Wyoming Wild Horses

Wild Horse Trip  June 4-6, 2019

For many, the American West, with its open spaces and wild horses, personifies the Spirit of America. We are fortunate here in Wyoming to have several areas where we can still find several herds of wild horses. One such place is in Sweetwater County in the area of Pilot Butte, where one finds the PILOT BUTTE WILD HORSE SCENIC TOUR . Here one can drive a scenic loop with 24 miles of gravel road to observe wild horses and other wildlife. One can start this loop in either Rock Springs or Green River, Wyoming. 

We will be camping at the Sweetwater County Events Center. This is rally style camping, sites are all gravel, and are fenced so those with livestock can tie their critters out. There are 1,200 sites with full hookups, and the fee is $30 per-night. Works for an overnight or not spending anytime in the campground. The campground caretaker is friendly and the shower house is nice. 

Horses were first seen in this country about 10,000 years ago, but for unknown reasons became extinct. They were not seen again for another 9,000 years when the Spanish reintroduced them in the 1500’s. These current herds are descendants of those Spanish horses along with animals turned out by ranchers or enticed away from ranches by wild horse herds. 

The Rock Springs Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the headquarters of the Wild Horse Program in Wyoming. The appropriate management level for wild horses in Wyoming is approximately 6,000. 2,500 of these horses are in the Rock Springs District. Federal and private lands form a checkerboard pattern in the Rock Springs District. The existence of the herds of wild horses is a credit to the cooperation of the private landowners and the BLM. The private land owners of this area do not fence their land, thus allowing the horses to wander as necessary for food, water, and shelter in the winter as nature provides.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducts a periodic census of the wild horses to determine how many animals must be removed from the range. As a result there are fewer cases of injury or death from starvation, dehydration, and susceptibility to the elements. The horses are gathered at various times throughout the year.

Wild horses have no true natural predators other than an occasional mountain lion. As a result, populations can increase at a very high rate. This rate of increase is generally about 20% per year, with good years topping 40%. When populations of wildlife, wild horses, and domestic livestock exceed the capabilities of their habitat, the environment begins to suffer. If prolonged, it leads to poor rangeland and an overall decline in the health of the wild horses.

The majority of wild horses in Wyoming are located in the southwestern part of the state. The appropriate management level for wild horses in Wyoming is approximately 2,490 to 3,725 horses. Approximately 1,100 to 1,600 wild horses can be found on the public lands managed by the BLM Rock Springs Field Office. 

We started our day at about 0700 and drove North out of Rock Springs, Wyoming to County Road 14, which soon became dirt, then turned onto County Road 53. The first hour or more we did not see any Wild Horses, but we did see where they had been. Then, in the area of Pilot Butte, we saw a small group. We parked the truck, I walked out to get closer for photos. I was surprised how calm they were and allowed me to get within about 75 yards. 

After this group roamed over the ridge, we continued our search. Back on County Road 53, beyond the turnoff for Pilot Butte, we turned off onto a two track and found a group of three Wild Horses. Then while driving back to County Road 53, I spotted a larger group on a ridge several miles away. We found another two track and I hiked out to get closer. My hikes out across the high desert sagebrush were anywhere from 1/2 mile to 1 1/2 miles. 

One definitely needs a high clearance vehicle and if there were a heavy rain it could get a wee bit wild and western. 

The last group I encountered had about 13-14 horses and three foals. 

Here are some photos of our outing.