This trip out to the Virginia Range was just as magical as the last except that I had some company, my dad and Sage and Wynter, my little wild horse assistants. The goal was to take more photos and expose my girls to the wonders of nature and the magic of wild horses. I went on a couple of solo missions searching the hills and driving aimlessly following their trails, manure piles and locating more watering holes. Finally, the horses started to appear. A couple horses I recognized from my last trip here which was exciting and emotional. The golden rule as a conservationist is to leave only footprints and never get too close to the horses for both their safety and ours. Well, that rule went out the window when one band of horses that we came across was uncannily friendly. The girls were taking photos when all of a sudden a sweet little yearling came up and found Sage and Wynter very interesting. I kept telling the girls to get out of the way and not to get too close. Moments later the horse was nuzzling up on them, sniffing their hair and just plain old loving up on them. These horses we found near a neighborhood and often times they get fed and exposed to humans thus taming them from fear of us. This is good and bad. It subjects them to hanging around the neighborhoods and all it takes is one cranky neighbor to call the stage Ag department or BLM and off they go into a round up and forever gone from their natural home. Enjoy the pictures and the beauty and the grace of these incredible souls. As always, Keep It Wild and please, do anything you can to help protect these animals. That means being aware of Federal and State laws, writing, emailing and calling our government officials asking them to protect the animals under the Federal 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act, and opening up your own heart and soul to these magnificent animals.
With so much love,
Marie
With so much love,
Marie