[ october 2019 | horseillustrated.com 59 ]A
s I looked out over a golden valley at sunset, filled with over
100 wild horses peacefully grazing together, I wondered if this
might be what heaven itself will look like.
This wasn’t heaven, but it was close. I was standing in the
Onaqui Mountain Herd Management Area 90 minutes south-
west of Salt Lake City near Dugway, Utah.
This herd management area (HMA) covers over 200,000 acres and is currently
home to around 450 wild horses. The Onaqui Mountain Herd has been roaming
this land since the late 1800s and is a favorite destination for photographers
and horse lovers wanting to witness the beauty and excitement of wild horses.
Because water sources in the area are limited, smaller bands of horses
come together to form several large herds with over 100 horses each. The
Onaqui HMA is one of the only places where you can see this many horses
traveling together and living in relative harmony.
The Onaqui horses are not as shy as most wild horse herds and you can
get relatively close to them, which makes for exceptional photography
opportunities.