THE ROOSEVELT HERD SERIES
Born of the Badlands
The Theodore Roosevelt National Park herd series is an ongoing body of work inspired by the wild horses of the North Dakota Badlands — a story of survival, hierarchy, family, and freedom. Through dramatic light, deep shadow, and intimate detail, each piece explores not only the physical beauty of the horses, but the emotional weight carried within the herd itself: the matriarchs, the rival stallions, the outcasts, and the quiet moments between conflict.
Created from exclusive photographic reference and shaped by a lifelong connection to horses and the American West, this series is intended to preserve the spirit and individuality of a living herd whose story continues to evolve across the rugged landscape they call home.
Exiled
36 × 48 • Charcoal on Canvas
Pushed to the edge of the herd, the young stallion moves between isolation and survival…
Within every herd exists a fragile balance between protection, hiararchy, conflict, and survival.
24 × 36 Charcoal on Canvas
Original Artwork Available
Silver
A founding presence with the Roosevelt herd.
Weathered by seasons, conflict, and survival, he moves with the quiet confidence of a stallion who no longer needs to prove his strength. Emerging from shadow, the piece reflects both the harshness and dignity carried by the wild horses of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
24 × 30 Charcoal on Canvas
Original Artwork Available
Ceasefire
A rare moment of stillness between rivals.
For a fleeting instant, conflict gives way to silence. The tension remains—carried in posture, distance, and watchful eyes—yet neither yields to confrontation. Beneath the storm–heavy sky, two stallions stand suspended between instinct and restraint.
16 × 20 Charcoal on Canvas
Original Artwork Available
Penny
Removed from the Roosevelt herd as a juvenile. Penny— daughter of Flax— was relocated to Montana.
Emerging softly from shadow, Penny carries the quiet resilience of a mare shaped by separation and survival. Though displaced from the herd she once knew, her presence remains calm, watchful, and enduring—a reminder that the story of the Roosevelt horses extends far beyond the boundaries of the park itself.
Not Yet
Hidden within the quiet shelter of his mother’s presence, the young foal peers curiously into a world he is not yet ready to face. Her body forms both barrier and refuge — a silent reminder that wisdom often stands watch long before innocence understands why.
Part of the Roosevelt Herd Series, “Not Yet” reflects the quiet strength of the mares who shape the future of the herd through protection, patience, and instinct. Emerging softly from darkness, only fragments are revealed: the foal’s searching eye, the curve of the mare’s back, the subtle connection between caution and curiosity.
Featuring the Roosevelt herd mare Juniper and her foal Texas.
20×24 Charcoal on Canvas
Original artwork Available
Original Artwork
Title: The Backbone
Size: 24 × 36 inches
Medium: Charcoal and graphite on canvas
The Backbone
There is strength in numbers on the open prairie. In this piece, a small band of Theodore Roosevelt National Park horses moves forward together beneath a gathering sky, each horse finding security in the presence of the others. While the lead horse draws the eye, the true subject is the bond between them—the unseen support system that allows a herd to endure harsh winters, drought, predators, and constant change.
The Backbone represents the quiet resilience that exists within every successful herd. Not a single dominant horse, but a collective strength built on trust, experience, and unity. The storm clouds above serve as a reminder that challenges are inevitable, yet the herd continues forward with purpose and confidence.
Part of the Roosevelt Herd Series, this artwork celebrates the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the enduring relationships that help preserve their way of life on the northern plains.
“Even in the wildest places, strength is rarely found in one horse alone. It lives in the herd—in those who lead, those who follow, and those who stand shoulder to shoulder through every storm.”