“I missed hitting the horse by a couple inches. Very cool experience to see them that close.”

Memorable trip down the lower Salt River in Arizona for this group of kayakers who ran into a herd of wild horses making a crossing. Kind of unnerving as the swift waters took the cameraman on a near collision course, passing within inches of the animals, but in the end it was peaceful encounter with the iconic species of the American West. Giddyup.

Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....