Reservoir at Painters Flat

Reservoir at Painters Flat

The reservoir was full, the grass tall, flowers were blooming, birds were singing and we were excited to see some horses come in for a drink. 

Cascade Downingia in and around the water

Water Buttercups

Looking out across the flat with our binoculars and lenses we guesstimated there were only 75-100 head of cattle but we could only see one dark horse. 

One Lone Horse

We could see him off in the distance coming toward the water hole, and he was limping, so we quickly moved further away from the water to be sure he would feel safe enough to get his drink.

Why Do They Mourn?

We left the water hole and went to the spring, where last August we saw so many family bands, hoping to see the "Thunder Horses" again. We knew they were not captured during the roundup because they were seen here on Nov. 14th, 2010.

The Mourning Doves were in the trees all around us, their mournful songs echoed throughout this little valley.

The spring had not been visited by any equines recently. There was no sign of them anywhere, no tracks, no manure. The small paths they had walked last August were completely covered with grasses.

Some of these bunches of grass were as tall as me.

Lupine

Penstemon

We left the spring and headed back across the flat.

Sage hen leading us away from her nest

The road is nearly covered with grass

Even while being surrounded by the vibrant, bountiful, beauty of this landscape, the emptiness and quiet was overwhelming and sobering... we left the high desert with heavy hearts.
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