On a crisp winter day at the tail end of 2025, the valleys west of Sundre, Alberta, presented a scene of serene, frozen beauty. The Red Deer River, winding through the narrow landscape, was adorned with sheets of strikingly turquoise ice. This unique coloration, a hallmark of the area, seemed to glow especially bright where the water flowed over thin, layered ice, creating a refractive, mirror-like finish.
A Dawdling Journey to the Horse Country
Photographer and writer Mike Drew was on a mission to revisit the region's famed feral horses, a trip he hadn't made in roughly six months. His journey on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, was leisurely, punctuated by stops to capture the river's ethereal ice and the mountain views. A brewing chinook arch in the clouds further delayed his progress, making for compelling photographs but pushing his arrival into the horses' domain well past noon.
Initial scans of the familiar territory were puzzling. The large meadow that hosted many horses back in June was empty. The grassy hillsides, still holding plenty of forage under a thin blanket of snow, were also barren. The question lingered: where had the herd gone?
The Hidden Gathering in Yara Creek Valley
The answer lay up the Yara Creek valley. In a small, grassy clearing surrounded by dense willows, approximately twenty horses had congregated. They were a picture of quiet industry, casually pawing through the scant snow to nibble on the grass beneath. True to their nature, the animals paid little mind to human observers, ignoring both Drew's vehicle and a second that arrived, focusing instead on their grazing.
While superficially similar to domestic horses, these feral animals possess distinct characteristics. Many sport a dark dorsal stripe along their back and faint zebra-like markings on their lower legs. Their winter coats appear notably shaggier and thicker than those of typical ranch horses, a testament to their life outdoors. More striking is their social structure; left to their own devices for generations, they have formed cohesive, family-like herds. These groups mix young, adolescent, and adult horses together, with the stallions—marked by flowing manes, tails, and a constant, confident swagger—acting as clear patriarchs.
An Hour with the Herd
Drew spent nearly an hour in their company, observing their peaceful routine. The soft sounds of nickers and neighs accompanied their movements as they wandered and foraged in the dwindling dusk light. This quiet observation period highlighted the unique, undisturbed existence of these amazing animals in their Alberta foothills habitat.
After his time with the herd, Drew descended back into the Red Deer River valley to continue his winter exploration, leaving behind the quiet scene of wild horses in the Yara Creek valley—a timeless snapshot of Alberta's natural heritage.
