Wild Horses: Portrait of the Wild Stallion Tecumseh from McCullough Peaks

Tecumseh

I have been visiting and photographing the McCullough Peaks Herd in northern Wyoming since the summer of 2004. In June of 2005, I met a plucky, curious yearling colt with extraordinary markings who I later heard was named Tecumseh.

Tecumseh and his family

At the waterhole, next to his mother Jasmine

Curious Tecumseh comes close to investigate

The family band during mid-morning nap time

Tecumseh runs up to investigate

Tecumseh and his family spent their time in the Red Point Area of McCullough Peaks, which is the area most easily accessible from the main road. Sometimes bands of horses would be visible from the highway, and locals and visitors have enjoyed  visiting and following the activities of the horses in the herd. Locals and the BLM give names to the horses. Over time, as I got to know more and more horses in the herd, Tecumseh has always been one of my favorites.

One hot afternoon in July, the bands all come to water at once

An amazing site, all these wild horses drinking together, and Tecumseh right of the middle

As Tecumseh grows older, his father Tucson kicks him out of the family band, and he is on his own. As he gets a bit older, he begins trying to win a mare of his own. The stallion Medicine Hat did NOT appreciate his efforts, especially since he had just very recently won a mare for himself.

Medicine Hat chases Tecumseh

Tecumseh kicks up his heels at Medicine Hat

A Standoff – Medicine Hat keeps the mare, for now

In the spring of 2009, a fateful year for the McCullough Peaks Herd, Tecumseh succeeds in winning a family for himself. That summer I had no luck spending any time near them, as Tecumseh was nervous about holding onto his family, and spending time outside his normal territory, away from other bands.

Tecumseh and his new family: Pistol, Ruger, Winchester, Tradebead and Little Medicine

The big group of bands, or mega-band, including Tecumseh’s family, on the move

But 2009 was memorable for another reason. The BLM had issued a Scoping Document for removing horses with a helicopter from the McCullough Peaks Herd Area in October, with a plan to give mares the birth control drug PZP and to skew the sex ration of the herd, leaving 60 stallions for 40 mares. During the roundup, no attempt was made to keep the families of wild horses together. As the horses entered the trap, stallions were separated from mares, foals from mares. The lucky stallions chosen to remain were released, and the mares that were to be released were treated with PZP and also released. To spread the horses more evenly across the horse range, horses were released in many different areas of the Herd Area.

When I returned in summer 2010, I was astonished to see that Tecumseh had won back two of his mares and an old childhood band member, Legend. Despite being small in stature and only 6 years old, Tecumseh had a family again, when older and bigger and more experienced stallions such as Washakie, Warbonnet and Indigo, who had had huge families before the roundup were alone and fighting over mares.

He also had two new adorable pinto foals, Taurus, a filly and Savage, a colt.

Tecumseh with a new family member, Tradebead’s foal

The whole family

Tecumseh brings up the rear,  young Tall Socks, a new bachelor stallion, prances next to the family

Things were not all smooth sailing for the young stallion, however. I watched as a group of 5 families rested in the morning, and around them 10 stallions looking for an opportunity circled the families like sharks. Periodically there were scuffles and fights, and the atmosphere was very tense. Normally in a herd of wild horses, the sex ratio is approximately 50% mares and 50% stallions. This new skewed dynamic had not been studied by the BLM to determine the impact it might have on the social structure of the herd. I watched it cause a lot of strife and injuries, and some mares that were exhausted from being chased. The effect on young foals can not have been good.

Tecumseh chases his family away from a big fight

Little Savage runs to get out of the way as Tecumseh prepares to defend his family

In the next two years, some of the former band stallions won small families again, such as Indigo, Washakie and Medicine Hat. There were still many more bachelor stallions than usual.

Tecumseh with bachelors sparring in the background

Tecumseh stretches

After the roundup in 2009, the local group Friends of a Legacy works with Wild Horse and Burro Specialist in the Cody BLM office to use the 1 year PZP birth control drug to keep the herd numbers in check. Their common goal: no more helicopter roundups. Tricia and members of FOAL are out each January and February darting the mares.  2011 was the last year that there were many foals in the spring, and one of my very favorites in Tonkawa, the last surviving foal of Tradebead. His outgoing personality and striking looks are very similar to his dad Tecumseh.

Tonkawa easily keeps up with his family as they head to the waterhole

Tecumseh looks on as Tonkawa has a burst of energy

In January 2012 the herd is over the Appropriate Management Level, and so this time the BLM uses bait trapping to remove a small number of young horses. This method of capturing wild horses, using the “bait” of hay and horse treats is far more humane and less disruptive to the horses – they are not driven for miles and frightened by helicopters, and their families remain intact. There are also far fewer injuries.  I was hugely relieved to find out that Tonkawa was left on the range – I am certain that this young stallion will make a wonderful band stallion as he grows up.

Tonkawa and younger brother Rebel stirring up trouble

Tecumseh is restless, moving his family

Ringer, the newest member of Tecumseh’s family, with Tecumseh

In April of last year, I was watching Tecumseh’s band and noticing that he seemed on edge, and kept moving his family around. This was not characteristic behavior, as Tecumseh is usually rather laid back, and curious about visitors near his family. I was enjoying the antics of Tonkowa and his younger brother Rebel, and thinking that this will probably be the last time I see Tonkowa with Tecumseh’s family, since he was now of an age to go out on his own. Little did I know it would also be the last time I saw Tecumseh with his family!

I found out that a week after I left, Tecumseh had been injured and lost his family to Mesquite, a big black stallion a year younger and probably 200 – 330 pounds heavier than Tecumseh. No one could find him.  I was very concerned, and hoped that he would survive.

When I went back to the herd area in June, I was able to find Tecumseh’s former family in the gorgeous dawn light at a waterhole, led by Mesquite. The girls were clearly not happy about this change in leadership – I saw gentle Legend kicking at the other mares as Mesquite drove them assertively one way and another. Micromanagement was not popular with the mares, but Mesquite clearly felt that he needed to solidify his position. Not only Tonkawa but also Rebel was missing, clearly having been kicked out by Mesquite.

At the waterhole

Mesquite driving the mares

Legend clearly unhappy

As I drove over the hill, I was thrilled to see Tecumseh. He looked battered and was limping heavily, with a big front knee, but he was alive, and staying near his former family. I had hopes that he would recover and win them back.

An injured Tecumseh, all alone, but alive

Last week I drove up to the Herd Area in the snow, hoping to be able to photograph some of the horses in the snow, if I were lucky enough to be able to get out on the roads without getting mired in a snow drift. The first morning I found Tecumseh, and he was with his sons, Tonkawa and Rebel!  I was so happy to see the three of them together. And best of all, Tecumseh looks fully recovered, no limp, running easily.

Tecumseh with sons Tonkawa and Rebel

Tecumseh and Tonkawa, so alike

Nearby, I also saw Mesquite and his family. The mares looked very settled with him now, and I think it is unlikely that Tecumseh could win them back from the much bigger stallion. It was sad not to see Tradebead – the older mare had passed away over the summer, and she will be sorely missed.

The mares Legend, Taurus and Ruger

Mesquite and the mares who now look content

But who knows? I think Tecumseh may have other plans!

Tecumseh rears up at Mesquite

Portrait of Tecumseh

Last year there were four foals that survived in the McCullough Peaks Herd Area. Even if you find the use of the one year PZP for birth control controversial, consider this fact – the McCullough Peaks Herd is one of the only herds not currently being targeted by the State of Wyoming and the BLM for helicopter roundups and removal. For that I am very grateful.