The Gathering

“The Gathering”

In western Alberta we have various small herds of wild horses that freely roam the foothills of the Canadian Rockies that we call “Wildies.” Some originated from “The Depression” of the 1930’s when the work horses were turned loose after the coal mines and logging camps were shut down in the west country. Over the years, escaped or illegally abandoned horses have been added to the numbers, creating the multiple breeds found in the herds today. On this particular day we came across 3 bands of wild horses west of Sundre, Alberta, numbering over 50 horses, that had congregated together in this meadow, the largest number together we had ever seen! We sat and watched them for hours as the stallions were fighting, the mares were grazing, and the foals were lying amongst the beautiful wildflowers. Upon returning home that night, we thought we’d venture out again the next day in hopes of seeing them one last time. After driving for hours in the same area, sadly not one horse was to be found, as they had all separated and moved onward. Often is the case when searching for these amazing “Wildies” that call Alberta home.

- Stan Masters

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