B
en Masters is a filmmaker, writer, and horse packer who splits his time between Bozeman, MT and Austin, TX. He is most known for Unbranded, a documentary in which he and three others adopted mustangs and rode from Mexico to Canada to inspire wild horse adoptions. Masters studied wildlife biology at Texas A&M University and sits as the wildlife management chair on the BLM's volunteer Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board. He writes for National Geographic Adventure, Western Horseman, and is a published author. Masters is an award winning film producer with Audience Awards at Telluride Mountainfilm, Banff International Film Festival, Hot Docs International Film Festival, the Equus Film Festival, and others. He is currently directing a series of character driven conservation short films.

Films

Writing

Unbranded the Book

Published by Texas A&M University Press.  On an epic 3,000-mile journey through the most pristine backcountry of the American West, four friends rode horseback on adopted wild mustangs across an almost contiguous stretch of unspoiled public lands, border to border, from Mexico to Canada. 

BUY 

Articles

Wild Horses Wilder Controversy: 

A four-part series with National Geographic Adventure.

Part 1: Wild Horses, Wilder ControversyPart 2: The Consequences of Doing NothingPart 3: Can Fertility Control Keep Wild Horse Herds in Check?Part 4: The Future of America's Wild Horses: The Options

A Backcountry Recovery: 

A five part series with National Geographic Adventure

Part 1: Wilderness, Wild Horses, WarriorsPart 2: Adventures on HorsebackPart 3: Camping in the Lower 48’s Most Remote PlacePart 4: Tracked by a Curious Bison Part 5: “These Horses Saved My Life”

Ben Masters also writes the backcountry column and occasional feature articles for Western Horseman magazine.

Photography

Pack Trips

Ben Masters and Val Geissler are leading two 7-day pack trips into Wyoming’s famed Thorofare country near Yellowstone National Park in summer of 2018. 

The pack trips are operated under Hidden Creek Outfitters permit #BG041. We will leave from Cody, WY and ride approximately 70 miles through the Shoshone Wilderness and Teton Wilderness into the most remote location in the lower 48. The area is home to grizzlies, wolves, cutthroat, and the largest elk migration in the world. The fishing is spectacular, the scenery breathtaking, and there are no roads, powerlines, or human development. We will be using mustangs from the Unbranded film, Val’s horses and mules, and Hidden Creek Outfitters’ mountain tested horses and mules. 

Very limited spots, for more information email Val Geissler at valgeissler75@gmail.com or call him at 307-587- 4412.