To the water hole we go!
The black stallion decides when to go and the rest follow. His first mare is second in command and will also lead the group so the stallion can stay behind to protect the herd and fight if necessary.
It was getting dark when I saw this herd of about 35 horses led by another black stallion.
This was a fantastic moment. I was hooked. I had to follow this herd, too. Back and forth across the plains until they accepted my presence.
I love the USA!
The mini black stallion junior. Le semantal negro.
The young pony was very photogenic and curious.
Just a note to say that the wild horses of America are having a difficult time surviving in the changing times. Although 34 million acres has been allotted to them, they tend to wander off into private land. Ranchers do not like them because they then use up grazing land and need to be removed by the Bureau of Land Management. They can double in size every four years. Apparently the 33,000 wild horses left in America is costing the taxpayers millions of dollars. There is simply not enough land for them. Brought over by the Spaniards in the 1500’s, they bred with escaped quarter and draft horses in the west. Used in the short-lived Pony Express (19 months in operation, 1859-1861), small horses under 15 hands were desired, thus known as ponies. Last week 250 wild ponies were captured by the BLM in Nevada and 11 were euthanized because of starvation, causing a big controversy with animal activists.
