NATURE Gallops Into Season 28 On October 25th on PBS With the Return of a Magnificent Wild Horse; Immediately After Broadcast, Filmmaker Ginger Kathrens

Named by NBC's "TODAY Show" "the most famous wild horse in the world," Cloud has become a living symbol of the American West and the ideals of family and freedom. Surviving the sometimes brutal conditions of the Rockies, the predatory attacks of mountain lions that hunt young foals and the challenges of bachelor stallions trying to steal his mares, Cloud reigns supreme and commands the largest band of wild horses in the Arrowhead Mountains of Montana.  

This latest chapter of Cloud's remarkable life is a tale of two fathers who bring up each other's sons. Bolder is Cloud's son by birth - beautiful and golden, but raised by Shaman, a rival band stallion. Flint, dark and determined, was sired by Shaman, but has became Cloud's adopted son. Who will rise to challenge the mighty Cloud? Will nature or nurture produce the next great stallion of the Arrowheads? This poignant, engrossing chronicle continues the story of the extraordinary stallion, whose life has been recorded since his birth in the wild in 1995 by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ginger Kathrens. NATURE's Season 28 premiere, "Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions," airs Sunday, October 25, 2009, 8:009:00 p.m. ET on PBS. Immediately following the broadcast, the filmmaker will answer viewers' questions on the NATURE Web site.

"Cloud has captivated our audience for nearly a decade," says Fred Kaufman, NATURE executive producer. "His story has reshaped our perception of horse society and how much it resonates with our concept of family and loyalty. It's no wonder wild horses are considered one of America's greatest living treasures. We're happy to share Cloud's amazing story on the new season of NATURE."

"Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions" explores the intricate relationships within and between bands of wild horses. The film also touches upon the effects of the ongoing efforts of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to administer a program of population control, including infertility drugs, and bait trapping to remove animals from the herd. It is yet another hurdle that Cloud and his family and the rest of the horses in the Arrowheads must overcome in their day-to-day efforts to survive in the wilderness.

NATURE has won more than 450 honors from the television industry, the international wildlife film communities and environmental organizations - including 10 Emmys, three Peabodys and the first award given to a television program by the Sierra Club. Most recently, the series won a Peabody Award for "Silence of the Bees" and received two Emmy nominations for "Crash: A Tale of Two Species" and "White Falcon, White Wolf."