Tag Archives: Utah wild horses

Sulphur & Onaqui Wild Horses

Posted on by

I have always wanted to photograph the Sulphur Wild Horses Northwest of Milford, UT because many of these wild horses draw their bloodlines from the Colonial Spanish horse. (the first horses brought to America by Spanish explorers in the 1500’s according to the BLM website). These characteristics are the very characteristics that “the Ghost” had which are zebra stripes on the rear of the legs and a dark dorsal stripe down their back. I have always felt that Ghost was originally part of this herd and migrated up every few years to have his way with the Onaqui mares.

Well, just like many other herds, I found the Sulphur herd to be nearly impossible to photograph because they are so afraid of humans. I spotted about 25-30 horses from route 21 near the Pots-Sum-Pa turnoff. I took the turnoff and before I could even come to a stop the herd was on the run. (see the third photograph in this gallery)

Had a great sunset that evening and got up early the next day to try and find some less spooky horses.  Basically the same result.  Even with my 500mm lens I couldn’t get any decent photographs, (fourth and fifth photograph in this gallery).  Given the fact that the winds that night must have been near 35mph and not very pleasant in my little tent trailer, I packed up and moved to spend a few days with the Onaqui.

Between very warm temps, drifted snow, melting snow and a lot of mud, getting within 4 or 5 miles of the Onaqui didn’t seem likely.  I found the majority of the herd very high on Davis Mountain again, but it was impossible to get across the gully to get to the roads that were still miles from the horses.

I did find a small group of Onaqui on the East of Davis Mountain that was within a mile or two of the the main road.  I spent the morning with them and returned that afternoon.

On two separate occasions the herd became very frightened and stampeded for the mountains.  One, when a large, loud military airplane suddenly appeared over Davis Mountain, and that afternoon when a large cattle trailer drove down the Pony Express Road.  It was the same type of trailer that the Onaqui were put into when they were rounded up and driven to Delta, UT.  I have seen this happen when Blackhawk helicopters fly close by, but never with a large transport jet and never with a cattle trailer.  I wonder if/when the herd will ever get back to normal….

wild mustangs, wild horse photography, photograph of wild horses

Photographing Wild Horses in Utah’s West Desert – Late May

Posted on by

I’m often asked if I ever get tired of photographing this herd of Wild Horses. The simple answer is N E V E R! Every trip is different. Different lighting, different foregrounds, different backgrounds, the horses have different attitudes. This trip was all about dark skies and rich lighting.

A few posts ago (the one with a lot of dust and wind) I felt that many of the photographs looked better in that very warm sepia tone. Another post a few weeks ago it didn’t feel like many of the photographs looked better in any form of black and white. On this trip to the Onaqui, even as I was taking some photographs, I said to myself, “this scene is meant to be in black and white”. I tried several of these scenes in the warm sepia tone but it just wasn’t what I saw in my mind’s eye. I saw dark, dramatic skies in a deep selenium tone. I hope you agree…

Final Push To Prevent Onaqui Herd Roundup By BLM

Posted on by

Thanks to the American Wild Horse Campaign for sending this easy way to send comments to the BLM.  The BLM is within weeks of rounding up 90% of the Onaqui Herd and removing nearly 400 of these beautiful horses to spend the rest of their lives in a pen somewhere in the Mid-West.  We are so lucky to have this herd within an hour drive from Salt Lake.

The BLM doesn’t seem concerned about reducing the 2,500 head of sheep and the 2,000 head of cows it grazes in the Onaqui Herd Management Area.  According to the BLM only the 500 head of Wild Horses need to be reduced.  Please follow the link below to submit your comments to the BLM.

Thanks!!!

=========================================================================

Greig,

Earlier this week, we wrote you about the urgent need to speak up for the wild horses in the Onaqui HMA in Utah. Many of you had trouble with the BLM site that was accepting public comments, so now we have secured an easier and more reliable way to submit comments.

Please take action today to stop the removal of 379 cherished Onaqui horses from their homes on our public lands.

Thanks,

The AWHC Team

American Wild Horse Campaign
P.O. Box 1733
Davis, CA 95617
United States

===========================================================================

wild horses in Utah's West desert, BLM controversy, wild horse photography, wild horses, wild horses in utah

BLM Asking for public input on Onaqui Herd – Please consider giving your input!!

