Uploaded on Nov 26, 2008
The Stallion and the Foal:
"Spanish Confrontacion" by Jimmy Gelhaar, http://www.JimmyG.us
While photographing in the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Management Area in April 2008, we came upon one of the most unusual and dramatic situations I've seen since I began documenting the wild horses. My husband and I were told that there was possibly an abandoned foal in the company of a bachelor stallion known as "Chaco. Two of the more plausible reasons why this foal had been abandoned are that a visitor had gotten too close to a new mother who consequently abandoned the foal, or, that the mare foaled very close to the fence line (as seen in the photos) and the foal simply rolled under the fence where the mare was unable to reach it.
In any case, Chaco became this foal's guardian and he took this responsibility very seriously as evidenced when another bachelor stallion, "Chiricahua" came to investigate the pale Palomino-colored youngster. The images depict the longest and most fierce stallion battle I have ever witnessed. Were we about to watch this little foal get caught up in and probably trampled during this stallion confrontation? That was not an image I wanted to capture. (Maybe Chiricahua simply wanted the baby as a prize, like a mare. I don't know that his intentions were to actually hurt the foal, but he certainly gave his all vying for possession). As night fell, we knew we had to leave, but I was sick about it as I felt sure there would be no happy ending for this little baby.
When we returned to the HMA (Herd Management Area) in the morning with Tricia, the Wild Horse Specialist from the Cody BLM, we expected to find that the pretty little foal had not made it through the night (since no mare was nursing this baby). To our amazement, the foal was up and walking and still being tended to by Chaco. As we watched from a distance, Chaco coaxed the little foal until she was finally through a gate. I was told later that Chaco guided that foal all the way down a hill to its mother, Sierra - a mare in Olathe's band. Thanks to Chaco's efforts, the mare and baby (a filly named Little Medicine) are still together and doing well.
Note: I have a long lens, the images have been cropped and, as always, my husband was spotting for me. Please do not get too close to wild horses. During foaling season from March - mid July, it is imperative to keep your distance or a mare may abandon her foal. Please do not interfere or attempt to rescue a wild foal.
My new "Our Wild Horses II" DVD is completely instrumental and features the music of the highly acclaimed, international composer, Bruce Rowland (selections from the much loved "The Man From Snowy River" movie soundtrack and more), Jimmy Gelhaar and Donovan Johnson and Kevin Martinez of, "Prairie Desert Music." This DVD also comes packaged with a small reference booklet with thumbnail images that gives locations and any information known about each of the horses in the 374 photos. There is also another, different video clip posted on the "Our Wild Horses II" DVD page. Complete information and ordering options are at: http://www.NickolesPhotography.com
This video clip is not representative of the image quality of the actual DVD. This is one of 14 songs on the DVD.
As always, my DVD's are created in support of efforts to preserve our living legends - our wild horses.
The Stallion and the Foal:
"Spanish Confrontacion" by Jimmy Gelhaar, http://www.JimmyG.us
While photographing in the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Management Area in April 2008, we came upon one of the most unusual and dramatic situations I've seen since I began documenting the wild horses. My husband and I were told that there was possibly an abandoned foal in the company of a bachelor stallion known as "Chaco. Two of the more plausible reasons why this foal had been abandoned are that a visitor had gotten too close to a new mother who consequently abandoned the foal, or, that the mare foaled very close to the fence line (as seen in the photos) and the foal simply rolled under the fence where the mare was unable to reach it.
In any case, Chaco became this foal's guardian and he took this responsibility very seriously as evidenced when another bachelor stallion, "Chiricahua" came to investigate the pale Palomino-colored youngster. The images depict the longest and most fierce stallion battle I have ever witnessed. Were we about to watch this little foal get caught up in and probably trampled during this stallion confrontation? That was not an image I wanted to capture. (Maybe Chiricahua simply wanted the baby as a prize, like a mare. I don't know that his intentions were to actually hurt the foal, but he certainly gave his all vying for possession). As night fell, we knew we had to leave, but I was sick about it as I felt sure there would be no happy ending for this little baby.
