Follow Me

Story

“Follow me!” the young colt cried and took off down the hill. The mare, being older and wiser, took off after her young, but not quite as quickly as she might have. She knew she would catch up in short order, and indeed, she did.

The horses continued across Wyoming’s Red Desert at a quick, yet easy to maintain, pace. Up small hills and down, mother followed son. Up and down the small hills they went, quickly putting the miles behind them.

Altogether, it was a good day in the desert for all concerned. It was spring, and the colt was just a couple of weeks old. Old enough to be well on his way to being self-sufficient, yet young enough that each hill was a new adventure waiting to happen.

Recent rains had brought much-needed moisture, including standing water here and there, into the desert, so food and water, perennial problems, was not much of an issue. Temperatures were moderate, winds light, and all in all it was a glorious day.

The Red Desert has little to no fencing between the different fields, making it easy for the horses to go where they please. Roads are few and far between, and all of them are dirt. Visitors to the desert are few and far between, and only the oilmen are regulars here.

The wild horses have been sharing this ritual for as long as there has been time. Free from everyone, they live life on their terms, wild and free, strong and proud. Let’s hope that we continue to be good stewards of the desert and let them stay as they have always known.

More wild horses from the Red Desert

Stallion Battle is another wild horse moment you don’t want to miss.