![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/1673893206971-FDEHPDNG08DMDZ0UTZQG/Sable+trilogy.jpg)
Sable Island Wild Horses.
On Sable Island, Horses gallop Wild and Free.
Manes flowing like the ocean's waves, Their spirit strong, no fences to Meet.
Sable's horses, legends they'll forever be!
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/1649343152477-AN6C5DFBSRRKHSQAEU1X/Sable+Island+at+Sunset.jpg)
The Sable Horses:
Symbols of Historic Freedom
Sable Island is a narrow sliver of an island located about 150 miles off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. The 500 wild horses of Sable Island have a long and mysterious history. The origins of these horses are uncertain, with some experts believing they are descended from horses that were shipwrecked on the island, while others speculate that they are the descendants of horses that were brought to the island by early settlers or by privateers and pirates.
The earliest recorded sighting of horses on Sable Island dates back to the early 1700s, when French and English fishermen began visiting the island. The horses were likely brought to the island by these early visitors, or by shipwrecks that occurred on the dangerous sandbars surrounding the island. Over the centuries, the horses have adapted to the harsh conditions of the island, developing a hardy and resilient breed that is well suited to the island's harsh environment.
In the 19th century, Sable Island became an important location for shipwrecks, as many ships were lost on the dangerous sandbars surrounding the island. The Canadian government established a life-saving station on the island in 1801, which helped to rescue many shipwrecked sailors. The life-saving station staff and the rescuers often relied on the horses to help them to reach the shipwreck victims.
Today, the wild horses of Sable Island are protected by the Canadian government and are considered a national treasure. The population of horses on the island is carefully managed to ensure their survival and to protect the island's fragile ecosystem. Visitors to the island are only allowed to view the horses from a distance, in order to minimize human impact on the island and its inhabitants.
Sable Island is also known for its thriving population of grey seals, which are a major attraction for visitors and researchers. Grey seals are one of the largest species of seal, and they can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh over 800 pounds. They are known for their distinctive appearance, with their large size, rounded heads, and expressive eyes. The seals on Sable Island are protected by Canadian law and are an important part of the island's ecosystem. They provide important nutrients for the island's plants and wildlife and are also an important food source for other animals such as birds and fish.
In 2011, Sable Island was designated a Canadian National Park reserve, which provides additional protection for the island's unique ecosystem and the wild horses that call it home. The island remains one of the few places in the world where wild horses can be found roaming freely in a natural habitat, untouched by humans.
![Family, heading back out](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/4fddf42e-cdae-4971-8b06-f12d7ae9e17b/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-46.jpg)
Family, heading back out
![Wind Swept (color)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/7fc259b8-a77a-4b4e-9f93-b2da483e79f7/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-42.jpg)
Wind Swept (color)
![Sable Island Family](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/390fa2d6-a67e-44dd-9ce5-6124fa2354d8/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-2.jpg)
Sable Island Family
![single horse along the banks.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/12feb9ef-86fa-4cc8-ae01-18af94857f21/single+horse+along+the+banks.jpg)
![Speak to me](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/9892dc21-e285-4944-83a3-6c333d0c84b2/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-1.jpg)
Speak to me
![Sandy Walk](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/a9db98bd-e93a-4190-85a0-f72e9ca3e002/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-4.jpg)
Sandy Walk
![Walk along the beach](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/8d726d24-a5ef-4d66-be54-4e9c31e74fe6/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-6.jpg)
Walk along the beach
![Pals](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/d92d2f16-2888-4b14-ac95-89df745b9ab8/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-8.jpg)
Pals
![Two Bachelors](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/53d497e6-ae76-477f-9e1b-1e6c85214ff2/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-5.jpg)
Two Bachelors
![Running along the beach](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/c2842d9f-3b9b-4630-9363-915767cb864b/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-10.jpg)
Running along the beach
![Splash](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/b1d52f03-4966-4daa-84f4-5cbf0abf1e8b/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-7.jpg)
Splash
![resting in the fog.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/8264b4c2-971f-44c7-b774-620cf637a1dc/resting+in+the+fog.jpg)
![Old One](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/adb41b37-bb47-4c5e-a28a-a042285dd529/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-3.jpg)
Old One
![Windy Forelock](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/e3797269-9b09-4cc2-b56a-da50746eaa23/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-9.jpg)
Windy Forelock
![Two friends (B&W)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/3abc9bef-57b4-4389-ad2a-a88f1180791b/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-12.jpg)
Two friends (B&W)
![Two friends (color)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/f63bd632-c38a-402d-b715-5abd67b6648b/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-44.jpg)
Two friends (color)
![Stallion Huddle](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/63dae940-570f-453c-a949-13eb23d6bba8/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-13.jpg)
Stallion Huddle
![old log.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/40a038cc-344d-4093-83c1-eebf52022eb2/old+log.jpg)
![Pretty Boy](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/032abdc4-7dbe-4f9e-a5fa-6f8f8c988692/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-14.jpg)
Pretty Boy
![Sable Yearling (color)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/cfcdbee0-5a2c-4afe-80f3-685acf5b6ae4/Yearling.jpg)
Sable Yearling (color)
![Fog Running](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/92c6a170-1e28-4a73-85c2-c224887c87c8/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-16.jpg)
Fog Running
![Family in the morning fog](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/2bea0844-29f6-4162-b0e9-49394d10cb7a/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-17.jpg)
Family in the morning fog
![Graceful Stallion](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/085cc61a-f16c-4d0c-bf59-cf1fb29d96db/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-18.jpg)
