Dune Pony

A wild horse of Cumberland Island in the sand dunes. The feral horses of Cumberland Island, Georgia are thought to be ancestors of horses either... more

by Barbara Northrup

Title

Dune Pony

Artist

Barbara Northrup

Medium

Photograph - Digital Image

Description

A wild horse of Cumberland Island in the sand dunes. The feral horses of Cumberland Island, Georgia are thought to be ancestors of horses either shipwrecked or abandoned there by Spanish explorers in the 1500's. Plantation owners who tried to make a living on the island also left horses behind. Over time the horses grew feral. Today there are around 150 wild horses living on the island. They live off of the wild sea oats and dune grasses that are found on the beaches. The two horses in this photo had been grazing on the beach and were starting to move into the dunes for longer grass. It is interesting to watch them stand on the beaches and enjoy the ocean breezes. Often they will lay down to rest in the wind. These wild horses are not afraid of people, in fact they act like they own the island. Park Rangers warn that if you come across them to yield the way because they won't! Cumberland Island's wild horses are a wonderful and amazing addition to the incredible beauty of this east coast barrier island.
More images of these horses and a large variety of other images suitable for commercial and public spaces can be found on my website: www.BeachCottagePhotography.com or at www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/barbara-kraus.html

Uploaded

November 14th, 2012