There have been questions about the appearance of a wound on the sorrel stallion I call Big Red.

If you look at this image of Red, you can clearly see the very ugly deep wound on his chest. He sustained the gash in a fight to keep a mare (See the photo titled "Battle of the Reds"). The younger stallion defeated the older stallion and inflicted the wound shown here.

Just a year ago, Big Red was ripped open with a vicious bite from another stallion. At that time he lost his entire harem of mares; the injury made him incapable of defending them. He then lived a solitary existence while he healed and was ready for a comeback. Sadly, his comeback won only a single mare that he lost after only about three months. And again, he has an even more debilitating wound.

This image was taken just over two weeks ago. I have been out to see the mustangs twice since then, searching the desert all day each time. Big Red is nowhere. I fear the worst for him. He may be gone.

To survive today, and fight to father the young born next year is the single most powerful instinct that drives the life of the stallion. Sometimes not so pretty, but always real.