Lagniappe and Wild Horses

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

We spent six glorious days in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  After our experiences here, we definitely feel that anything more than this is just plain lagniappe… a Cajun term for an extra gift or bonus.  The weather was perfect, with warm, sunny days and cold nights.  I am also extremely happy to report that my “trigger finger” is now completely satisfied, having shot over 1,200 photos, mostly of wild horses!

We awoke our first morning at the park eager to make the wildlife loop again.  The standoff between the roan and the black had been truly exceptional to watch.  Now we began our quest to find the white stallion and his band.  If you remember, the white stallion was the very first wild horse that I ever photographed.  We discovered him on our first trip to the park in 2010. 

Last year, however, when we found him again, he was injured.  He had a terrible gash on the inside of his left foreleg that appeared to go almost to the bone.  He was limping badly. 

The park was dusting for noxious weeds at the time.  As I was photographing the horses, a chopper rose from a gully, frightening the band.  The stallion turned and gallantly stood to take on this huge metal beast while his boss mare led the band to safety.  Only after the entire band had fled did the wounded stallion turn to save himself.  My heart broke as we watched him limp out of sight. 

We did not find the stallion or his band on our visit last March.  For over a year now, I had wondered if he had survived his injuries.  If he had, would he still be able to lead his band?  Would we find him this trip?

The following two days, we found many old friends.  We found the big red stallion, now leading a small herd of his own.  We saw bison and deer galore… a pair of bull elk, antelope, and a coyote.  

During the days we lolled around the camp, reading and enjoying the warm breeze.  We off-loaded the camper to see how easy it might be on future trips.  One afternoon, one of the young stallions that had made the campground their territory took a dust bath just behind our campsite.

Even the prairie dogs seemed happy to see us and gave us their happy “high five” signal... which I finally captured... albeit on a shaky video!

On our third morning traveling the park loop, we passed Paddock Creek and spied a band of wild horses near the roadside.  One of the horses was white.  David pulled up short so that I could slip out of the truck to determine which band it was.  Within moments, my heart was soaring… it was the white stallion!  He was completely healed and leading his band… and it had increased in size!

The white stallion and his band

I motioned for David to join me.  For the next half hour or so, we were blessed to watch this band interact and graze.  One of the mares moved about twenty yards from the rest of the horses and whinnied.  The white stallion promptly herded her back to the others, nipping her behind.  They grazed along a well-worn path.  Although we had to quietly move several times to stay out of their way, they seemed comfortable with our being near.

This was more than I had even hoped for… a true blessing and gift.  Satisfied and rested, we spent the remainder of our time in the park relishing the downtime, wildlife, changing colors, and the views.

The morning we left the park, the big red stallion offered the comic relief we needed.  We spied him on a hilltop on the road to the Coal Vein trailhead.  David and I climbed a nearby hill and noticed the horse swaying ever so slightly.  On closer inspection, we discovered that his eyes were closed.  He was sleeping and wavered back and forth to keep his balance. 

As we drove out of the park, we agreed that the extra miles had been more than worth the travel time.  We turned now to the last leg of our journey… a visit with David’s mother and sister before we headed back to the Carolinas and on to Orlando.  In three weeks, we will be home.

This park has become our “ending” place, marking the beginning of our journey home.  With the horses and other wildlife, it offers a brilliant finale to our trips.  I think that it also feels that way because of the stars.  Each evening as the stars come out, we gaze at the big dipper as it hangs over the campground… in the exact same place that it hangs over our driveway at home. 

Our thoughts are turning towards home sweet home.  We travel onward now and count our extraordinary blessings.

North Dakota on Dwellable