In a post about bird banding a few weeks back, I mentioned Chico Basin Ranch, an active, environmentally-friendly cattle operation. Next to cows, the ranch offers a home to horses, so for me, each birding expedition turns into a horsing expedition as well. Despite having left my teenage riding days (far) behind, I have not done the same with my admiration for equine quadrupeds, resulting in an utter inability to bypass them without activating my camera.
As some of you might remember, earlier this year I had the unforgettable opportunity to spend 24 Hours Among Wild Horses. While the horses at Chico are not wild in that sense, they appear to live rather freely, at least during the summer, getting to roam and graze the meadows adjacent to Headquarter Pond, with Pikes Peak looming in the West, and the Great Plains stretching to the East. A good place to spend one’s days.
Click here for the German version/klicken Sie bitte hier für die deutsche Version:
tanja britton 
Lovely horse captures, Tanja. Of course, the colt is absolutely adorable as well! Along the mid-Atlantic coastline at Assateague Island Nat’l Seashore and Chincoteague NWR are the famous wild ponies that roam freely as you drive through the parks. You would LOVE seeing and photographing them! The annual “Pony Swim” occurs every July, where cowboys round up and bring onshore a herd where you can bid and buy one. This event memorializes the novel, Misty of Chincoteague”, written back in 1947 by Marguerite Henry. 🙂
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Thank you, Donna. A birding friend just returned from a trip to the Atlantic Coast where she visited and photographed the wild ponies, and I have no doubts that I would revel in that experience also. Since you recommend a trip there as well, I will have to plan one there soon!
The novel sounds interesting, I will try to find a copy in the library.
Best,
Tanja
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They are so beautiful ! Love horses!
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Thank you, they are gorgeous.
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Wonderful pictures. They look so wild!
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Thank you, Cathy, I agree. And what I like best is that they appear content with their existence, seen through my human eyes.
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Something to really admire!
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Lovely photos! Horses are a rare sight in Sri Lanka, and I’m not sure if there are any other than police horses. We have lots of ponies though!
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Thank you, Nirmala. Horses or ponies, I find all equines equally enthralling.
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These photos are so beautiful, as are their subjects! I’ve always loved horses, ever since I was a child x
Abby – http://www.seafoaming.com
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I have, too. They are very special creatures. Thank you for visiting and commenting.
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There’s something about the photos you compose where a single animal shapes the landscape that are mesmerizing. I am in love with your first photo and the boat-and-cow (steer?) composition.
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Thank you for your nice comment. Yes, the animal in the photo with the boat is a steer.
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Hi Tanja,
I wanted to comment on your recent enrty about Sand Creek, but there must be a glitch in the system, as I get “page not found” and if I try the German version, I get the “Pferdenärrisch” entry. 😧
Nevertheless, I very much like the Sand Creek entry. It is so interesting but also so sad. I always try to undestand, why there has been so much hatred against the Indians. And I think that even nowadays it is important that these stories are told over and over again.
Thank you for doing so!
kindest regards
Christa
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Hi Christa,
Thank you for paying attention, and for your comment. I accidentally published this post today as I was trying to figure out some technical problems. I will publish it on Nov. 29, the anniversary of the massacre. I agree with you, it is very sad what happened to the Indians who lived here long before their land was overrun.
Best wishes,
Tanja
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There is something majestic about horses. Perhaps it’s their wildness and seemingly carefree spirit and ruggedness. I do hope to be able to camp out among the wild mustangs some day. Beautiful photos, Tanja, especially the little one with his mama.
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Not sure why, but this comment ended up in my Spam folder, and I only now found it.
Thank you for your comment, Shannon. The mare and her foal absolutely stole my heart. 🙂
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No worries, Tanja. I try to remember and check the spam folder on my desktop every couple of weeks. Occasionally a wanted comment gets snagged in the nets — not often!
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[…] Chico Basin Ranch belongs to the Colorado State Land Board, but has been leased and managed since 1999 by an organization that became known as Ranchlands and is made up of ranchers who value land stewardship and conservation. The ranch raises seedstock Beefmaster cattle and Beefmaster-cross commercial calves. According to the organization’s website, it also engages “in guest programs, hunting and fishing, leather product manufacturing, education programs for K-12, college students and adults, ranch management training programs, arts programs, and ranch management services.” Additionally, the ranch offers a home to free-ranging horses, plus one very curious and affectionate burro who is known to poke his head into the open car window looking for TLC. The loveliness and conspicuous frolicking of the herd of horses resulted in a previous post which you can find here. […]
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