Monthly Highlights
Volunteer of the Month: Nancy Florence
Nancy Florence completing the TLAR training earlier this year
This month’s volunteer highlight is Nancy Florence! Nancy is now full-time photographer after retiring from the State of Nevada with 30 years service. Nancy is a dedicated documenter and valued member of the Virginia Range fertility control team. She’s been involved in the wild horse issue for four years, and working as an AWHC volunteer for about two years. Earlier this year, she also became a member of the Technical Large Animal Rescue team. She got involved in the wild horse issue when she was gifted a photo safari with John Humphrey. On her safari, she chose to photograph the wild horses and was instantly hooked. She’s been photographing wild horses ever since. Her goal as a nature photographer is to show you the beauty and magic of the natural world and what is waiting to be explored in our own backyards. Her favorite part of documenting wild horses is just being in their presence and learning about their behaviors. She especially enjoys observing their family structures and watching the interaction between family members. Thank you, Nancy for all your hard work!
One of Nancy’s beautiful photos
Nancy photographing out on the range
Horse of the Month: Brownie
Brownie sporting a new hairdo.
As a documenter, you see certain bands over and over. Through observation, you get to know their interactions, personalities, relationships within their band. Long time Virginia Range mare, Little Girl, had just given birth when I came across the band. She stood up, her new colt still wet at her feet. As an experienced mom, she stood patiently doing all the things she should with her new foal. Encouraging licks and nuzzles, giving the new baby time to rest and gain the energy needed for those first attempts to get to his feet. She controlled the movements of the rest of the band, allowing them to meet the baby, but if they did something she didn't like she sent them away with nothing more than a look or a head toss. Brownie, the band stallion, hung on the perimeter. Brownie is a straight faced stallion who holds his band together with ease, but can appear to be a big goof at times through his actions. While mom and baby were bonding and resting, the band hung on the perimeter snacking on whatever they found. True to form, Brownie turns from his position slightly down the hill and walks across the scene with a tumbleweed stuck to his head as if to try to lighten the mood. Little Girl turned and looked at him and I swear she gave him a look that has been seen in delivery rooms across the country when dad tries to lighten the mood at an inappropriate time... without a second glance he quickly lowered his head, dislodging only part of the weed, and turned away to find something else to nibble on.
Mom and baby resting