Two days ago I was able to spend enough time with these wild horses in the west desert of Utah to begin to get a feel for their complex social life. But I believe that I’ve only scratched the surface.
There were about a dozen colts in the herd (some mares were still pregnant) and they were as cute as buttons.
When they’d go off by themselves they’d play with each other in groups of two…
or three.
I witnessed two attempted matings. When this stallion mounted the mare the dust on her back went flying. This was a surreptitious attempt – notice the approaching shadow from the right which belongs to…
another male who didn’t take kindly to the attempt. The apparent interloper “dismounted”…
and beat a hasty retreat. The white horse wasn’t about to forgive and forget so it gave extended chase to the darker one in an apparent attempt to teach it some manners.
The horses apparently come to this area on the valley floor for two reasons – to drink from the water tank and to take dust baths. Because of all the hooved traffic in the area the vegetation is sparse and there are dust wallows everywhere. I used to think that bison were champion wallowers but these horses put them to shame.
Believe me, when one of the fights would break out nearby it really got my attention. The size and power of these horses at this close range is impressive!
This fight broke out quite a distance from me and in side light but I was stunned by the quickness and athleticism of this kick. Just prior to this shot the buckskin had fallen over backwards onto its back from a rearing position and I was extremely disappointed to have missed that sequence because I wasn’t prepared. The kick landed on the upper neck of the buckskin where you can see the dust flying off.
This fight broke out close enough that I instinctively reacted in a way that severely tilted my camera. Notice all the fighting scars on the back of the foreground horse.
Ok, after today’s post I’ll move on to more traditional feathered fare since I’ve now made two back to back posts on these horses and I know that many of you come here for birds. Couldn’t help myself though – at this point I’m completely enamored by these wild horses.
Ron
I could photograph wild horses all day long, everyday. I love these images. Just wish I was there! 🙂 Another great place to visit and photograph is Return To Freedom American Wild Horse Sanctuary in Lompoc, CA. I isn’t out in the wild but pretty close. It is just wonderful to be around wild horses plus the Central Coast is beautiful.
Amazing photos Ron. These are just as good as birds.
Hey, Almost-Birthday Boy! This is truly an amazing post, starting out with such a sweet image, and progressing to terrifying! I wish the rest of our family were able to view and enjoy your photography. They would love it!
Sensational shots Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
You are right-the foals are as cute as buttons.The fight sequences are ferocious, stallions can be extremely dangerous.Great shots though.
The horses are magnificent! I suspect that anywhere your lens turns in life, there are spectacular outcomes for us to enjoy. BTW, I’m not tired of horses yet, so keep it up!
Many thanks to everyone for all the wonderful comments. However, I give much of the credit to the horses.
Wow, wow, and wow.
I love your birds.
I love your horses.
I love your take on the world.
Perhaps I am a Ron addict. I suspect that you could post a photo of a garbage bin – and I would come. And see things I haven’t seen before.
Ron, very interesting blog post and I love the comments from all of your fans. Count me as one! The last shot is just magnificent and the tilted camera just adds to the drama being played out. Your photo clearly documents testosterone toxicity which accounts for most of the aggressive behavior in all species, including our own.
I am in awe! thanks for giving us a taste of the varied spirits of these horses.
Amazing! BTW, I am not able to make comments when you post on Facebook. I see others making comments, so I’m not sure what the difference is.
Anyway, I love these shots of the horses, particularly the babies playing.
I think you and I have now resolved that problem, Kelli.
Love the birdies of course, but appreciate these SO much also. Thanks Ron, hope you revisit again soon! The photos are spectacular! Our wild horses are a national treasure…
You got some wonderful shots of the horses, Ron, and even though I am one who usually comes for the birds, I am definitely interested in the behavior of other animals. I’m fine with whatever you post, because I like the opportunity to learn about things I am not likely to see. These posts on the horses have given me new perspective – always a good thing.
Thank you do much for expanding your subject matter to these amazing creatures!
I welcome any photos from you, and hope you continue to share your excellent photographic skills and wonderful images with us.
oh my heavens … these are just so magnificent!!!!!!
