Portrait of a Stallion

A Frozen Moment in Time... Once in a Lifetime

This stunning stallion was bantering with several others, all black or grey mustangs. Their power was intoxicating, watching them rear up and their muscles pulsating from beneath their shiny sweat covered coats. Yet as I sat with a friend, and long time photographer of the Onaqui herd, I could not catch my breath.

While in Utah, on several occasions I had to pull off the road. Whether it was stress, or the altitude combined with the bad air quality that had descended on Salt Lake ,,, I'll never know. But I could not risk passing out while driving my mom around the state.

I was so dizzy when we got to the range. And could no longer stand no matter how excited I was to be there. I sat down and leaned into the few inches of shade from the BLM sign on the range. No trees, no water, no grass, just barren dry desert. I think to some extent I felt the range of emotions emanating from every pore of all the family bands left, or the ones returned to the range after their traumatic removal.

The round up was a few weeks earlier and families were ripped apart. Destroyed in mere minutes .. driven by helicopters into holding pens on the range, held captive, and then driven in crowded fear evoking loud stock trailers to a BLM holding facility. There is where they endured even more stress and paralyzing fear.

Stallions have been known to jump tall panels trying to get to their families, at times injuring themselves to the point of needing to be euthanized. Horses cry, they call out to their families just like children who lose their parents. It's gut wrenching to hear.

Sitting on the dirt, my breathing became weak, I could barely move let alone stand up. I always get up, I always move and get away from any curious wild animal. But my chest was tight and I knew if I stood up I would likely fall. I do not think my friend was up for a trip to the emergency room. He came over to see if he could do anything. But there was nothing.

Then one of the bantering stallions walked over toward us, he just looked at me. He watched me, and I swear he knew. He knew I was uncomfortable, and nauseated. His serene calm eyes, and his gentle approach to 10 feet away .. froze me. At that point all I could do was clap, but because of what they had just been through, I did not want to make any loud noise or do anything that would trigger fear.

Then just as quickly as my nauseating dizziness came on, it began to dissipate. I started to feel my breathing come back and heart rate reduced from its rapid beating.

I do believe they know and feel us, just as some humans can feel animals. I cried when I got home that day, and when I returned from Utah. It was incredibly difficult for me to look at my photos not the joy I feel at the river or while I was in Montana. That round up though I was not there, I felt it and that fear they all experienced. Even with the beauty of the photos I captured,  it hurt when I saw as I scrolled through to see what I witnessed in person.

They were all grieving ,,, mourning the loss of their families and friends. It was awful -so much so I did not really enjoy my days there, mostly the 2nd day. Because the excitement and magic the first day, prevented me from truly seeing what was in front of me.

A herd ,, made up of family bands and bachelors, all trying to make sense of what happened. They live in the moment yes, but when any sentient creature is ripped from family ,,, they mourn. It's hard to watch, but important for humans to see and understand.

All wild mustangs are guilty of in this country, is living on land that every human wants to develop, sell, use for ranching, to raise livestock to sell for profit, or whatever humans need even the smallest sliver of land. Designated for them by the Wild Horse Burro Act of 1971, it was to be for them and protected. Wild Horse Annie, Thelma, is rolling over in her grave and screaming from above.

The HMAs and any land established and set aside for wildlife is to be used as intended. Time should not have ability to take it away.But I digress, my point is ,,,in the moment I was in the presence of greatness, a large powerful and emotionally sensitive creature,,,,,,,he after all he had been through, did not express hate or contempt.

I as a human, should have been enough reason after all they go through. But he was the reason, I could get through the rest of the day and not be forced to leave after only being there for 20 minutes.

I will cherish that moment forever. And as such, one that I have kept to myself because of its impact. But if I do not share then others will not see or know what they are capable of and why they hold value.

They deserve a place on this planet, and the fraction that they all have is not preventing anyone from doing what they do with land that is already available ...

Thank you for reading,

Wild Mustang Stallion - post Roundup

Onaqui - Dugway, Utah

August 2021