Wild Horses

Wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

While in Theodore Roosevelt National Park late this Summer I got to photograph some wild horses. This was the one animal I had really hoped to see, and I was able to get within about 5 yards of them on foot. It was truly amazing.

The behavior was amazing to watch. The stallion kept constant watch while the herd was grazing. Most of the time a mare would stand right beside him watching the opposite direction. After a while the mare would go eat and another would take her place keeping watch.

They did not seem overly concerned by cars, or even when I got out of the car to approach them on foot. They did seem to have a comfort zone, and if you got beyond it the stallion would toss his head and stomp on the ground. That was enough warning for me. The colt pictured at the top did seem to get a bit nervous when I got down on the ground for a different angle, so I didn't stay on the ground long. I guess as long as you stuck to the expected behavior and didn't get too close they could ignore you and go about their business.

I'm looking forward to going back and seeing more!