The Stallion Blaze's family grows with two new foals on the mountain. Spring is here in New Mexico.

Back in 2016, nobody could predict what was in the future for the wild horses. Their future seemed doomed.

Today, Blaze the stallions small band of wild horses, free-roam near the mountain town of Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Not Long ago, his future seemed unclear. Blazes' original band was rounded up and hauled away to Santa Fe, which started an outcry and legal court case to have the 12 horses returned in the summer of 2016.

During that time, Blaze the Stallion was left alone. This was a significant heartbreak for the wild horse community, too painful to bear to see the Stallion reduced to being alone after the cruel roundup of his family band.

We rejoiced when he found Dusty the mare out of the Eagle Creek Band and overjoyed when Luna was born; We all felt relief that Blaze was no longer alone.

At the same time, the wild horses went through a lengthy court case and were eventually released back to Alto in the location of Blaze the Stallion.

We all waited in anticipation for the reunion. That reunion happened, but Blaze moved out of the Alto area with Dusty and Luna. The newly released Alto band found a bachelor named Smithy, who now is the Stallion of Blazes stollen band. A younger bachelor Smithy has now been with the Alto band since their release in 2018.

This spring, Blaze's new family has grown to four, and we welcome the two new additions, a filly and colt named Milky way and Twinkle, as the wild horses continue to teach me lessons in faith and rebirth.

When the wild foals were born this week, the mountain on the east side dealt with a major forest fire that continues to burn now with 4,000 acres of wildlife forest lands, and the Gavilan Canyon residential area went up in flames.

A tragedy for our village and our wildlife community reported nationally on CNN, PBS News Hour, and all of the major news channels.

The fast-moving fire took two lives, over two hundred homes and scorched the landscape to remind us daily how crucial our natural environment is to our community that shares borders with wildlife.

But with tragedy comes our feel-good moments. Our work is not all tragedy, life cycles continue even in tragic moments. We have Blaze and Dusty and their story of rebirth and survival. We can see how they are in a better place and time this Easter Holiday

Debi Wilcox

Photography & Video's by Tracie Johnson Alto, New Mexico Resident