The Horses That Keep Drawing Me Back

For more than 20 years, my family has made the trip to Ocean City, Maryland, for Beach Week. It has become my favorite week of the entire year.

We are a blended family, and this is the one time when all of us are under the same roof at the same time. Our parents have made this possible, and all of us have made a commitment that we would always plan to gather for one week a year—at the beach—no matter what.

Traditions like this are worth holding on to.

Over the years, our family has changed. We’ve grown from one grandchild to four. We’ve experienced relationships, breakups, marriages, and divorces. We’ve watched the kids grow up as we ourselves did.

But Beach Week has been the one constant in our lives.

Autumn Glory and her filly

Assateague Island is a short drive from Ocean City. Here, the landscape remains largely untouched, with wild dunes, open shoreline, and, of course, the famous wild horses. It is a special place, protected from development and left largely as nature intended. But for me, the horses are what draw me back to Assateague.

Many years, I made the trek and came home without a single sighting of a horse. But once I started paying attention to their behavior, my visits became much more rewarding. I have the most success when I go early in the morning, before the sun rises, or in the evening, as the sun sets.

It’s a wonderful way to begin or end my day.

In their presence, I lose all sense of time. It’s an honor to share their space—to watch them interact, see the mommas and their babies form bonds, learn their names, and see how the bands change from year to year.

You can't go to Assateague with expectations. You go slowly. You watch. You enjoy the scenery. And eventually, if you're lucky, the horses appear.

Breezy

This year, I was especially hoping to find some of the babies. Nine foals had been born, and I was fortunate enough to find three of them during my visits.

My first sighting was a filly born to Breezy. I was excited to see her staying close to her mama’s side while Breezy feasted on breakfast. But my excitement quickly turned to concern when I noticed the filly was limping.

A kind gentleman who was on a bike ride that morning came over and told me her story. Less than a week earlier, she had been hit by a car. Fortunately, the damage was limited to just one leg, and the hope is that she will make a full recovery.

Mystic Moonlight and Peytona Star nuzzling

My second trip to the island found me in the company of another family. I was so engrossed in watching and photographing Autumn Glory and her filly that when I turned around, I was startled. Standing before me was a band of four young stallions.

Handsome boys.

I turned my lens on them and watched them interact. They stood together, moving around in circles, and from time to time they would nuzzle. They are too old to stay with their mothers and too young to have a mare of their own and start a family. So they formed a band and hang out together.

One particular moment was special to me. Three of the horses lined up in perfect position, giving me the opportunity to capture their profiles in one photograph.

Jack Seabright, Mystic Moonlight and Peytona Star

As I left the island that day, it was my last day at the beach and time to begin the long drive home to Florida. I passed a family grazing alongside the road.

I paused to watch them for a bit, taking some photographs so I could remember my brief time with them, too.

Recently, Susi Sole, the mom, was hit by a car whose driver was traveling too fast. She lost her life.

Susi Sole

Her colt was less than four months old.

After the accident, he was spotted roaming the island alone, trying to join another family, but they would not accept him.

Wild horses nurse for about a year, so at less than four months old, this colt still has a lot of growing up to do. Thankfully, the Chincoteague Fire Company stepped in to rescue him. He has been brought to the Virginia side of Assateague Island, where the horses are monitored by park rangers and receive veterinary care. He will be looked after and has a much better chance of growing up safe and healthy.

Susi Sole’s colt, Susie Sole and Billy Bob

Sadly, Susi Sole's death was not an isolated incident. In the past month, there have been three incidents involving horses and vehicles on the island, resulting in two horses losing their lives.

It is a sobering reminder that while these horses may be wild and free, this is their island and we are the visitors. It is our responsibility to respect their home and give them the space they need to live as they were meant to.

I keep thinking about the photographs I took that morning.

I had no idea that a month later, I would learn that I would never have the opportunity to see Susi Sole again, or find her colt and see how he has grown up.

I’m grateful I stopped. I’m grateful I took that moment to enjoy their presence.