Just returning from a month in India doing a story on their people, the much sought after photojournalist, Patrice Halley, came to Olds on March 25 and 26th, 2006. His mission was to get winter shots of wild horses along with interviewing members of the Wild Horses of Alberta Society executive.

Bob Henderson and Bev McCracken took Patrice out West in search of free roaming horses to photograph. Along with finding horses for him, they also provided Patrice with information on the society and current critical issues surrounding the wild horses, which include an alarming dwindling number.

Patrice interviewed a few area ranchers as well. His book is on the last of Canada’s wild horses. The other wild horses include the endangered Brittany Triangle Horses of BC and the protected Sable Island Wild Horses. Patrice’s work includes a Canadian Geographic Documentary on these horses.

Feature stories published or soon to be published on our Canadian wild horses include magazines in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the French version of Canadian Geographic. The goal of his book is to gain public awareness and protection for these horses.

Patrice Halley World Renowned PhotojournalistPatrice has a passion for all kinds of wildlife, and a few examples of other animal species publications include in-depth coverage on the recovery of the American Bald Eagle and the Caribou Migration. Patrice’s most recent book called Far North, Published by Les Editions de’l Homme, is a compilation of 15 years of travel in the Canadian Arctic.

Patrice’s has a profound knowledge of animal behaviour Human ears appear hostile to a horse because they seem to point back. Holding his hands above his head and moving them like horse ears, Patrice makes the wild horses stop and take another look. This herd had started to run away prior to Patrice making that hand gesture.

Patrice’s work is not exclusive to wildlife, he has a keen interest in people, and has done articles on the Inuit of the Artic, and the Nahuas, Indians of Mexico, to name a few.

He also does Corporate projects on a selective basis. Patrice works with companies that are respectful of the environment and have a social conscience. A few companies listed include Air Canada, the Canadian tourism Commission and Precision Drilling.

WHOAS was honoured to show Alberta’s wild horses to Patrice and to be included in his upcoming book, and look forward to its publication.

Posted by Doreen on Friday, January 5th, 2007 at 11:21 am.