Posted on by

I just received notice from the BLM specifically about this wonderful herd of wild horses I love to photograph.  They are looking for public input on the issue of thinning the herd from their estimate of 450 horses to between 120 and 200 horses.  They state the reasons in the attached pdf.  I am always amazed how they (the BLM) are happy to have around 2,000 head of cattle and 2,500 head of sheep use the Herd Management Area each year, BUT IT IS THE WILD HORSES THAT ARE THE PROBLEM!  Anyway, I would ask that you consider giving your input to the BLM on behalf of this wonderful herd of wild horses that do not have a voice in this issue.  They need our help.

Thank you for your consideration.  This link should open the BLM’s pdf on this issue that gives instruction on how to submit your thoughts.

18_ Utah Onaqui HMA public comment

Photography of Onaqui Wild Horses and Lightning – July 20

Posted on by

Wow!  What a trip we had in late July to the Onaqui herd of wild horses in Utah’s West Desert.  The herd was using the Simpson Springs watering hold on the Pony Express route.  They had already left the water when we found them.  After spending a couple of hours photographing them we left to find another herd to photograph at sunset.  We did find the other herd, but they were nearly a mile form the road and we were quickly running out of light.  There was a storm brewing, so we decided to “focus” (pun intended) on photographing the storm and hopefully some lightning.  We were not disappointed!  The lighting was once again remarkable.  The panoramic photograph of the sunset was made by stitching 14 photographs into one.  The panoramic photograph spanned over 180 degrees.  The lightning was another rare opportunity.  No rain and lots of lightning.  What a fantastic trip…

Latest Photographs of Onaqui Herd – Wild Horses

Posted on by

Another great trip to Utah’s West desert to photograph this wonderful herd of wild horses.  I worry every trip out that the herd has been rounded up.  With so many foals this year they are really multiplying quickly.  I have herd rumors that the BLM will be using PZP on this herd rather than rounding them up and taking them off to holding pens.

I am no expert on any of this, but PZP seems like a better alternative than simply rounding them up and shipping them to massive holding pens for the rest of their lives (or until they are slaughtered).

The main watering trough that this herd uses regularly was dry!  I did find them nearby, but they were moving to an area that I have never seen them in throughout the 7 years I have been photographing them.  I hope to get back to them in a few weeks to see what has happened.  I will keep you posted.

Wild Horse Photography – Fight

Posted on by

In this post of my wild horse photography you will see a series of photographs I shot a few weeks ago in Utah’s west desert.  In this series a roan stallion spots a black stallion that is “courting” his mare.  The chase is on.  When the roan finally catches the black stallion he almost takes the black stallion to the ground.  Then the black stallion gets his moment when he is able to pull off a solid kick to the throat of the roan.  This herd of wild horses along the old Pony Express trail near Dugway, Utah is such a treasure.  My biggest concern is how quickly they are growing in number.  I don’t believe the BLM has had a roundup of this herd for several years.  There must be near twenty new foals from this year!  I hope they can find an alternative to rounding up many of the herd and carting them off to huge pens in the mid-west.  I have seen the effects on those left behind and it is not a pretty thing.  Stallions that lost their mares and family band are never the same.  The BLM is certainly facing a difficult management task and I hope reasonable compromises can be found.

 

 

 

Onaqui Herd – Wild Horses – December

Posted on by

Every time to get out to photograph this herd of wild horses I am inspired by them.  I wish I had the time to photograph these magnificent creatures every day.

On this trip it was as cold as I have seen it in Utah’s West Desert.  It was 13 degrees just after sunset.  The lighting was amazing!  We were lucky enough to spot the herd (it was HUGE) many miles from the main road.  The lighting was good when we got there but became better and better the later it got.  Another amazing opportunity to spend time with them….

Colorful Utah Desert – Onaqui Herd – Wild Horses of Utah

Posted on by

Here are some photographs I took this spring when the Utah Desert was as colorful as I have ever seen it.  The Onaqui herd seemed to be in great shape, with foals just starting to be born.  To see the desert now, you would never believe it was this colorful.  The plant that is such a brilliant orange is called Globe Mallow or desert mallow.  It is native to Utah.