Although I returned from my road trip out West several weeks ago, I am still going through some of the images that I captured. One of the real highlights of the trip was staying for a few nights in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Unlike some other national parks in that part of the USA, like Yosemite and Glacier National Parks, this park is uncrowded and I was able to drive slowly on its roads and observe a variety of wildlife species.
One of my favorites was the bands of wild horses that live in the national park. It’s estimated that there are about 200 wild horses in the park, though it is hard to know for sure. Most of the time I spotted some of the horses at a distance, out of the range of my telephoto lens, but I did have a few closer encounters and was able to capture some decent images of them.
It was interesting to note that the horse in the final photo is wearing what looks to be some kind of tracking collar. I am not sure if this is a normal practice at the national park or if the horse is part of some special study.
I grew up watching lots of Western show on television, like The Rifleman, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke. As a result, I have a special fondness for cowboys and find it really cool to see wild horses and bison herds.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Mike, there’s nothing like wild horses. These captures are stunning! My friend, I STILL watch westerns every day. It’s a joke among my friends. I’ll call my dad and say, “Did you know there’s a new episode of The Rifleman?”
Thanks so much for your kind words. I guess the only “westerns” that I watch nowadays are reruns of Walker Texas Ranger with Chuck Norris. I know that there are channels with old westerns that I probably get, but I have not run across yet. For what it’s worth, at a certain time of my life I was a big fan of Zane Grey novels–I was very much a bookworm at that time.
You’re welcome! Yes, Zane Grey! My grandma read Louis La’Amour books!
These free-roaming horses are descendants of domestic horses brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Over time, they became feral and established populations in the wild.
Thanks for the background of the horses. I suspected that they were originally domesticated horses, but now they roam more or less freely in the national park. I think that periodically the do round-ups and sell some the horses to prevent overpopulation.
Nice shots!
Thanks. I was fortunate to spot the horses and was glad that I had the chance to photograph them.
I grew watching Wagon Trails, Bonanza and Star Trek in syndication. I’m a sucker for a western. John Wayne? No! Clint Eastwood and Sergio Leone spaghetti Westerns? Heck , yes!
We have a lot of domesticated horses in New Jersey.
Great photography. The American Mustang is truly amazing!
Thanks. I like in Northern Virginia and was passing through North Dakota on a road trip, so it was super special to see these wild horses.
Great Photography! The American Mustang is truly amazing!