Utah wild horses

[Ben Egbert]

Technically this is the Onaqui Mountains herd management area. But Simpson Springs is a better landmark. This is along the Pony Express route which is now a well graded road.

The first day I saw two horses right by the side of the road about 4 miles west of Simpson Springs. They were so close I had to remove the 800 and mount a 100-400. I shot this first one from the vehicle.

1.

I saw two more about a 1/4 mile from the road and walked out to get them, but have not processed them yet.

The next day I drove to the same spot and saw none. But I spotted something far off the road and my binoculars revealed a herd. I drove back a bit and found a dirt path that led me to them. I counted 30 in all.

2. A group of 9 surrounding a foal on the ground.

3. The foal with mom.

4, On the drive out I saw this pair fighting. It's a heavy crop with the 800 lens. They separated and never resumed combat while I was closer.

 

[Nilo Photography]

Love shot #2

 

[AlanLichty]

Nice set of these horses. I like #3.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nice set Ben. I'd go with #2 as my favorite of the set.

 

[Beth]

beautiful creatures, love that second shot of the herd and mountains in the background.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I found this interesting looking viewpoint on a map for the largest of the three big lakes south of Florence - Siltcoos Lake. I followed a narrow twisty road that went near the tracks of the Coos Bay Rail Line thinking I might be able to include the rails as part of a good view of the lake and then found myself looking at a rather primitive single track roadway extending beyond a Pavement Ends sign. A very wet unpaved small path like this was no place to wander with a 10,000 lb. vehicle. There was no room to turn around anywhere in sight either in front of me or behind so my only option was to shift into reverse and negotiate my way back to a driveway apron in front of a private residence about 1/4 mile back up the road. On the way back out I decided to stop and get some shots of the area anyway including this image showing where Maple Creek flows into one of the many arms of Siltcoos Lake. The Coos Bay Rail Line is visible towards the bottom skirting around the stand of trees. I will be revisiting this area again in the future with my Tacoma 4x4.

View attachment 47802

C&C always welcome.

Love shot #2

Glad you like it, looks like 2 is the favorite

Nice set of these horses. I like #3.

Thanks Alan, I am also partial to 3.

Nice set Ben. I'd go with #2 as my favorite of the set.

Thanks Jameel. This is about 75 miles south east of the Salt flats.

beautiful creatures, love that second shot of the herd and mountains in the background.

They do have a beauty, and looks like the second is the favorite here.

 

[Joe Colozzo]

fantastic set of images Ben, I like the shot of 9 horses the best though!!

 

[JimFox]

Pretty cool Ben!

I sure like the last one where they are fighting. Was that the only fight you saw?

I do like the gathering in #2. But I wish it had a bit more head space to show the tops of the hills in the back.

But you really got a nice assortment of photos of this herd.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Pretty cool Ben!

I sure like the last one where they are fighting. Was that the only fight you saw?

I do like the gathering in #2. But I wish it had a bit more head space to show the tops of the hills in the back.

But you really got a nice assortment of photos of this herd.

Thanks Jim, I cropped that image to lose some of those distant hills as I did not think they added much. I suspect they are clipped though.

The last one would have been my money shot had I been closer. I waited around when I got closer, but these guys were finished.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

A wonderful series, Ben.