Great Divide Basin, Wyoming

Returning to the area after the 2011 roundup, one can never predict what lies ahead.

I'm deeply grateful that the horses I encountered were thriving and full of vitality. It was a joyous moment to reconnect with familiar faces... including an older mare whom I had doubted would survive, yet here she stood, alive and spirited, accompanied by a healthy, feisty young colt. Witnessing this was truly a profound gift.

The sex ratios were noticeably skewed; never before had I seen such a prevalence of older bachelor bands in all my years of exploration. EVER. Consequently, there was an unprecedented number of injuries inflicted by the dominant stallions. While injuries are an inherent part of life in the wild, this trip presented a higher incidence than I had ever encountered before.

Despite the challenges, there was an overwhelming sense of pride in returning to this place for the third time, especially mere weeks after adopting a beautiful, young gelding from the very same area.

This vast and breathtaking American landscape served as his home, and the horses here, his family.