The new foals are making their appearance. These horses are part of the White Mountain horses in Sweetwater County Wyoming.

The American west is home to thousands of untamed, free-roaming horses that are descendants of horses brought here by Spanish explorers. Many live in this area of Wyoming, this particular group being the White Mountain wild horses, located near historic Pilot Butte. I am always amazed that they can survive the bitter cold winters. They look hardy and are handsome animals. I've added some views of the high desert terrain that is home for these horses. Many of the bands are highly mobile, and I might not see them again over the course of the summer. They live in a vast sagebrush desert with few trees. There are mountains and steep canyons into which the horses can disappear. Sometimes the horses will allow a close approach, sometimes they won't. Some horses are more curious than others and will approach me when I am shooting. Sometimes the foals will drift too close and a mare or stallion will block their approach or even take a nip at them. On occasion a band will drift right by me. Again, these horses are wild and are not fenced nor do they live in a sanctuary. They share the high desert with elk, deer, antelope, and other wild critters. There are numerous domestic sheep in this area. I am sure there are predators such as mountain lions.

As of August 2011 the BLM is planning to roundup and remove most of the horses from this and surrounding areas. A few will be returned but the mares will be given birth control drugs. Originally BLM was going to castrate all the stallions but this plan was thwarted by legal action in Washington DC. These horses live in vast deserts and they are often hard to find. Many more sheep and cattle are allowed to graze on federal land than horses.It appears that there will be very few foals in the future.

08/28/11 I happened to see the return of about 30 mares. This was a great sight and a great day. The horses look healthy and it appears that there is more color in the returning horses. See photos at the bottom of the gallery.