Tousled Manes – Mary Filbee, 2009

As a child I was fascinated by my godmother’s painting of Sable Island and the story she told of the dunes and shipwrecks. A family friend, Barbara Christie, engaged me with stories of the island’s horses.

As a small girl I was fascinated by my (Morna McLellan) godmother’s painting of Sable Island and the story she told of this island of dunes, wild horses and shipwrecks. A family friend, Barbara Christie, captivated me with her stories of horses and of Sable Island. The word I have always linked with Sable Island is magical. I have always wanted to walk on the sands amongst the dunes and commune with the horses. I love to be with horses. Today I work with Polar Star Expeditions. Our small expedition cruise ship seeks out these remote places from Antarctica to the Arctic. This year we offered our first Atlantic Canada cruise that included Sable Island. It sold out quickly! And so my dream came true.

As we began to bring passengers ashore by Zodiac, large seal faces bobbing in the water watching us quizzically as if highly entertained by these human antics. My friend Stella hugged me in great excitement that we were actually landing here. It was a beautiful day yet Mother Nature let us feel her power with a wicked beach surf that challenged our Zodiac operations. Perhaps I forgot my watch on purpose this day as I set off along the track with my camera and breathless excitement – I felt a sense of timelessness and wonder. (My husband found me later to get me back to the boat on time!) The grandeur of the dunes was almost overwhelming, I felt surrounded by purity. After I got to the fresh water ponds at the west end of the island I was rewarded. I crouched in the sandy track with horses milling about. With my camera I tried to capture the essence of the moment… the closeness, images of tangled manes, family interactions, healthy horses in a natural oceanside setting. A small family appeared over the rise of a dune. Then a stallion I thought to be of another family ran them off. At one point I was so busy watching one group that I was unaware that I was pretty well surrounded by various horses. One was so close that I felt her curious snuffling and I seemed to get lost in the depth of her clear dark eyes. They seemed completely unafraid of me and I was totally unafraid and happy amidst them.

I am amazed this place exists – it is so precious. I was so pleased to meet Zoe Lucas and Gerry Forbes. I had heard of them both from family and friends as well as through articles and documentaries of Sable Island. They were so welcoming and helpful. Thank you, Zoe and Gerry.

My husband and I have an offshore cruising sailboat, Gypsy Mare. I now dream of returning to Sable Island. It was everything I had dreamt of – wild and pure… and magical.

Image: Two Sable Horses, photo Mary Filbee.

Mary Filbee
Prepared for the Friends of the Green Horse Society, November 2009

The Beginning of a Memorable Partnership – Bob Dykes, 2017

In 1971, Bob Dykes flew to Sable Island to meet Henry James and his research team conducting behavioural studies of the island’s Harbour Seal population. Bob worked with the crew as they collected data on seals who were crossing the wide and featureless Sandy Plain, and spent lively evenings in the Aframe (a field camp constructed by the James Gang) discussing data and theories of animal navigation.

David Millar, 1967-1969

In May 1967, David Millar, fresh out of training in Toronto and Ottawa, arrived at his first posting, Sable Island. Outside of work at the weather station, David took an interest in the island’s environment and spent a lot of time walking and exploring, and developed two hobbies which he still enjoys – bird watching and photography. During his two summers, David occasionally assisted Dalhousie University’s Ian McLaren and his students in their studies of the Ipswich Sparrow.

Full Circle

In December 1963, Gordon LeBlanc began a one-year posting on Sable Island as a meteorological technician with MSC’s aerology program. The work was largely routine, with twice-daily launches of the upper air balloon and making detailed observations and measurements around the clock. On work days, there was little time to explore the island, so on a day off, station personnel might pack a sandwich and go for a long walk, or in the spring and summer ride their dependable horses, Rawin and Trigger.

Merlin MacAulay 1955-1956

In May 1955, after completing the 16-week course at the Upper Air Training School in Toronto, and then serving a few months in Sept-Îles, Quebec, Merlin MacAulay travelled to Sable Island on the government ship Lady Laurier to work as an upper air technician for the MSC. During Merlin’s stay, Fred Davis and a National Film Board of Canada crew visited to made a short documentary about Sable Island.

Win Trips to Sable Island with Kattuk Expeditions, 2023

A Sable Island Institute fundraising raffle for seats on a helicopter day-trip to Sable Island in early October 2023.

Now, it is about so much more – Lauren Hughes, February 2023

As we walked the network of horse trails… I was captivated by beetles, spiders, and the tiny sweat bee – newly recognizing the critical role that all of these creatures play in the island’s ecosystem.