Shot and killed the weekend of November 3 in the Onaqui HMA in Utah

Last week Wild Horse Education added to the reward for information leading to arrest and conviction in the shooting death of a beautiful palomino stallion at Onaqui.

Why have we waited to tell you? To keep this important issue in the news cycle: others sent press releases last week, we sent ours today to keep the news on this issue through the coming week. 

Many of you are not aware that BLM has always had funding issues when it comes to hiring law enforcement to be out on the range. Right now, the terrifying rise in shootings of wild horses and burros on public lands rises to the level of increasing law enforcement presence anywhere our wild ones live to protect herd and the public. BLM needs to create a task force immediately whose only job is to track down these perpetrators and stop it from continuing to happen.

As a community, advocacy mourns each and every senseless death. The loss of this palomino is truly a loss to all.

On November 13, the Bureau of Land Management Utah State Office confirmed that gunshot wounds caused the tragic death of a wild stallion south of the Dugway Proving Grounds in the Onaqui Herd Management Area (HMA). Evidence indicates that the shooting likely occurred during the week of November 3, with the horse succumbing to its injuries over the weekend.

The palomino stallion is known by many visitors to the Onaqui HMA. Members of the public reference the horse by various names including Glory, Goldie and Pyrite.

Last week Wild Horse Education (WHE) and Rewilding America Now (RAN) have both added to the reward that now totals $30,000. for information leading to an arrest and conviction in conjunction with the death of the palomino.

“The increase in shooting deaths is a very disturbing trend,” stated Manda Kalimian, President of RAN, “This type of disregard for the law presents a danger to our wild horses and burros and any member of the public out enjoying public lands. We urge anyone with information to please come forward.”

The shooting death of the palomino is the third stallion that has been killed by gunfire within the Onaqui herd management area since March, 2023. A separate $37,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the shooting death of the first two stallions, a brown and white paint with one blue eye and his buddy a smaller bay.

In November of 2021, a band of 5 wild horses (18 months to six years old) were discovered within 600 yards of each other about two miles south of Hwy. 50 in Jakes Valley, Nevada (a part of the Pancake Complex). An aborted horse fetus was attached to one of the dead horses. Another horse was found alive, but it was wounded so severely it was euthanized. Wild Horse Education has contributed an additional $5,000. To the reward raising it to $25,000. for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

“As a community we feel each and every one of these senseless killings deeply,” stated Laura Leigh, President of Wild Horse Education, “The mindset of someone that kills a wild horse or burro simply to kill is truly disturbing. We have added to the reward for the Onaqui stallion and others in hopes that someone will come forward.”

Additionally. there were shooting deaths of wild horses and burros reported on both BLM lands and public lands managed by the United States Forest Service In Utah, Nevada, Oregon, California, Arizona and Idaho. There are rewards for information leading to arrest in each instance.

Anyone with information about this case, or any of the other shootings, is asked to contact the BLM’s Law Enforcement Tipline at 1-800-637-9152. Tips can be made anonymously.

As a community all of advocacy mourns each and every senseless death. The loss of this palomino is truly a loss to all.

End of year funding is critical to keep our team in the field reporting to you and all of the other work we do like investigations and litigation. Without your support, none of our work is possible. Thank you!

WHE has a 10K match challenge through Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3. Help us raise the funds to unlock this critical match!

Several of you have asked if WHE has a calendar. We have three designs, one brand new for 2025, that you can choose from in our Zazzle storefront HERE. They are now 20% off with code: BLKFRIDEAL05 All sale proceeds support our work.