Damian Lidgard's 30-year love affair with Sable Island's wild horses comes to life in new book

For three decades, Damian Lidgard has studied and photographed the wild beauty of Sable Island. This remote stretch of sand off Nova Scotia has become his favourite place, sometimes keeping him there for up to six weeks. His deep connection to the island now takes shape in a new book, Sable Untamed: The Wild Beauty of Sable Island’s Horses, set for release in June. Lidgard first arrived on Sable Island in December 1996 while researching for his PhD. His work on the island’s seal population brought him back year after year. Over time, his focus expanded to include the roughly 420 wild horses that have roamed the island since the 1700s.

The horses live in tight-knit bands, each led by a stallion with females and their young. Bachelor males wander alone or in small groups. Lidgard’s photography captures their lives with quiet patience, reflecting the island’s untouched rhythm. Water availability shapes the horses’ survival, affecting their numbers and growth. Beyond the horses, Sable Island teems with seals and countless seabirds, forming a fragile but thriving ecosystem. As a researcher with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Lidgard gains frequent access, while public visits remain tightly controlled by Parks Canada. His new book collects years of observations, blending science with striking images of the island’s wild heart.

Lidgard’s work offers a rare glimpse into Sable Island’s hidden world. The book arrives in June, documenting three decades of research and photography. Through his lens, readers will see the wild horses, seals, and shifting sands that define this isolated paradise.