In Search of a White Stallion

Gray Ghost in 2010

For those of you who have been following our travels, you may remember that the first wild horse I ever photographed was in 2010, here in Theodore Roosevelt's South Unit.  The white stallion is known in the park as Gray Ghost (born in 2002).  This band stallion has a harem of about eight mares.  (If you would like to read about our first encounter, please click here:  Diamond in the Rough).  Several years ago, although badly wounded in a battle with another stallion, he still valiantly protected his band (see Lagniappe and Wild Horses).  Gray Ghost recovered and maintained his band.  He also was able to stay free in the park after the last round up.

Earlier this year, I saw a post from a group that monitors the wild horses here in TRNP that Gray Ghost lost his band this spring when two brother bachelor stallions fought him and won.  One of the victorious stallions then drove his brother from the band.  The group reported that Gray Ghost was again badly injured and alone.  We had heard nothing about the stallion since early spring.  We came to TRNP this year to find him.

The South Unit is over 46,000 acres in size, much of it accessible only by foot or horseback.  With Roxanne in tow (dogs are not allowed on national park trails), we knew that locating this stallion would be like finding a needle in a haystack.  Hope, however, springs eternal.

After our many visits to TRNP, we have grown fond of several bands within the park.  On our first tour around the 26-mile wildlife loop that evening, we were happy to find the black stallion and his band.  He had obviously had a grand time rolling in the mud.

We also saw bison, deer, and a coyote running so close to the road that I couldn't capture all of him in the frame because I was using my long-range lens.

We knew that Gray Ghost's former territory had been near the Coal Vein hiking trail.  To our chagrin, we discovered the gravel road to Coal Vein closed.  A park ranger informed us that the enormous amount of rain they had received this spring washed the road out.  Not even foot traffic was allowed on it.  

The following morning, we found Cloud and his band in the Skyline prairie dog town.

The bison were just coming out of rut.  We witnessed several grunting bouts but no fights.

Day three, and still no white stallion.  We awoke to find Cloud and his band grazing right through the campground.  Then, during our morning jaunt around the wildlife loop, we spied a band in Grey Ghost's old territory.  I recognized the boss mare.  It was Grey Ghost's old band, now led by the wretched stallion who, with help from his brother, won the band.

On the evening wildlife loop tour, we saw turkeys, more prairie dogs, and the stallion known as Silver and his boss mare.

While temperatures were mild during the day, it was still too warm to leave Roxanne in the car most of the time.  We awoke early our fourth morning to temperatures in the low 50s... cool enough to leave Rox to hike up the Ridgeline trail.  We found a lovely cottonwood in color and in the distance a gray stallion with a band, but not my white stallion.

Feeling thwarted, we decided to hike up Buck Hill.  We had been hiking the south bluff next to Buck Hill because it was closer to Coal Vein and had a great vantage point to view the area.  The more northern Buck Hill overlooks less of the Coal Vein area but is a bit higher.

Once on top, David did a thorough search with his binoculars, while I peered through my long-range lens to survey the area.  Then I spied a white dot on a distant bluff.  I called to David, and he confirmed... it was a white horse.  Using David's shoulder to steady the camera, we counted to three, then both of us held our breath.  I took a shot, then used David to shadow the LED display.  I blew up the photo as much as possible.  Without a doubt... we had found him!

Not only did we locate Gray Ghost, but he had a light grey horse with him.  We later learned that it is another bachelor stallion.  Although it was difficult to tell from such a great distance, Grey Ghost looked healthy.  Glory be... we had found my white stallion!

It was easy to change focus now and take in the beauty of TRNP.  When greeted by another chilly morning, we took a hike up Wind Canyon.

View from Wind Canyon, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Cottonwood Creek, Theodore National Park, South Unit

Over the next several days, we climbed Buck Hill each morning.  Each time we were able to see my white stallion grazing in the far distance.  On our final full day at TRNP, we also found the stallion we affectionately call Big Red, the last horse that I needed to see for this visit to feel complete.  

Another close encounter with a coyote... a prairie dog gathering grass for the upcoming winter... more beautiful scenery... more wild horses.  

Our last evening at TRNP, we sat overlooking Cottonwood Creek, enjoying a beautiful sunset, warm weather, and blue skies.  It was yet another wonderful ending to a fantastic trip... I love this park!