinder to humanly end their life in a slaughter house, than to let them starve for monthes until they die simply because their owners can’t afford to feed them. And again, I repeat, I own, and love horses, I’m just trying to be practical. And before you say ‘Would you send your horse to slaughter?’ NO! But she has a purpose. She is pure bred. She is worth loads of money. She is helping the economy. She isn’t taking up space. She has a job. She has perfect conformation. SHE IS WANTED! So really, get your head out of the clouds people. Being practical doesn’t make you Hitler.
i love cloud and all the other horses!!!!
How can anyone talk the way some of the people that have posted here have… horses of any breed or color are beautiful animals. Gosh, isn’t there enough for the sicko’s of the world to complain about without bashing wild horses. Get a life. AND, on another note, it is not just about looks! I glad Tim, comment #5 is not my heartless nasty significant other!
To #33-Loraine…. get a grip! You started name calling with this statement “And it is stupid, ignorant people like you” before you stated “Now, before name calling starts”. DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF?
Well I can see who is an actual horse lover and who is just in it for the money. These animals have been here quite a long while…before any of us were here. there is absolutely no reason that they need to be ‘exterminated’. And as for Mike…What tribe are you from? The tribes I know including mine embrace these animals as a symbol of their history as well as white man’s. These animals are the ancestors of those that helped my people along. And as for Tim…you make me just a little bit sick. Your comparing freedom with captivation. What a shame. Your obviously one of the ones that are in the horse business for money alone, and NOTHING else.
cloud is a beutiful horse i think that horses are animals are suposed to be free.
For the love of horses.If you have ever had the chance to live around or worked with wild horses and studied their own language such as body language, verbal sounds, body movements, their enter-action with each other and the way they protect their own you would see how strong willed and smart these horses are. They have their own way without a GPS of healing searching for water & food and finding one another. They have a purpose for every movement. I’ve seen little spurts of water coming out of the earth where they naturally scent and knew where to dig ever so lightly. These horses by nature always are teaching and training which horse will take over when the leader is gone. Usually when they die it’s their time and there is purpose for their meat (feeding the wild animals). Nature has a way of thinning them out. Usually, one dies one is born. Birth control in my opinion only messes up their cycle of (What would of been natural & natures way at the right time) Wild horses are naturally strong, tough, muscle bound to take what it takes to live in the wild weather it is hot, cold, sandy, flat or hilly land. When its time to move on to another area one way or the other they move on. Watching wild horses is when I realized every body movement & their own language & location(s) was for a purpose. It’s really interesting to study all harem of horses. I wish someday you could just watch and study them. They are amazing. Kay
It is a crime to kill or destroy these beautiful wild horses. Let nature alone as there are untold miles of native forests and grass lands in the Western states. Shame on the federal government. They put the Indians, the first Americans, on the worst land called reservations and now they are destroying these beautiful animals. In the mid 19880s they were destroying cattle herds to up the price of milk by branding the poor animals on their faces, the most painful sensitive site on cows. What is this inherent need by the feds to make the animals suffer needlessly and then kill them?
I’m ashamed of some of the things that go on in our government. This is the democracy and freedom that lured so many foreign immigrants to America thru the centuries?
I agree with Loraine. I am a horse owner and lover, and tend to, primp, and ride my grade quarter horse every day after work. Doesn’t change the fact that slaughter does work and IS a necessary evil in today’s horse world. Living in a world of “never harm the horse” mentality just doesn’t work. It leads to over population, starvation and desease, and worse of all, gross neglect. Sad but true.