For many years I worked as a back country cook deep in the Frank Church Wilderness Area in Idaho. All the food and gear was packed in on horses and mules. The size of the groups would determine the number of horses we would string for each trip.

Sometimes we would have up to 30 animals in camp. The wrangler would always hang a bell around the “lead” mare, usually grey or white, and turn the entire herd out into the meadows nearby to graze through the night. His horse would be left tied to a tree.

Early each morning the wrangler would get up before sunrise and head out to the meadows with his ear cocked for the sound of the bell. When he’d find the ole mare he’d give her a few oats from his saddle bag and halter her. He would then lead her back to camp.

This is where the inspiration came for this piece. When the bell mare came in behind the wrangler, the forest would come alive with the thundering of hooves making their way into the meadow from every direction. It was a powerful and moving experience to see this mass of brute strength on a dead run towards the camp.

“Mustangs” is a carved wood sculpture of White Oak trimmed in
Cherry. It measures 16.25” X 54.75”.