Wild Horse Sibling Rivalry in the Red Desert of Wyoming by Carol J. Walker
Helios, Hera and Apollo
One of my very favorite wild horse families in the Red Desert of Wyoming is the wild stallion Apollo’s family. He is a stunning mature palomino pinto stallion with a huge family. His lead mare is a gentle cremello named Hera, and last fall I when I encountered them, I was delighted to see that Hera had a sturdy cremello colt that I named Hyperion.
Hera and Hyperion last fall
This spring I found the family again, and now Hera has a little cremello pinto colt who is named Helios.
A gentle nudge
Here Hera tries nosing Helios to wake him up from his nap.
A little pawing
Then I saw her paw at him gently, which I have never seen a mother do – usually it is mischievous siblings who use this method. It worked, and he finally got up.
Ok ok Mom I am up!
Foals are always thirsty for milk when they get up from a nap, so Helios starts to nurse. But big brother wants to nurse too!
Hyperion wants some milk too
Usually a mare no longer lets her yearling nurse once she has a new foal, but clearly Hyperion does not agree that this is a good plan. He keeps trying to nurse which irritates the patient Hera.
Hera tries to warn Hyperion away
She is trying to nap, Helios is trying to nurse but big brother keeps interfering.
Big brother won’t let Helios nurse
Finally Apollo has had enough of these shenanigans and drives them all away.
Apollo saying cut it out
He does not stay mad for long however.
Apollo
These and many other images are available as fine art prints, gallery wrapped canvas, and metal and acrylic prints on my website, www.LivingImagesCJW.com
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