麻豆社

As summer comes to a close, wildlife film-maker Gordon Buchanan ventures deep into the epic majesty of Canada鈥檚 Rocky Mountains in search of one of nature鈥檚 most iconic animals: wild horses. Powerful, dangerous and elusive, wild horses are icons of the untamed west, yet they are surprisingly overlooked by science, and their lives remain largely undocumented. As a keen rider in his youth, Gordon aims to change that.

Set against the stunning peaks, open grasslands and shadowy pine forests that fringe the eastern slopes of the Rockies, Gordon rides out on his own steed hoping to get to places only a wild horse can reach. After a series of setbacks, he eventually finds a family of so-called wildies that consists of two competing stallions, two mares and their two young foals, and starts bearing witness to their behaviour. Which of the two stallions, Red or Crusoe, is the father of the foals, and who will earn the right to lead the band? What motivates Red to keep the band separated away from the super-herd that gathers each day? Would it not be wiser to join up with other horses to guard against ravenous grizzly bears and wolves looking to fatten up for winter? Will the innocence and curiosity of the two foals, Socks and Boots, get them into trouble?

To understand more about the horses, and in particular this unusual family, Gordon immerses himself further into their world, attempting to befriend them and hoping to earn their trust as he seeks to experience their lives from within a herd of wild horses, something that hasn鈥檛 been attempted before.

Gordon must move carefully and think like a wild horse. However, this is not without its dangers, as one well-placed kick could be fatal, meaning he must learn to read the subtle language of flicking ears, stamping hooves and quiet glances that reveal what the horses are telling each other about him, uncovering their complex intelligence and close family bonds.

As he begins to gain acceptance into the herd, Gordon discovers that they face a greater danger than wild predators: the threat of being culled. He realises the devastating impact this would have on family groups, as well as on the fragile ecosystems they help to shape. Getting closer than expected to this living symbol of the west鈥檚 untamed history could change how he feels about horses forever.