Kodak Rearing and Jumping
MARY SUE, DAISY & KODAK
Daisy – sorrel & white pinto mare; born 1997; pregnant when adopted in 2004 from the Red Rock HMA (Horse Management Area); her home range was Tunnel Springs, about 5 miles south of Hwy 160.
Kodak – bay pinto; born 3-27-2004 in captivity to mother Daisy (see above) from the Red Rock HMA.
For decades, Mary Sue had ridden amongst and photographed the wild horses of Red Rock Canyon before their total removal in 2002-2004. Her love and admiration for them comes from years of close observation.
She saw Daisy in the wild just two weeks after the foal was born and photographed her growing up in the wild for the next 7 years. When severe drought caused removal of most of the horses in 2002-2004, Mary Sue adopted her at age 7. Daisy has tried very diligently to stay wild although she likes the comforts of being a pasture pet. She tried to teach her foal to be wild too.
Less than a month after her 2004 adoption, Daisy birthed Kodak, a gorgeous pinto boy, who grew up to be Mary Sue’s trusted trail horse after spending 2 years with a professional trainer in Texas. He thinks through trail situations analyzing the best routes. “I have had several great trail horses but Kodak is the most fun & smoothest to ride. His intelligence is uncanny. We have a bond that is very, very special. Hard to put into words.”
Says Mary Sue: “They are loving, intelligent, caring animals who will bond with you like you can’t believe once they know they can trust you. This trust is a huge responsibility on our part – we can never backslide on this because they won’t forget. It is so important that we save America’s mustangs since they enrich our lives more than you can imagine if you’ve never befriended one.”
Red Rock National Conservation Area wild horses photographed by Mary Sue before roundup and total removal in 2002-2004.
Valentino as a foal
Brothers Playing
Valentino's Family
Click images for larger version
Rosie, mother (dam) of Daisy & Fancy after capture
Father (Sire) to Daisy & Fancy roaming free
Left to right: Sissy, a 1996 mare & Daisy's older sister; baby Fancy; Fancy's mother; Fancy's daddy; older bay sister of Daisy & Fancy
probably born 1994; Daisy as a yearling, and an unknown sorrel with white blaze, and facing right, an unknown sorrel & palomino.
An adoption surprise: half-day-old Kodak with his mother Daisy on 3-27-2004
Kodak & Mary Sue with her ever-present camera
Mary Sue and Kodak taking a Spring Mtn stream