I want to thank Lynn of Northernhorse for her help in promoting the sole fund raising effort of WHOAS, our annual Wild Horse Calendar.

Others have asked for an insight as to the pictures in it and I will include some here, but you will still have to buy one to read the stories about the featured horses, or at least I hope you will.  You can enlarge the images by clicking on them.

The calendars are available from me at the UFA in Olds and through Jack Nichol in Sundre.  You can also order them through the mail by sending $25.00 for each calendar to WHOAS, Box 70022, Olds, AB., T4H 0A3.

We would also appreciate if any others would like to take some to sell them for us.  I can be reached at bob1603@telusplanet.net, if you would like to help.  So far they have been shipped to Germany, Scotland, Florida, New Zealand and all across Canada.  Thank you.

The images on this post are  some of the featured horses in the 2011 Wild Horses of Alberta Society calendar.  Help us protect and save these magnificent horses for future generations.  Buy yourself a copy or buy one for a friend for Christmas. As you enjoy the beautiful photos and fill your heart with their spirit you will be helping these beautiful creatures survive so our children and grandchildren won’t just be able to read about them in history books but will still have the opportunity to go out and see a real wild horse. It is one of those experiences that should be on your bucket list if it isn’t.

Bob.

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Wild Horse Country

With as much time as I spend in Wild Horse country there are always things that happen, that can create an adventure out of it.  Sometimes though, not everything that happens to me, that makes me laugh, is directly related to the wild horses.  I thought I would share this little story with you.

On Sunday, November 21, I had decided to head out west in order to set up for photographing on a fresh cougar kill that I had found the day before.  Leaving my dogs at home, I left well before first light in the -28C air.  I arrived close to the site and parked my truck about 1/2 mile away.  Then packing my camera, my camera blind and a warm blanket I walked quietly up the trail toward the site.  It was still dark when I set up my blind at the location I had marked the day before.  This location would allow me a chance of good photographs of the cougar if it returned.

By the time it did turn light enough to photograph, there still was no sign of the big cat.  I waited a bit more, but by that time three vehicles of hunters had driven back and forth on the trail.  Knowing that this, or maybe the loud chattering of my teeth would have detered the cougar from returning, I decided to investigate and see what had happened with the cougars prey.  What I found was that the cougar had returned during the night and cleaned up most of the young whitetail deer.  The eagles and ravens would clean up the rest.

Not to waste the day I spent a few hours taking pictures of the wild horses I found before heading home to do the dreaded housework and laundry that waited for me.  As I waited for a load of laundry to finish, I sat down and thought of my missed opportunity to photograph a big cat close up.  I started to talk to my fat cat, a Siamese called Kimba, about his large cousins.  As I talked to him, it was if he understood.  I asked why could he not be like a cougar, slim and full or energy and such a hunter.  He gave me such a dirty look as he walked off.  I sat there still day dreaming when I heard a growl and rustling coming from the kitchen.  I was not paying attention as Kimba came back into the room and jumped up on my lap.  He then dropped a dead mouse on my lap.  His look was hilarious as he looked down at the mouse then up at me.  It was if he was saying, you want a great hunter what about me.  I started to laugh so hard at his antic and looks.  With that he gave me another dirty look, jumped down, and flopped himself on the floor twitching his tail hard on the floor and leaving me with his great kill, the mouse.

I love all my animals and when they make me laugh and happy inside, it certainly can just make my day.  I hope that this will make you smile too.

Catching the morning sun

Bob

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This week saw the first real blast of winter hit the Wild Horse Country, west of Sundre.  I live alone and I had the day off so what else can I do but go check on the horses.  It was minus 23 when I left home and headed out. In the hills, the snow ranged from 10 -15 inches in depth.  This and the cold would give me a good indication of how the horses are doing in this first cold snap.

Young Bachlors

The snow was deep and I really had to pay attention to the trails as I drove into my first location to look.  The horses were a little hard to find first thing in the morning, due to the fact that hunting season is in full swing and there has been more traffic than normal.   This makes all the creatures a little more cautious.

 As I prowled the back trails I started to see more horse and managed to get close on the odd herd. However some of the herds with the younger mares that had a foal at their side were extremely skittish. I continued to try different trails and the horses all appeared to be in excellent shape.

Soaking in the rays of sunshine

 Then way back in one of the valley’s I saw my friend “Hombre”. He is one of the stallions that has always knew me and would always pose to get his picture taken.  His herd is about the same size as last year.   There are three healthy foals and they are still nursing off their moms in order to maintain their strength.  

"Hombre"

Mom's milk

As winter strenghtens it grip on Horse Country, the young horses need this little bit of extra energy in order to survive as they are not as adept at foraging  as the adults.  Then I watched in fascination as “Hombre” started to roll in the snow, to clean his coat. It was that particular moment, that I knew how blessed I am in being able to be with the wild horses on such a beautiful cold day.  What better way to spend it, the housework and laundry could wait, I laughed.

Cold bath

The wild horses and even my own  horses do this in order to loosen up their coat from ice and snow in order for their coats to give them better insulation from the cold.

Then down one back trail, all of a sudden there was a large flock of ravens lifting off the ground, along with a bald and golden eagle.  My heart started race a little in fear, for this is how in the past we had found so many of the wild horses that had been shot and killed in this area.

