Monday, February 10, 2014

Gratitude Monday -- In The Wild

752Horses 040
A wild horse near Rocky.

We got out for a drive on Friday and aimed for the Forestry Trunk Road, south and west of Rocky. Just before the turnoff from the secondary highway to the FTR we saw three wild horses standing in deep snow in the ditch.
I took several photos of them and then several more after we'd turned around and headed home.
They hadn't moved.
We saw the deep packed trails they made in along the ditches looking for food. It's a hard winter for a horse, and all the other wildlife, too.
I am grateful to have seen them, and I hope they survive.


12 comments:

messymimi said...

A lovely encounter, and i hope they survive, too. It's been a hard winter for everyone.

Leah J. Utas said...

Aye, Messymimi.

solarity said...

I'm looking at that smooth unbroken snow and wondering what on earth they're finding to eat. Goats can digest twigs and bark…horses, not so much.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Leah J. Utas said...

Mary Anne, they've trampled some trails so they may be finding grass. Also, I saw a few bare spots on south facing slopes. It's slim, though.

Tabor said...

All the animals and birds are sure having it tough this year and I am sure some will not make it. Hard to see these animals trying to hold on.

Leah J. Utas said...

It is difficult to see, Tabor.

the Bag Lady said...

This guy actually looks pretty darned good, considering how much snow we've had! It's been a tough winter on all living creatures.

Leah J. Utas said...

Yes, he wasn't nearly as ribby as the ones near Harlech, But, it could just be the angle.

Crabby McSlacker said...

Glad you captured the shot, and hoping for better weather and more abundant food for all the wildlife out there!

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks, Crabby. I hope so, too.

Hilary said...

It's difficult to see them struggle. I hope he does okay. I'll bet you were tempted to pick up some feed and scatter it for them...though unless the snow it packed down or very icy, it would likely just sink.

Leah J. Utas said...

Hilary, on the way out we saw a hay bale in the ditch. We could have given them free food.