Steamboat Springs and Sand Wash Basin for wild horses

 As we do when planning trips, we research the best things to see, photograph or do while in each location. 

Several 'groups' maneuver around the water

Gail had talked about the wild horses, about 2 hours away so that made the list.  We headed out to Sand Wash Basin where wild horses are.  And we found them!  

There are several thousand acres in this park and approximately 900 horses.  We saw 75-100 in our afternoon.  The bonus was to find a watering hole at about 2pm.  

It seemed like all the different family groups were making their way for a drink and a cool down in the mud.  Watching the interaction between and within the groups was lots of fun.  I could have just parked my chair and spent the day! 

As are most places we’ve been through, this one is very dry.  The water level in the watering hole is getting quite low, making thick mud at the edges dangerous and difficult for the horses to move about easily.  Gail has heard that there are folks trying to get water delivered out there.  There are also some rumors regarding the rounding up of several hundred and relocating them to shelters and other ranches.  Let’s all do a rain dance or two or three.  It’s very, very dry everywhere.

a little dip in the "pool"......

followed by a little roll in the dust!  Good sunscreen and bug protection!

Posturing and distancing around the water

After watering the horses headed up to the top of the mesa.