It was a cloudy an overcast day today in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks. Days like this are perfect opportunities for photography because the light is ideal.
We were on a mission today to try and find the main Shawnee Creek Herd of 11 horses (2 foals), and the two bands of Rock Creek, a total of 18 wild horses with three foals.
We were blessed today with finding the main Shawnee Creek herd at the main fields over by the Jacks Fork River. This was a special treat because the main herd has not been at this location since January 1st.
The visiting Broadfoot mare and her foal disrupted the normal behavior of this herd at the end of last year in a way that I never expected. The main Shawnee Creek herd did not tolerate the visiting horses and left the area.
Over the last two months, the main herd has avoided this area and has mainly been in the Two Rivers area. It was a delight to see them at this location today, and it always makes me wonder what drove this change and why they returned.
Just as I expected, the “two old ladies” from the Shawnee Creek herd and the visiting Broadfoot mare and her foal were nowhere to be found today. The “two old ladies” are longtime members of the Shawnee Creek herd, but they stopped roaming with them last fall and stayed behind. A little after this started happening, a blind mare and her foal from Broadfoot appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
At first, the two old ladies and the visiting horses didn’t associate with each other. Over the course of about three weeks, I saw them slowly integrating and eventually, they became a cohesive unit.
I hiked along the river and went to the Two Rivers area. I even went to Broadfoot in case they went there, but I had no luck finding them anywhere. I suspect they were hiding in the woods somewhere.
I can’t wait to learn if this new occurrence becomes the new “norm” or if the herd leaves the area again and the other four return. If the main herd decides to stick around for a while, I am fascinated to know what the four other horses are doing.
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Photos From Shawnee Creek Today
ROCKY CREEK HERD
The second half of the day was spent finding and watching the elusive Rocky Creek herd.
This herd is the wildest of all herds and the most diverse in color.
The Rocky Creek herd started splitting into two bands at the end of last year. We didn’t find them together for a while, but eventually, they came back together, but they organize into two different bands and don’t mingle amongst each band. The stallions are very territorial, and I suspect this may have been the key reason behind the reorganization. As of today, Band # 1 has 10 horses and one foal. Band # 2 has 8 horses and 2 foals.
We found all 18 of the horses today near the Current River, and they were separated into two bands as they have been since last year. I suspect this is because of the dominance of the two stallions. Both of these stallions are in their primes and simply magnificent.
ROCKY CREEK Stallion Band # 2
The stallion for band # 2 is on the far left of this photo, and there are a total of 8 horses in this band with 2 foals at this time. The white mare in the middle is the second in command, and the black stallion on the far right is an up-and-coming young stallion that I suspect will run out of the herd soon because the lead stallion won’t tolerate his advances on his ladies.
ROCKY CREEK Stallion Band # 1
This is the lead stallion from band # 1 with ten horses and one foal. This stallion is strong, fast, and very decisive. I have seen him hand out corrections to his herd and lay down the law.
Today was magical because I was fortunate enough to be in the right location when Band # 2 decided to run at full speed when a young deer spooked them. It was fascinating to watch the boss mare from this band signal the rest of her herd and then lead them away from perceived danger. With over 50 million years of DNA wiring helping them detect predators, it is amazing to watch this in person.
This amazing day got even better later in the afternoon.
I was about to wrap it up for the day and start the hike back, and then I noticed Band # 1 seemed to be agitated. I have seen the Rocky Creek herd in this area several times and keep good notes on their behaviors. I was fairly close to an area where I have seen them escape before, so I took a chance and took cover at the edge of the woods.
My patience paid off, and the band decided to run at full speed in the area where I suspected they might run. I could hear the thunder of them running at full speed before seeing them.
My heart was racing with anticipation, wondering if and when the horses would break through the woods and emerge in the open area.
The thunder of their hoofs got louder, and within moments the boss mare broke through the edge of the woods and lead the thundering band of wild horses to safety.
The entire experience probably lasted less than 15 to 20 seconds, but it felt like it played out over a long time.
Band # 1 Running at Full Speed
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Wild Horses of Missouri History
Shannon County, Missouri, is home to a beautiful herd of wild horses in Southeast Missouri in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways on public land about 130 miles from Springfield and 150 miles from St. Louis.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system and the only state where wild horses still roam free. It hasn’t been an easy path for the wild horses over the last 100 years, and it would be foolish to think current conditions couldn’t change and put them back in danger again.
During the 1980s, the National Park Service announced a plan to remove Shannon Counties’ wild horses, and people were outraged.
In 1993 the U.S. Supreme Court denied a final appeal to protect the horses and gave the National Park Service the right to remove the horses from federal land. The national park service started removing the wild horses in a profoundly upsetting way to residents and horse lovers around the country. The people of Shannon County and horse lovers around the country rallied together, and the Wild Horse League of Missouri was formed.
Luckily, by 1996 the Wild Horse League of Missouri, which was formed in 1992 to save the wild horses, received help from the people of Shannon County, congressman Bill Emerson, Senators Kit Bond, and John Ashcroft.
Their tireless efforts paid off, and President Clinton signed a bill into law on October 3, 1996, to make the wild horses of Shannon County a permanent part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, with conditions. You can read more about the law.
Reading and understanding the law referenced above is essential because these wild horses’ freedom relies on compliance with the law. The National Park Service or anyone could claim the horses are causing harm or being a nuisance, and the removal process could start again.
People worldwide visit Shannon County hoping to see these majestic wild horses; their long-term protection and survival depend on people and public policy.
Per the Ozark Wild Horse Protection Act, the Missouri Wild Horse League works with the National Park Service to capture some horses when the herd exceeds 50. The captured horses are taken into care and evaluated before being adopted by loving families for permanent homes.
Learn more about how you can help protect Missouri’s wild horses and become part of a positive legacy that is focused on trying to make the world a better place today and for future generations.