Alberta Wild Horses

Monday - July 13


MAXIMUM 8 ATTENDEES


PRICE:  $400

Start Time:  8:00 am

Return Time: 8:00 pm

Information & Itinerary

Join us for a day as we drive the forestry trunk roads on the Eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in search of the wild Alberta Mountain Horses. Known locally as "Wildies", these majestic animals have been part of the Alberta landscape for close to 500 years. Their distinct genetic make-up is unique to Alberta's foothills and mountains.



Sturdy, well built, and rugged, the "Wildies" are an incredibly resilient species. Stallions battle for mares, and yearlings engage in mock jousts to prepare for their own future acquisition of mares. The Alberta Mountain horses have played a significant role in Alberta’s history, as well as indigenous history and culture as they inhabit the traditional lands of the Stoney Nakoda people. 


While finding these “Wildies” can be an adventure, it is a joy to photograph them in the scenic setting of the Foothills.


Attendees must be able to easily get in and out of a van onto a gravel shoulder.  Plan to bring your camera with a long lens into the van for easy access when the horses are spotted.   Expect washroom access to be quite rustic.  At least six hours of the travel time will be on gravel roads in sparsely inhabited areas.   This trip will go regardless of the weather so attendees need to dress in layers as temperatures in the foothills can vary widely.

Additional Details

Photo Types:

  • Scenic
  • Animals

Travel Mode:

  • Van

Ground:

  • Uneven

Snacks & Water:

  • Supplied

Meals:

  • No

Sample Images from Excursion Locations:

  • Mare and foal grazing in a grassy field. The mare is gray, and the foal is brown.

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  • Brown horse with a dark mane, wet fur, looking toward the viewer with a blurred, brown background.

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  • Foal standing in tall, dry grass, looking to the right.

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  • Horse and foal standing in a grassy area, looking toward trees.

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  • Brown horse with white blaze, looking at the viewer, another horse blurred in the background.

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  • Two black horses standing in a field; one has a white blaze.

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  • Two wild horses rear up on hind legs, fighting in a forest clearing. One is white and brown, the other brown.

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  • White horse and foal grazing in a grassy field, with brush and trees in the background.

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  • Brown horse with dark mane, gazing at the camera, outdoors in a blurry field.

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  • Black horse with a white blaze, standing in a field with tall grass and trees in the background.

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  • Horses stand in a wintery field with bare trees in the background. Several are brown, and one is black.

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  • Dark horse in autumn landscape, surrounded by green and yellow foliage, looking towards the viewer.

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Photo Excursion Leaders

Couple poses outdoors with mountain and lake backdrop. Man holds camera; woman wears glasses and a straw hat.

Kristin Duff & Brian Hayward

Co-Leaders

Brian Hayward and Kristin Duff are two Calgary-based photographers with a long-standing passion for capturing the beauty of our world. Married in 2017, they have travelled extensively, but their favourite destination remains the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, where they embark on adventures in search of the majestic Wild Alberta Mountain horses. Kristin and Brian have been members of the Foothills Camera Club since 2023.