GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist has written a blog about science since 4 August 2004 (the early years are archived 
tags: wild stallions, National Geographic, international photography contest, image of the day
Wild Stallions
Image: Chris Gimmeson,
Nature Honorable Mention,
2008 International Photography Contest [larger view].
The photographer writes:
These are two wild stallions from the McCullough Peak's herd of wild horses, which is located just outside of Cody, Wyoming. This image was taken in September 2008 with a Canon Rebel XSI and a long telephoto lens. I expected them to fight but they went back to grazing after a minute of posturing. The peaks area is pretty desolate, with little in the way of water supply and a lack of trees. The main staple for their grazing is sagebrush.
There's lots more gorgeous images here for you to enjoy!
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Comments
Feral stallions would be more accurate.
Posted by: Sheri | December 2, 2008 3:47 PM
yes, but they don't know they're feral!
(besides, what is the time limit for feral-ness? horses did, after all, evolve in north america)
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | December 2, 2008 3:50 PM
Too often we do not see that stallions are not the fire breathing dragons they are made out to be. Stallions that are raised in a herd environment often meet and greet other stallions who aren't challenging them for the mares.
Posted by: Holly | December 2, 2008 4:33 PM
Maybe, but that pinto on the left sure has a lot of battle scars! I imagine the bay does as well, we just can't see them.
Posted by: Tlazolteotl | December 3, 2008 1:44 PM
Mmm...I think feralness is pretty much a permanent condition. Cows =/= bison, German Shepherds =/= wolves, domestic horses =/= extinct native horses. Lovely animals in the appropriate setting, just not a part of our native ecosystems.
Posted by: Sheri | December 4, 2008 4:29 AM
Excellent!
Posted by: Bill S. Preston Esq. | December 4, 2008 5:50 AM
"Maybe, but that pinto on the left sure has a lot of battle scars! "
or just scars, not battle scars. Many of the horses turned out in pastures have scars too. Boys tend to play rough, mock fighting, biting and kicking at one another. This is not to say that fighting does not occur, it does, but many times meeting is greeting, not aggression. And in a herd environment, it is more evident.
Posted by: Holly | December 14, 2008 4:21 PM
I LOVE this photo, the way the 2 horses come together! I am a young equestrian and photographer and I love taking pictures of horses! They are my favorite subject. Come visit me at http://www.stabledays.typepad.com.
Your Horse Pal,
@raya
Posted by: Araya | February 1, 2009 8:34 PM