There are no horses like the wild horses of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Their ancestry is legendary (see more here).
Horses everywhere are popular. Worldwide, from China to Scotland, from Louisiana to Montana, horses are eye-catching, admired and loved. This is different. These horses at the South Unit of TRNP garner not only the natural affections of viewers but to those in the know, they are extraordinarily respected. They are descendants of Sitting Bull’s personal horse herd, and some are marked as Medicine Hat Horses, the spiritual horses used by Sitting Bull. The black and white paint is a Medicine Hat horse. (Here’s how they’re linked to Sitting Bull)
This summer gave us two unexpected encounters with the wild horses. Earlier in June, we were well-positioned for a parade around us, kicking up dust as they ran down the hill toward us. Playfully, they ran past us.
In September, a couple of the stallions gave us and other visitors an early day posing session. We recorded video and stills of the pair before they ambled off. Others who were driving the loop that morning stopped to photograph the pair. No one was in a hurry, so it was peaceful, pleasant and rewarding.
Our tip:
The earlier in the morning you can drive the loop through the park, the better will be your opportunity to photograph one or more. The delicate warm light of the day illuminates the horses and you share the moment with fewer crowds when you are there early.