There were about 30 ravens there at a kill site.  If you are out in the woods, listen and look for the ravens as they will tell you everything that is going on in their country, especially in the winter months.

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I went into investigate, hoping and praying that it was not a horse.  It was not.  What I came across was the carcass of a fresh cougar kill, a young white tail fawn.    The deer and the wild horses are the fovorite prey of the cougars out here.  In fact one male cat which was collared and tracked, reportedly killed 14 wild horses over a one year period.  That is nature at work and I can hold nothing against the cougar for doing what it was born to do.

Relieved, down the road I continued. I was particularly interest in one herd.  In it was a young late born foal, which is at the most only around four months old.  Mortality among these late born foals can be extremely high, depending on the winter.  I really needed to see that it was okay right now. 

Then there they were, Wylie’s herd.  The young wild horse that we had rescued a few years ago had come from this particular herd. You can read about his progress further back in the blog.  Then there in the middle was the little fellow I had been worried about.  He would watch the adult horses paw at the snow to expose the grass and then he would do the same.  It really did bring a smile to my face.and joy to my heart.  Snow covered his back and I knew that for now he was just fine. What and end to a beautiful day.

The little guy

I will continue to monitor him and two other young foals that have come across, including the “Scruffy” little one I reported on earlier.  Hoping that I do not have to intervene and that they will all come through our Alberta winter in good shape. I will keep you posted.

Tomorrow though, I am afraid that the housework will have to wait again, because I would sure like a nice photo of an adult cougar.  I have a blind and nice warm clothes and that is where I will be at first light in the morning.

Help support WHOAS work in protecting your wild horses and purchase a 2011 wild horse calendar.  Information is here on this site on how to go about getting your copy.

Thanks for your support.

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I am often asked how I get such close up shots of the wild horses that appear on the blog and in the WHOAS calendars. I do have a few theories on that.

The first is a good camera and great telephoto lens. I shoot with a Canon EOS with their fantastic 70-200mm image stabalizer lens along with the two power extender. When I am on the back of my horse taking pictures, oh thank goodness for the stabalizer lens.  Of course my dream lense is the Canon 400mm, 2.8F with image stabilizer, the only problem is that I have to win the lottery to afford the $7000.00, it cost.  Oh my!!!!!   One day though, down the road, expect to see even better photo’s.    

The second is like your own dog or horse, the wild horses can sense if the person approaching them is a threat or is giving out negative energy. They will react quickly to that threat and leave the area on the run. Watch your dog or horse, if they do not like someone, there is a reason. If you are excited or scared they get upset also. The wild horses are no different. I truly believe that they can sense that I mean them no harm and they can sense the positive energy I feel, when I am blessed to be around them.

I feel no fear or apprehension when I am with the wild horses and will always try to get as close as I can. I have had them come extremely close to me and even had a herd of twenty one thunder by me on both sides within feet. I always just feel gratitude not fear.  That I think is my biggest ally in capturing the images I do.

Fancy dancer

I love all animals and especially the wild horses and the spirit of freedom they represent to me. That is why I work so hard to protect and save them. I also hope that through my photographs I will be able to show others how beautiful they are. They too then, can help all of us to get the wild horses better protection.

Badger luring them in

The third way I get close is with my faithful and loveable trail companions Badger and LeLou. Both are Akitas and are always with me whether on horseback or when I just tour in my vehicle. They enjoy being out there with the wild horses as much as I do. Badger especially is a curiosity to them because of his grey and white coloring, which is similar to the wolves, the wild horses live with. The dogs are so use to horses that they just look at them and then come and sit with me while I photograph the horses. Upon seeing the dogs the horses will come at full gallop on occasions, to see what these strange animals are that mean them no harm.

Coming to check us out

It is fascinating to watch them as the whole herd comes in to see us . They will then whirl and run off but will always come back in closer for another look. Just fascinated at the creatures that just sit there. I talk to them softly the whole time and their ears are always twitching at the sound of my low whisper to them.

At times some of the young ones will come in extremely close trying to smell our scent and detect what we really are.  At times the odd one will sniff at my boots  or camera until the herd mare or stallion tells them to come back. I really do have chuckle when I am fortuante to witness this happening. Some of the expressions in their loveable big brown eyes are so adoring to me, there is such a gentleness and softness in the eyes, of these truly wild animals.

Then there is always the stallions who will always let you know when they think I have had my chance to take enough photo’s and will try to bluff me to leave.  They will do their bluff charge snort and blow and then run off again. They will always just turn and and do it all over again and again, until full of gratitude I bid them goodbye and the dogs and I make the first move to leave. Darn I love those wild horses.

Pretty girl

All these photos were taken on my last trip out which was just this past weekend. There was no one to come with me and so off the dogs and I went. My day was filled with much joy as I was able to get the horses of four herd in close to me.

I was also able to visit with Linda, Tim and “Lucky”. The little girl has grown so much and is still getting her milk twice a day. I was privilaged to be able to give her the morning feed and wow can that girl pound it back. She is such a friendly and cute young filly with her long coat for winter and her manicurred hoofs.

Lucky growing up

Again thanks to all who support WHOAS and our efforts to save your Wild Horses. Our 2011 Calendars are out and going quickly already. See the previous blog of how to obtain you copy of this great fund raising calendar.

Bob.

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