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….
Spectacular! They look in good shape but wary.
Precisely Bruce!