I set out to photograph the wild horses known to hang out in the Salt River area east of Mesa. As we drove and started seeing signs to "watch for horse", we saw a random horse grazing in the dense vegetation, but it was difficult to find a place to pull over. But the first recreation area we pulled into I could easily take some photos.  The horses had just come down the mountain to make their way to the beach of Saguaro Lake for their drink. I was thrilled and took some photos of the 4 of them grazing in the area. 

As they made their way to the water though they got spooked by 2 geese! Yes, geese! They bolted and did not return that evening.

I would have loved to have seen these horses frolic in the water.....but instead I took pictures of geese. They were kinda cute and clearly good little buddies.

As it turns out, someone decided to "release them into the wild" at about the time I arrived. (When is it ever a good idea to release a domesticated animal into an area where they have no idea that they are a great meal for most of what roams the desert at night?!?!....coyotes, bobcats, even a raptor could easily have killed them. They had no fear. Poor little things!)

They were talkative! The loud and frequent honking as they talked to each other spooked the horses, but would have been a diner bell to anything else.

There is a happy ending. A few hours later, they were rescued by the Salt River Wild Horses Management Group and taken to Fallen Feathers in Peoria.

I don't know anything about geese, but even I could recognize that they are NOT an indigenous species! I've since learned that they are domestic White Chinese Geese and about 4 months old.....and very photogenic.