After taking a random route from Wyoming back to Colorado, I spotted a sign for Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses and I decided to take an unexpected detour. My plan was originally to be in Oregon by this time, but the air quality from forest fires was so poor there that I couldn't go unless I wanted to give myself daily asthma attacks. So, the clean Colorado air was a welcomed alternative.
Before this day, I had never spent any time in this part of the state and I had no idea about the nearly 157,000 acre herd management area. I had no idea what to expect or if I'd even see any wild horses. Eventually I spotted a trio of white/gray horses in the distance. I stopped to take some pics, but the horses were a little timid and far away. The light was really nice, so I stayed put to see if maybe they'd drift my direction.
To my surprise, I noticed a pair of darker sorrel horses coming up behind me. At first they drifted towards the other horses but soon, the female took a direct line my direction. She was calm and slow, but very deliberate. Closer and closer they came with her mustang closely behind. Soon she was so close that I could not take pictures because a) my long lens needs 12 feet, b) at 12 feet I can't even photo her whole face and c) OMG why is she so close and so curious about me!? She wanted to make contact and at maybe 3-4 feet away I gently told her that she was just too close. I wanted to pet her and she seemed like that's what she wanted to, but she respected my ask as I also stepped back away from her. She and her mate stayed just a few feet away for 15-20 minutes before they slowly grazed elsewhere.
I love the shot of her winking at me, and I really love the mustang portrait shot. They were sooo very close that I just could not get their whole face and ears in the frame most of the time. I would step back and she would come closer... which in some ways was just fabulous. I've had wild horses come to me before, but I don't have enough experience to know if this is normal or not.
I had plans to be elsewhere that day, so I wrapped up and moved it along. But, I would come back in a couple days only to find this same pair in another dramatic exchange.