When we returned to the HMA (Herd Management Area) in the morning with Tricia, the Wild Horse Specialist from the Cody BLM, we expected to find that the pretty little foal had not made it through the night (since no mare was nursing this baby). To our amazement, the foal was up and walking and still being tended to by Chaco. As we watched from a distance, Chaco coaxed the little foal until she was finally through a gate. I was told later that Chaco guided that foal all the way down a hill to its mother, Sierra - a mare in Olathe's band. Thanks to Chaco's efforts, the mare and baby (a filly named Little Medicine) are still together and doing well.
Note: I have a long lens, the images have been cropped and, as always, my husband was spotting for me. Please do not get too close to wild horses. During foaling season from March - mid July, it is imperative to keep your distance or a mare may abandon her foal. Please do not interfere or attempt to rescue a wild foal.
My new "Our Wild Horses II" DVD is completely instrumental and features the music of the highly acclaimed, international composer, Bruce Rowland (selections from the much loved "The Man From Snowy River" movie soundtrack and more), Jimmy Gelhaar and Donovan Johnson and Kevin Martinez of, "Prairie Desert Music." This DVD also comes packaged with a small reference booklet with thumbnail images that gives locations and any information known about each of the horses in the 374 photos. There is also another, different video clip posted on the "Our Wild Horses II" DVD page. Complete information and ordering options are at: http://www.NickolesPhotography.com
This video clip is not representative of the image quality of the actual DVD. This is one of 14 songs on the DVD.
As always, my DVD's are created in support of efforts to preserve our living legends - our wild horses.
"Spanish Confrontacion" by Jimmy Gelhaar, http://www.JimmyG.us
While photographing in the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Management Area in April 2008, we came upon one of the most unusual and dramatic situations I've seen since I began documenting the wild horses. My husband and I were told that there was possibly an abandoned foal in the company of a bachelor stallion known as "Chaco. Two of the more plausible reasons why this foal had been abandoned are that a visitor had gotten too close to a new mother who consequently abandoned the foal, or, that the mare foaled very close to the fence line (as seen in the photos) and the foal simply rolled under the fence where the mare was unable to reach it.
In any case, Chaco became this foal's guardian and he took this responsibility very seriously as evidenced when another bachelor stallion, "Chiricahua" came to investigate the pale Palomino-colored youngster. The images depict the longest and most fierce stallion battle I have ever witnessed. Were we about to watch this little foal get caught up in and probably trampled during this stallion confrontation? That was not an image I wanted to capture. (Maybe Chiricahua simply wanted the baby as a prize, like a mare. I don't know that his intentions were to actually hurt the foal, but he certainly gave his all vying for possession). As night fell, we knew we had to leave, but I was sick about it as I felt sure there would be no happy ending for this little baby.
When we returned to the HMA (Herd Management Area) in the morning with Tricia, the Wild Horse Specialist from the Cody BLM, we expected to find that the pretty little foal had not made it through the night (since no mare was nursing this baby). To our amazement, the foal was up and walking and still being tended to by Chaco. As we watched from a distance, Chaco coaxed the little foal until she was finally through a gate. I was told later that Chaco guided that foal all the way down a hill to its mother, Sierra - a mare in Olathe's band. Thanks to Chaco's efforts, the mare and baby (a filly named Little Medicine) are still together and doing well.
Note: I have a long lens, the images have been cropped and, as always, my husband was spotting for me. Please do not get too close to wild horses. During foaling season from March - mid July, it is imperative to keep your distance or a mare may abandon her foal. Please do not interfere or attempt to rescue a wild foal.
My new "Our Wild Horses II" DVD is completely instrumental and features the music of the highly acclaimed, international composer, Bruce Rowland (selections from the much loved "The Man From Snowy River" movie soundtrack and more), Jimmy Gelhaar and Donovan Johnson and Kevin Martinez of, "Prairie Desert Music." This DVD also comes packaged with a small reference booklet with thumbnail images that gives locations and any information known about each of the horses in the 374 photos. There is also another, different video clip posted on the "Our Wild Horses II" DVD page. Complete information and ordering options are at: http://www.NickolesPhotography.com
This video clip is not representative of the image quality of the actual DVD. This is one of 14 songs on the DVD.
As always, my DVD's are created in support of efforts to preserve our living legends - our wild horses.
1 comment:
This was fun - thank you !
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