Wild Woman Louisa Behnke
For our next few Stories from the Wilderness, we will be featuring Q&A’s with our three core team members: Louisa Behnke, Caroline Heer, and me, Katherine Boucher. At this point, we’ve been on a few podcasts, have shared our stories on social media and here on the website. But I thought it would be fun to get down to some nitty-gritty details about each of us and ask a few questions that even I’m wondering about my teammates! So, up first, Louisa Behnke (because she responded to my email first 😂).
How did you get involved with wild horses? Where does your interest stem from?
I grew up in the Northeast and remember learning and reading about the wild horses on Chincoteague Island. I remember as a young girl being fascinated with the small, tough ponies that would cross the open ocean in a herd. While I was in school at Fort Lewis College in the four corners area, I would come across wild horses quite a bit. I have seen them while rock climbing and river rafting in Utah, fly fishing in Wyoming and along the road in the Navajo and Apache reservation on my way to visiting the Grand Canyon. They sparked my interest because they can live in such harsh environments on very little recourses. Going on this 40-day pack trip in October is the first time I will have a large amount of hands on experience with wild horses. I have really enjoyed jumping into learning more about these very resilient horses as I study and learn more from connections we have made along the way.
In terms of the trip, what are you most excited about? What are you most nervous about?
I am most excited to start working with our eleven mustangs and learning more about each and every one of their personalities. I am not super nervous about anything, but I am mostly antsy with anticipation to get out on the trail with our horses and have the time to enjoy being in the backcountry once again for over a month, bonding with the horses and my teammates.
Louisa on one of her climbing trips in Telluride, Colorado
What are you hoping to take away from the trip on a personal level?
I hope to learn more about the filming process that will take place from start to finish on our trip. I am also really hoping to learn more about how mustangs interact in the wild. It will be very interesting to ride our mustangs through the Red Desert in Wyoming and have the opportunity to watch other wild horses on the range in herd management areas.
Do you think you will stay involved with wild horses after the trip?
I would like to continue being a mustang advocate after the trip. I would also love to have some mustangs of my own and possibly start my own horse packing program in the future. I went to school for Outdoor Education so this sort of project falls right in line with what I am most passionate about, which just so happens to be horses, outdoor recreation and spending time in the backcountry.
Rapid-Fire Q&A’s
What’s something we don’t know about you that we’re likely to discover on the trip?
That I really love to cook.
What has been the best part of this project so far? The hardest?
Meeting so many new connections and friends throughout the three years. I am really thankful for everyone who has been willing to help and who have supported us throughout the journey so far. The hardest part for me has been balancing, school, outdoor adventure, work and my transient lifestyle while planning for this adventure.
What’s your favorite horse color?
Black with white markings
What is one song/piece of music you hope will make it into the film?
‘Wide Open Spaces’ – Dixie Chicks
What’s your favorite horse breed?
Holsteiner
What’s one name you’d like for one of our horses?
Hickory
A nickname you have?
Lulu
Louisa and her first horse, Arthur
What are you currently reading?
WMTC WFR text book so I can re-certify my Wilderness First Responder ;(
What’s the longest you’ve gone without showering?
Two months while I was on a three month NOLS semester in New Zealand
Your favorite horse you’ve known
My horse Arthur that I owned for six years
What’s your “z-power” (something you’re good at that is absolutely useless)?
Eyeballing measurements to bake cookies
Craziest thing you’ve ever done on a horse
Swam across the North Platte river during a big spring flow
Ok friends, hopefully you feel like you know ol’ Lou a little better now! She really knows how to get down to business but something I know from spending time with her is that she is an absolute goof, too! Can’t wait to have her hardworking spirit, expansive knowledge of the outdoors, and hilarious sense of humor on our big trip. Next up, Caroline Heer!
xoxo, Katherine & the Wild Women 💕