QUARTERLEY Highlights: CREAMY THE CREMELLO AND INTERVIEW WITH VOLUNTEER CHRISTINE
Creamy the Cremello
By Deb Sutherland
The first time I met Creamy, the beautiful cremello mare, she was traveling down the hill with the rest of her family in Houston’s band.
As the band came closer, they stopped for a moment to look at me and as they stood there in the hot summer sun they all looked like cremellos. However, I soon learned that their handsome band stallion Houston was actually a light colored palomino and so were two of his mares Ziva and Vegas. However Vegas’ filly, Casino, was also a cremello. This very light colored band was easy to spot even from far away as they all looked white in contrast against the brown desert hills. I thought Creamy to be one of the most beautiful mares on the range and it has been interesting to follow her band changes over the past few years.
Since I’ve known Creamy, she was in Houston’s band the longest and the band lived on the east side of the tunnel where the horses can go from east to west and west to east. Before I knew Creamy in person, documentation showed that Creamy was first with the band stallion Chuck. Then A few months later Houston stole her from Chuck, then several months after that Colorado stole her but it wasn’t long before she was back with Houston for a long time.
A few years passed with Creamy still being a part of Houston’s band until one day the bachelor, Tracker, who also lived east of the tunnel stole her from Houston and we didn’t see Creamy for a while. We wondered where she went until one hot summer day when she was spotted on the west side of the tunnel.
I was on the range in a canyon documenting when our herd lead Cathy Cottrill called and asked me if there was a cremello on the west side of the tunnel because she had just seen one. Neither one of us knew of a cremello on that side of the range so she explained where she had seen it and I went to that field to figure out who it was. When I arrived I saw that it was Creamy, and two stallions Tracker and Wither’s Jr. were viciously fighting over her. While the two stallions fought long and hard over Creamy I watched as she tried to sneak around them and go back to the tunnel to the east side where she came from.
Finally I watched Wither’s Jr. snake Creamy away from Tracker and claimed her while Tracker went back through the tunnel to the east side alone and was defeated. Soon after Wither’s Jr. claimed Creamy he gathered more mares and he had a quite nice band for himself. His band was easy to spot then with the beautiful Creamy who stood out among the rest of his mares who were all bay colored.
About a year later I was documenting on the east side again when I saw Creamy walking down the same hill where I first met her, but noticed that she wasn’t with Wither’s Jr. anymore she was with the palomino stallion Biscotti! Wither’s Jr. had finally lost her. However, Biscotti didn’t keep Creamy very long. Just a few weeks ago I saw Creamy walking down the mountain again with yet a different stallion, and who also had the pretty bay mare One Sock who had also lived with Creamy in Wither’s Jr. band.
At first I didn’t recognize Creamy’s new stallion until they came closer. Then I realized Creamy’s new stallion is now the handsome bay roan Arthur! Arthur has been following other bands for months trying to get a family of his own and he finally ended up with the beautiful Creamy and One Sock. Creamy has had many band changes since her life with Houston’s band and time will tell if Arthur can keep Creamy very long before another stallion tries to steal her from him. One thing is for certain, no matter who’s band Creamy is in she stands out as one of the most beautiful mares on the range.
Interview with Christine Prichard
Tell us how you got involved in wild horses?
I have been around horses since I was about 10 years old. I rode all the time. When I came up to Nevada, I had no idea there were wild horses free roaming. One day, I met a woman who volunteered, and we began a conversation after some horses were hanging out where they weren't safe. I had no idea that there was a way to help keep them safe. I signed up to volunteer and its history from there.
What is your favorite part of volunteering?
My favorite part of volunteering is that not only do I get to appreciate their beauty, but I help keep them safe. It's so rewarding knowing that maybe for a day, I may have made a difference. I have made some incredible friends that also have the same passion for horses.
Why are wild horses special to you? What do they represent to you?
The wild horses are special to me because they represent freedom. They represent peace and strength.
What is/was your day job?
I am a retired flight paramedic currently working as a dog trainer.
Do you have a favorite memory from the range that you can share with us?
My favorite memory from the range is the day my dog Tucker was sent over the rainbow bridge. He always went on the horse calls with me and loved to see them. We were way up high in the range where it was peaceful and quiet with nothing but our incredible mountains and the beauty of our horses. All the horses were in their bands throughout the range and one by one, the bands came up to him, from a distance of course, and took turns visiting him. I didn't really understand exactly what was going on as I was unsure if it was actually his day to go across the bridge. I just knew he had a mass in his brain that had possibly worsened. When we left there, I had the most incredible sense of peace. It was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen or experienced. When we went to the vet and they said it was his time, I then knew that they were actually saying Goodbye to their little friend. I will never forget that moment or what they did for me, as well as Lil Tucker.
What other animals have you seen on the range?
While up on the range I have seen lots of wild animals including mountain lions, bobcats, sheep, deer, snakes and other animals. I have never seen a bear and I keep waiting patiently!
Okay, aside from horses, what is your favorite animal?
Dogs.
If a theme song played every time you go out on the range, what would your theme song be?
I love music, but Ed Sheeran is always playing when I'm on the range.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
If I had a superpower it would be telepathy.
What’s the next place on your travel bucket list?
Going to Italy.