Mustangs at Las Colinas Sculpture

Beneath the towering buildings of Williams Square in Las Colinas, a breathtaking spectacle unfolds. The Mustangs at Las Colinas, a monumental bronze sculpture, captures the raw power and untamed spirit of a herd of wild horses. Nine mustangs, each one and a half times larger than life, appear frozen mid-gallop, their bronze muscles rippling as they charge through a shimmering watercourse. The Mustangs at Las Colinas aren’t just static figures. They are a tribute to the wild mustangs that once roamed freely across Texas, a symbol of the state’s pioneering spirit. The sculpture, commissioned in 1976 and installed in 1984, was the brainchild of Ben Carpenter, who envisioned the Mustangs at Las Colinas as the centerpiece of his ambitious Las Colinas development. He wanted to honor the legacy of his family’s ranch, El Ranchito de las Colinas, which once stood on this very land. Artist Robert Glen dedicated eight years of his life to crafting these magnificent creatures. He traveled to southern Spain, studying the Andalusian horses, descendants of the very steeds brought to Texas by Spanish conquistadors centuries ago. Glen painstakingly sculpted each mustang, capturing their unique personalities and the dynamic energy of their movement. One horse strides confidently, leading the charge. Another seems weary, its head bowed. A playful colt prances on its hind legs, its woolly coat contrasting with the sleek hides of the adult horses. As you approach the Mustangs at Las Colinas, the sheer scale of the sculpture takes your breath away. The horses stand on 8,000-pound plinths, their hooves splashing in a meticulously designed watercourse that stretches 400 feet across the plaza. The surrounding buildings, some rising as high as 358 feet, frame the sculpture, creating a dramatic backdrop. The plaza itself is a testament to the vision of landscape architect James Reeves, who designed the space to evoke the vast Texas plains. The Mustangs at Las Colinas are surrounded by live oak trees, their branches reaching towards the sky. The plaza’s granite surface, the surrounding buildings, and the barren landscape all serve to enhance the power and presence of the horses. The Mustangs at Las Colinas aren’t merely a tourist attraction. They are a living testament to a bygone era, a reminder of the wild spirit that shaped Texas. They are a work of art that inspires awe, wonder, and a deep appreciation for the beauty and power of nature. So, stand here, amidst the towering structures of Las Colinas, and let the thundering hooves of the Mustangs at Las Colinas transport you to a time when wild horses roamed free.