Shaman the Stallion... Wild Legend of the West

Shaman, wild stallion of SE Oregon/Steens Mountain
To many of us, he's a tie to Native American spirituality and Mother Earth.
He's a Medicine Hat wild mustang in the south east corner of Oregon and in Native American culture, the Medicine Hat pinto is considered good medicine.

Shaman is a tri-colored bay pinto with two blue eyes, a chest shield almost resembling an eagle with outstretched wings, and other color spots- on his cheek under his eye on his right side- some suggest looks to be a feather, tear, or Native American spear. On his left flank, appears to be an angel. Above his tail, two human profiles.
Thank you as always to Opus Moon Music for the use of their music...
"Illusion" is the song in this video- find it here: https://www.reverbnation.com/opusmoon
Storyteller in the song Robert Tree Cody https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=208178392662461&id=148948615252106

I had a dream
Two distinct ones actually. Funny, but most dreams I have of mustangs, Shaman seems to be in them. I very much like Shaman, but my favorites are the black mustangs like Voodoo, Knighthawk, Tornado, and Reno since a kid, and it's been somewhat surprising to me that in most of them, stars this painted blue-eyed stallion. There are two distinct dreams that stand out in my mind which I want to share, each of which I have told close mustang friends of mine who remember them, and I told them because they were a bit 'different' and really just stood out.

A couple years ago, I had one of those oddball dreams that made no sense, but the feeling was powerful in a happy way... Sounds silly, but it was Shaman nearby chasing a red ball I tossed to him happily in the sun like an overgrown puppy. The feeling was carefree and happy, and the range was at peace.

The second dream that stands out - remembering details was early in the year of 2017 and just before we even knew about a planned April bait-gather- Here's that dream:
I remember walking in a dense forest, and it was rather dark, but excited to spot Shaman near it's edge as the sun was getting ready to set and as he ran, I wanted to capture the sun's glow through his flowing mane. He ran hard and fast, at first I thought I may have startled him, but no, had a different sense... My dream got darker and I felt a concern or foreboding in my heart, and sensing fear or danger in the growing darkness. I couldn't discern if something was after me or after Shaman.. but quickly realized my fear was for the Medicine Hat mustang. I told my friends about this dream and brushed it off, until after the gather that changed Shaman's path ... and had a moment of reflecting on these two very contrasting dreams- distinct with opposing light vs dark and light-hearted vs heavy with a sense of foreboding.
It wasn't until well after his return to the range, that I really thought about the two very different dreams... likely it was nothing and very coincidental. But having experienced those unique and powerful dreams, almost wondered if it was something else.

As is known, Shaman was caught in a small- 100 horse bait-trap gather in April 2017 along with one of his fillies, Tinder, while the rest of his family avoided being closed in the water-bait trap - his lead mare Granite, and their Lieutenant stallion Commander and three other of Granite's fillies, stayed out of the trap. The contractor was not aware of the family band structures of the mustangs, it just happened this way... and it is what it is. I learned of Shaman's capture and fretted, waiting for more information. I was hoping he'd be returned... hoping hard. It was a nail-biter for among a number of us photographers, and how elated we were to learn of his return.

I felt an honor to be able to be part of witnessing his return back in his range he was very familiar with. He was off the range for 3 weeks and returned with a couple trailers, watched the moment the trailer gait flung open and he jumped out of the trailer and onto that desert ground. He found his way as a bachelor for a couple years. We had hoped Shaman would get his band back but his previous Lieutenant stallion Commander was an impenetrable force who took control of Shaman's mare and fillies. Shaman remained a bachelor from 2017-2019. In summer of 2019 he acquired mare Jocelyn and her colt and became a band stallion once more. They've been a family since, and April 2021 found him with two more, a mare and her foal, which is four for him. We will continue to watch Shaman along his journey... along his own long and winding mustang trail.

Shaman's photo gallery: www.shamanofsteens.com
Follow me also on my facebook page www.mustangmeg.com
Gifts: www.wildhorsespirit.com
Website: www.mustangwild.com

Music Credit: "Illusion" by Opus Moon Music
Photo Credit (of yours truly):
Alice McCammon of fb's Pony's Wild West Images (minute :50, and minute 4:14)
Terry W Smith of fb's Terry W. Smith "Images on the Outside" (end image)

Видео Shaman the Stallion... Wild Legend of the West канала Mustang WILD