wild horses

For a field trip, I went with some members of my camera club up to the lower end of the Outer Banks.  We took a ferry over to Shackleford Island to photograph the wild horses.  So, I got up at 4:00 and we headed out about 45 minutes later.  It took 2.5 hours to get up there.  The ferry ride took a little over a half hour and we spent 3 hours on the island before taking the ferry back to the main land and all having lunch together.  We were all so hungry after hiking the sandy, hilly island.  Most of us were close to being dehydrated, too, since there weren't any bathrooms on the island so no one wanted to drink anything.

A few of us found 3 horses and photographed them for awhile before walking across the island and meeting up with many of the rest of the group.  Over there, we watched 8 horse graze for a while, then stopped to see the mother and foal before hiking back to the ferry launch.  We were supposed to stay 50 feet away from the horses, but they came pretty close to us. They weren't bothered by us, but didn't come looking for anything either. It wasn't like they were seeking food or anything.  All they did was eat grass most of the morning.  It was hard to find them with their heads up.

These horses have been on the island for over 300 years. They are wild, but their mating is controlled.  One guy on the boat told us there are 150 on the island, but he didn't sound very convincing to me.  I'd have to look it up to be sure.

Here is the island before getting off the ferry when we arrived.

Here are the first horses we came upon.

So, we hung out with them for a while.  As you can see, they came pretty close to us sitting there.  

They wouldn't run slowly through the marsh, kicking up waves with their feet while their manes flowed in the breeze like we all wanted them to do.  Apparently, wild horses do not follow directions any better than my cats do.  

This horse with the white mane was so pretty!   

Then, we hiked across the island - through the mud.  I lost my shoe at one point and ended up stepping right into mud, but at least it wasn't stepping right into horse poop - which was everywhere.

After we crossed the island, we met up with a bunch of the other photographers and these 8 horses.

Photographers in action.

 Finally, we headed over to see a mother and foal the others told us about.  The baby was sitting up when we arrived.  I think he had been walking when they first saw him.

He soon showed us he was too tired to entertain us anymore.  

 Naptime.

 What a view!

 Then we headed back to the ferry launch area.  About a 25 minute hike.

Here comes the ferry.

 We had to wake this guy up when we were boarding!

It was a great way to spend a Saturday!!