In Memory – Bones and Phantom
June 5, 2009
To honor a couple of the wild ones that are, unfortunately, no longer with us…
Bones was from the Spring Creek Basin, CO herd. She died while trying to bring a new life into the world. Bones had broken her pelvis at some point – the reason she was not able to deliver. I observed for myself her strong will to live (despite the damage to her body) on a visit to Spring Creek in 2008. She was a tough little mare which won her a soft spot with many. It’s a shame that these will be the only images I’ll have of her.
(You can follow this herd through TJ Holmes’ Spring Creek Basin Weblog).
Bones - mare from Spring Creek HMA, CO
Bones
Bay stallion Poco with Bones
Bones with her stallion, Poco
The Little Book Cliffs, CO herd lost a member this Spring as well. Phantom was just 12 years old. According to Billie Hutchings’ blog (Wild Horses of the Little Book Cliffs), his mares were found with another stallion and some horseback riders found Phantom’s body several days later. There was no obvious cause. Again, I was fortunate to have photographed this big, handsome boy with the unusual face marking (that earned him his name) in 2006.
Band stallion Phantom from The Little Book Cliffs
Phantom
Phantom
The memorable face of Phantom
They live on in our photographs and memories…
Pam Nickoles Photography 
June 6, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Pam, what a wonderful tribute to these two beloved horses. Seeing pix of Bones still makes me cry, and these beautiful pictures of her are no exception. Thank you so much for honoring their wild spirits!
TJ
June 7, 2009 at 3:44 AM
Thanks Pam! Phantom will be sadly missed for a long time. He was an instant favorite to any who saw him, but he will live on in his offspring and the wonderful photos of him.
June 7, 2009 at 5:48 AM
Love and sorrow all in one night! Bones was beautiful and wisdom in her eyes is a wonderful thing. Phantom is /was glorious. They both now run with the wild stars above!
June 7, 2009 at 2:27 PM
TJ – she was a horse to admire. You had the perfect description for her – plucky. She certainly was. She’ll be missed.
June 7, 2009 at 2:33 PM
You’re welcome Billie. I just wish we’d been able to find and photograph Phantom on other trips we made there. His was the first band we saw on the first trip we made to The Little Book Cliffs. The first wild horses my Mom ever saw. Phantom was special in so many ways…
June 7, 2009 at 2:36 PM
ellieroo – and what a grand band of spirit horses that must be!
June 8, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Pam –
Thank-you for posting such wonderful photos of these two remarkable wild souls! We’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to see almost all of the Spring Creek horses first-hand. We missed seeing Bones this past April by just days… Her loss is still felt by many. Thanks for honoring both Bones and Phantom with your beautiful work!
Lynn Bauer and Kathy Pariso
Rio Rancho, NM
June 8, 2009 at 9:01 PM
Lynn and Kathy,
Thanks for your comments. I know you have followed and visited the Spring Creek horses (even named one?) and you feel the loss as well. Both horses left impressions on folks. Their gift to us.