The Wild Horses of Utah
As a Utah native, I have always known about the wild horses that roam our deserts. But, until recently, I had never seen them…
A while back I read an article about how the wild horse population in Utah may becoming more controlled to prevent over grazing. I do not know all the facts about the situation, and know there are pros and cons to both sides of the debate. What I did know was that I needed to see these beautiful animals, in their wild state, as soon as was possible.
I approached my dad with the idea to go out and find them, since he had seen them before and knew where to look. So, early one morning, my dad, his best friend, and I, packed up the truck and headed west. It’s a long drive, with no guarantee that you’ll find anything, but, we kept our eyes peeled, often stoping to scope out what were possibly the horses, only to realize they were simply cattle.
After a couple hours of driving, we stopped at a little campsite to stretch our legs. My dad, who should possibly be given the nickname of “eagle eye”, spotted something on the horizon, and pulled out his spotting scope. While barely recognizable, even through the scope— we were almost positive that we had found the horses.
We were worried about scaring them off, simply by getting somewhat close with the truck. So we pulled up, as close as we dared, then I got out and continued on foot. To be honest, I think I should have been more nervous about them getting too close to me, than the other way around. I was practically surrounded as I snapped my photos, being careful not to draw too much attention to myself. But, just as I decided I was about through, a group of horses decided to approach me. I nervously backed away, slowly, hoping they’d change their minds. (I realize they’re just horses, but you never know with wild animals, and the last thing I wanted to do was interfere.) Luckily, I stepped on a particularly crunchy bush and they seemed to lose interest. Once the horses had turned away from me, I made my way back to the truck, quickly. We sat inside, for a few more minutes, enjoying the view, then turned for home.
It was such a great morning, exploring parts of Utah I had never seen, with my dad and his friend. But finding the horses, in such a beautiful location, and being able to be so close to them, was more than I could have asked for.
I am selling these photos for $20 each, if you’d like the file to print for yourself! Of course, these are for personal use, only. Simply comment or email me, if you’d like to purchase any.