That last photo could be the poster for a scary movie! Really gives ones stomach a flip. Nice sequence Ron. It looked like a memorable experience.
Fantastic images, Ron! Amazing capture of action and wild beauty! Thank you so much for sharing!
Amazing!! I enjoy the pictures I see on Facebook, but seeing yours so much larger – they are stunning! I want to play with the colts! You captured so many moments, I just can’t find words for what I want to say. Thank you!!
YES!YES!YES! “Many of these ranchers are out of control”. You are so right! Many, not all, are as powerful, greedy and unprincipled as an Wall Street banker….making huge profits at the expense of the rest of us, AND at lot of other critters. They seem to think what’s “ours” is THEIRS…..and will do anything to keep it that way….
Really GOOD shots Ron!! I have to get to the Pryor mountains this summer to see the well managed herd there. You ever see the documentary called “Cloud”? It’s about the Pryor Mountain herd & it’s fantastic!
I’ll have to look for that documentary, Deb. Thanks for the heads up.
Ron- You captured some great action shots. Thanks for sharing. This has been on my bucket list for some time. Keep shooting!!
Bob, wild horses are apparently on the bucket list of quite a few folks. My friend Wade who introduced me to these horses recently showed them to a lady who said they’d been on her bucket list for 32 years. She was moved to tears by the experience.
I love these shots of the other residents of the desert. Thank you for including this story line in your wonderful blog. I also am following the dispute between the ranchers and the the BLM regarding the removal of the horses. If the horses aren’t native species as the ranchers claim, then the cows are not native either.
I’m also following that dispute and you make a valid point, Tana. Ranchers are only paying $1.43 in federal grazing fees per AUM (the amount of forage needed to feed a cow and a calf for a month). The average fee for forage on private lands in eleven western states is $11.10 per AUM so these ranchers are only paying about 1/8 of fair market value to graze their livestock on OUR lands and yet they still attempt to dictate how those lands are used. Personally I’d like to see them pay fair market value for their grazing fees, even if it meant I’d be paying more for beef.
I realize that wild horse populations must be controlled at some level and I don’t know all the answers but IMO many (not all) of these ranchers are out of control as evidenced by the Bundy situation and others. Just my opinion…
Tana, I love your take on this! It gave me a good chuckle. I’m sure this truth would disturb the ranchers.
Spectacular! Thanks for sharing. I saw a few wild horses in that part of the country several years ago, but I’ve never seen anything like these pictures. The last three in particular are really something.
Thank you, Poppy.
Thanks very much, Len and Ellen.
These photos were great. I really enjoyed the change of pace featuring your horse photos. That last photo today really shows the strength of these creatures. I would not want to get one of these stallions angry. That face! Those teeth. You are the best teacher Ron. I rather liked the break from the birds.
How can you not love all the wildlife you are privileged to see. Your post are a delight for the rest of us to see the natural world in all its glory.
Len
Wow, really cool shots and a pleasure to view! Now all you need to do is find a cattle egret on the back of one of these
horses, to combine bird and horse images 🙂
Bill, I took my big lens along on this trip (I believe we had 8 cameras in my pickup, not counting cell phones) just in case we ran into any birds but they’re pretty scarce out there on the desert floor.
Thank you, Rich, Gail, Jorge and Dick. I’m glad you appreciate our mammalian friends too.
As much as I love the your feathered shots, I also love your mammal shots; the ermine of a year or so ago, the bison, etc., all are simply fantastic! I much appreciate living vicariously in your shooting the behavior of ALL these critters, both large and small, both feathered and hairy. Please don’t apologize for these wonderful shots of wild horses! They are simply super and appreciated by all of us!
Hi Ron
Quite impressive indeed. My favourites are 8,9 and 10. Great power performence.
And you managed to show it very well. I am sure it wasn’t easy to capture those moments.
Thanks for sharing.
What an amazing series of images! Thanks for sharing these, Ron – just as fascinating as birds!
Ron, Great captures and the story is wonderful as well. Thank for sharing it with us.