Graceful Stallion
![Posturing](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/7f6abfb5-3d6c-4bec-b417-a5967411c9fe/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-20.jpg)
Posturing
![Three Bachelors closeup](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/27173fd9-7f03-487e-9595-adaa44b898ab/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-19.jpg)
Three Bachelors closeup
![Shedding](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/2f62b738-3892-4cc6-a65c-00aca181d0f8/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-21.jpg)
Shedding
![Sable Yearling (B&W)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/1fcf36db-414d-4371-a646-5d22d05cec4d/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-15.jpg)
Sable Yearling (B&W)
![Dune Stallion](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/1afb26a3-18fa-4633-ad6a-62ef3d32b0ca/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-22.jpg)
Dune Stallion
![Lone Stallion](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/6949153e-2e2e-4433-84d2-24627f23ae68/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-23.jpg)
Lone Stallion
![Call of the Wild](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/1f3566f5-4e81-48dd-b41e-9d0d8ef5abf2/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-24.jpg)
Call of the Wild
![Sand Stallion](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/a578f166-517e-4f7a-879a-24a2f33f8805/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-25.jpg)
Sand Stallion
![Sable Trilogy (B&W)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/5a25414b-81f7-46ea-852d-a4ee60141b16/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-27.jpg)
Sable Trilogy (B&W)
![Sable Trilogy (color)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/f7c7f989-ba1f-4a59-97a7-a979bf0b9845/Sable+trilogy.jpg)
Sable Trilogy (color)
![Fairy Knots and Scruffy One](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/9250192f-05d2-4154-a82f-de174200cd2a/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-28.jpg)
Fairy Knots and Scruffy One
![Scenic Life](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/1db14aed-3c59-4ba9-82d4-425d722e864e/weather+station.jpg)
Scenic Life
![Two Stallions running free](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/027e4d91-062a-4bc7-934f-24392515ee4e/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-26.jpg)
Two Stallions running free
![Sable Island Wild Horses-29.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/a0b1a656-9630-4ee6-8495-5d2075f42a0f/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-29.jpg)
![Ocean view](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/babd0993-2419-4b8f-a8c1-22f872ed68ff/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-30.jpg)
Ocean view
![Family of three](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/7a842853-2a2b-45e8-9248-6ad54749e22d/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-31.jpg)
Family of three
![Stallion alone sepia](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/786c4c38-8585-4cfe-9d8f-714970b5891d/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-32.jpg)
Stallion alone sepia
![Two families on the beach](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/e1890b2e-49af-4380-a762-8edbd4c0f630/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-35.jpg)
Two families on the beach
![Scraggy boy](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/11ea3fcc-b581-4904-8ba0-7a2941572b7a/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-33.jpg)
Scraggy boy
![Sable Horse #1](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/4c23bdf1-1a8e-41c0-9176-a4def24721b8/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-34.jpg)
Sable Horse #1
![Nuzzle](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/30ed067a-e1f4-46d1-9bd8-320ad54cc518/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-43.jpg)
Nuzzle
![Carpet of mane](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/2ad6ae20-a915-4099-b86c-b615457d9d4a/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-47.jpg)
Carpet of mane
![Look Out](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/a285e5f2-cc2d-4af7-84e8-9d4c89e6c284/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-36.jpg)
Look Out
![Long Hair](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/ad41c11c-e0a7-4c24-8016-8112937c3c15/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-37.jpg)
Long Hair
![Stallion Battle Sable #1](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/005cd993-aa0e-4e1a-a0a7-c9f2de3a099a/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-38.jpg)
Stallion Battle Sable #1
![Stallion Battle Sable #2](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/ba48d725-e8fe-444d-8940-5b962e7883bd/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-39.jpg)
Stallion Battle Sable #2
![Stallion Battle Sable #3](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/597146c6-b1bd-42ff-8570-cf2997d5bc5f/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-40.jpg)
Stallion Battle Sable #3
![Sable Island Horses #2](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/50394427-0708-4338-9c62-43e6f9ce2dc2/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-45.jpg)
Sable Island Horses #2
![Wind Swept (sepia)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/28b0ffef-81d3-45f0-bd80-280aa4912c94/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-11.jpg)
Wind Swept (sepia)
![Bachelor on the Beach.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/5d07da86-32e5-4992-8d9a-0debc3ceecf2/Bachelor+on+the+Beach.jpg)
![Nature takes its course](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/8198e146-8a02-4a86-8900-2a769c7ee733/skeleton+2.jpg)
Nature takes its course
![Stallion Alone color grass field](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/89657604-e24c-4f6e-ad1a-056a31e8c921/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-41.jpg)
Stallion Alone color grass field
![Scratch](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/9de994dd-abd2-4a24-8a77-51d9a58d7531/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-48.jpg)
Scratch
![Foggy Morning](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/3e9a753c-a282-42c3-b3bb-29eb2e6442ad/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-49.jpg)
Foggy Morning
![Three young bachelors](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/1adf135f-94b8-4137-a36c-d91e2db0d5b1/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-50.jpg)
Three young bachelors
![Whale bones](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/4b401a6c-d16b-4ff9-8c4b-9287e038e144/whale+bone.jpg)
Whale bones
![Family of three color](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/4b97d80e-831c-464c-bc38-c73d2011f0d1/Sable+Island+Wild+Horses-51.jpg)
Family of three color
![Grey Seals](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/8cb1c16b-d7f0-4743-bac4-0f738950872a/seals.jpg)
Grey Seals
![Abandoned pilons](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/f984686f-6361-4934-90ca-601105420562/pillons.jpg)
Abandoned pilons
![sabole from the air.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/aca71bcc-8ebb-4d0b-a313-89cced569d36/sabole+from+the+air.jpg)