Last fall I took an adventure with three equine photographers; Terri Cage Photography, Caitlin Demura Photography and Lynn Schwab Photography and drove to Coalgate, Oklahoma to visit the Mowdy Ranch, one of four wild horse sanctuaries in the United States designated as a public off-range pasture for the (BLM) Bureau of Land Management.
The Mowdy Ranch is made up of four thousand acres of wooded hills and open valleys in southeastern Oklahoma, the historical home of the legendary Choctaw ponies. Choctaw ponies were famous for their toughness and endurance which was showcased in the film “Hidalgo”. The ranch herd numbers about 350 adult mares who make it their home.
The ranch website tells us that "Mowdy Ranch is owned by Clay and Kit Mowdy whose children are the fifth generation to live and work on the ranch. The ranch's guest lodge can comfortably sleep up to 28 people in 6 private suites, it has kitchen and dining facilities which can accommodate larger groups and special events".
The Mowdy family strives to maintain the wild nature of the horses but also provide them with the care and love they deserve with constant monitoring the health and condition of the herd. The horses have lush pasture in the warmer months and hay and feed during the winter. Their mission is to give these majestic animals a second chance at a great life.
They go on to say "There are few things in this world as beautiful as the wild mustangs of North America" and I couldn't agree more. The wild Mustang's strong, independent spirit is very symbol of our nation and I'm proud that we, as a country, support their continued existence for everyone to enjoy.
Photographing The Wild Mustangs of Oklahoma Was an Adventure I'll Never Forget
Terri, Caitlin and I carpooled from the Dallas area and met Lynn up in Oklahoma. This was our first trip visiting the ranch so we didn't know what to expect. Upon our arrival we were met by Kit who gave us a tour of the lodging and we were blown away. Everything was neat and clean with a modern, western flair. We paired up and shared room, Terri and I in one and Caitlin and Lynn in the other.
Shortly after our arrival we were taken out onto the ranch by Clay in a four-wheeler, he knew right where the herd was and delivered us into the middle of it. We all jumped out, cameras in hand and started to approach the horses. Some are more skittish than others, but a few are quite bold and you can get pretty close. This herd is entirely made up of all mares unlike the Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse Ecosanctuary in Centennial Valley, WY that I've visited, which is all geldings (scroll down to keep reading about our girls' adventure).
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It was a bit chilly, especially as the sun started to set, but it was quiet, peaceful and you could hear the wind blowing and gently lifting the manes and tails of the horses as they grazed on the tall, yellow grass. We were rewarded with a stellar sunset and a few horses that played along with the game to give us perfect silhouettes.
After a couple hours of photographing, we headed back to our rooms to put up the cameras and drive into Coalgate for dinner at one of the local restaurants. When we returned to the Mowdy Ranch, we stopped by the game room and played a couple of rounds of Taboo and laughed ourselves silly. Then it was early to bed for the pre-dawn wake up for sunrise photography the next morning.
For this drive, Kit was behind the wheel and also knew right where the herd was. It was a cold morning, but clear and we saw a gorgeous sunrise along with a cameo appearance by a white tail buck. After a couple of hours of photographing, she took us on a full tour of the edges of the property and we found a small band of very skittish mares that we couldn't get very close to, but were stunning to see, even if from a distance.
Once we decided we were done for the morning - a tough call for photographers because you're assured that you're going to see something REALLY GREAT if you just hang out for a few more minutes - we headed back to the homestead. We only asked Kit to stop four times on the way (LOL), but I did capture the image of horses laying down on one of them, so it was totally worth it.
After packing our bags and loading up the cars, Lynn went on her way and Terri, Caitlin and I headed south back to Dallas, but not before stopping at an IHOP for a nice hot breakfast to warm ourselves back up!
Fall is a busy time of the year for photographers, and when we parted, we were all headed off to client sessions that weekend, but it was a needed break. Spending time with kindred souls, laughing and photographing for ourselves. We all agreed, we're totally doing it again so stay tuned!
Want to know more about wild horses and burros? The Bureau of Land Management website defines them as "unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming horses or burros found on public lands in the United States. Today, the Bureau of Land Management protects and manages wild horses and burros in balance with other public resource values on 177 herd management areas across 26.9 million acres of public lands. Most wild horses and burros living today are descendants of animals that were released or escaped from Spanish explorers, ranchers, miners, the U.S. Cavalry and Native Americans.
Wild horses and burros are diverse in their coloring, ranging from solid brown and black to colorful pintos and palominos. Most wild horses stand 13 to 15 hands high (52-60 inches) and weigh from 700 to 1,000 pounds. Wild burros average 11 hands high (44 inches) and weigh about 500 pounds.
Wild, free-roaming wild horses can be found on public lands across 10 western states. Wild burros roam rangeland in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Oregon. Pursuant to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the BLM and U.S. Forest Service manage wild horses on subsets of public lands where the animals were found upon passage of the Act in 1971. These areas are known as Herd Management Areas.
Wild horses and burros are known for their sure-footedness, strength, intelligence and endurance. With kindness and patience, these animals can be trained for many uses."
All Around The Pet Photography Circle
The topic is adventures this week in the pet photographer blog circle so it should be pretty exciting, let's start off with Carol Mudra of Apawture Studios in Milan, Italy who shares some of her favorite dog portraits from her recent EPIC photography retreat in Scotland and then continue clicking on the link at the bottom of each page for a breathtaking around-the-world tour of stunning pet and equine photography.
Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Certified Professional Photographer with the organization Professional Photographers of America; a designation held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. Tracy has always been a horse lover, getting her first pony at the age of nine and having them in her life for the next ten years until a family move and adulthood upended her ability to keep and care for a horse. She's been working on her husband recently with the chant "Can I get a horse?" To which he replies "No, we have three dogs and a cat". This repeats once or twice a week in their house.
Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, equine, family, couples & engagement and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.