![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/1673892675163-6TWNN1MORA82YCPW3R7G/4+on+onaqui.jpg)
The Onaquis.
Wild Spirits of the West
Onaqui wild horses so grand
Roam free in the deserts of Utah's land
With strength and endurance
Their beauty is immense
Nature's true work,
on display at command.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/5cf37588-c204-4e3b-be92-5128f22f20a8/Maverick.jpg)
This portfolio captures the essence of the Onaqui wild horses, showcasing their strength and spirit through breathtaking images that will inspire and delight. Join me on my journey into the heart of the American West and witness the unparalleled beauty of the Onaqui wild horses through my photographs.
The Onaqui wild horses of Utah are a stunning and iconic symbol of the American West. These majestic creatures roam freely in the Onaqui Mountain Range on the Great Basin Desert west of Salt Lake City, Utah, displaying their grace and beauty as they roam through the thousands of acres of rugged landscape. For decades, these wild horses have captured the hearts of photographers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates the awe-inspiring power of nature.
The Onaqui wild horse herds are a complex and fascinating social structure. These horses live in large, closely knit family groups known as bands, which are led by a dominant stallion and a group of mares. Within each band, there is a hierarchy, and each member plays a vital role in the group's survival. The horses spend most of their time grazing and traveling together, but they also engage in social grooming, play, and even conflict resolution. The Onaqui wild horse bands are a testament to the incredible bonds that can form between animals and the importance of preserving their natural habitats.
I believe that the wild horses of the Onaqui range are a vital part of our natural heritage, and it is our responsibility to protect them. I hope to use my art as a platform to raise awareness about the plight of the Onaquis, and all of the American wild horses. I hope that my work will inspire others to take action to help protect our Western wild horses and to preserve their fragile habitat for future generations.
In 1971 the THE WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS ACT OF 1971 (PUBLIC LAW 92-195) was adopted by the US Government in order to PROTECT wild horses in the West.
You can read it here: Wild Horse Act
The Onaquis
![Sweet Dreams](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/bb468fcc-8d09-4e20-bad0-24ca0e4cdc19/Sweet+Dreams.jpg)
Sweet Dreams
![Family Fun](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/3dfffe87-7042-47cc-96f9-b63f7a0198b6/Onaquis.jpg)
Family Fun
![Onaqui Mountains](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/00044117-1fbf-4be6-a4b0-2a6500cbba4b/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-27.jpg)
Onaqui Mountains
![Last Day (B&W)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/45d52f21-bbf4-40d0-9c42-1a96283e6556/Onaquis+Heading+Out+copy.jpg)
Last Day (B&W)
![Onaqui Three](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/57ef4a40-9de2-49df-b46a-4199e321e48a/C56E82B1-B6FC-476B-8A15-BB3900BDBD82.jpeg)
Onaqui Three
![Sweet Dreams #2](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/b735852a-6785-4be7-8310-9ee2e825fd60/two+together.jpg)
Sweet Dreams #2
![Freedom Flight](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/ec9da886-ac57-4580-9a11-e30ad6309478/Onaqui+birds+web.jpg)
Freedom Flight
![Dust and Furry](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/2d4686c7-b789-44dc-a50b-9fc527925c34/Wild+Fight.jpg)
Dust and Furry
![Dust & Glory](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/abbb6add-580c-4c97-9229-972bb549657d/Wild+Horses+Onaqui_PETTIT_B.jpg)
Dust & Glory
![Light my Fire](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/d94c4030-9488-4161-b836-b54fecc480ae/Onaqui+1.jpg)
Light my Fire
![Paint](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/beeaf2e6-cb04-4606-bb4f-fadbe9a26d73/Onaqui+Portrait+2.jpg)
Paint
![Last Day (color)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/5bc06a27-9a04-49fe-91db-54c933d60750/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-29.jpg)
Last Day (color)
![Legendary](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/e8adc48b-0d7a-4c8e-911b-fc947b547011/Onaqui+3.jpg)
Legendary
![Young One](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/ab2f331e-263d-4bdd-84ad-0744d56f6695/whiskers.jpg)
Young One
![Ghost Horses of the Onaqui Range](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/8ffd8fc4-389c-4672-8ded-01637060f833/Ghosts+of+Onaqui.jpg)
Ghost Horses of the Onaqui Range
![Sisters](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/4c05c2be-c9b0-4f26-a9ed-be19d742dfe4/white.jpg)
Sisters
![Fit stallions](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/10757e17-8d3d-43e1-acdb-ffddb5acd6ad/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-2.jpg)
Fit stallions
![Family Coming In](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/94e2627c-18cf-466f-ab86-74a76bb2bdff/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-12.jpg)
Family Coming In
![Alert](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/39ed0f6c-dcc8-49f9-b540-2377123a9a28/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-7.jpg)
Alert
![Moving on](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/61ca922e-e31d-4e50-9951-ccaf062d0776/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-8.jpg)
Moving on
![Family Band (sepia)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/b452572e-2bd2-4920-b09f-4413244b9360/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-9.jpg)
Family Band (sepia)
![Coming In](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/2d93002b-798f-4223-bbd8-0520ed1d0f64/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-10.jpg)
Coming In
![Pretty](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/74ab8985-6e84-4ec7-9e3d-1cc79df63260/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-11.jpg)
Pretty
![Play Fight](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/74c5a52f-cec1-45c5-8cef-53a05e75ce7a/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-23.jpg)
Play Fight
![Chase!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/d4e4eb51-815a-433d-a1d0-002f1d650fd8/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-15.jpg)
Chase!
![Pinto Brothers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/90f9dcc8-49db-44e9-acbd-a945fc72589b/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-17.jpg)
Pinto Brothers
![Siblings](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/b6a1f568-f86b-4747-ab6e-9b926a3fb23f/watch+over+me.jpg)
Siblings
![Mare and Foal](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/076dace4-8821-48c9-9332-b73240254f86/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-24.jpg)
Mare and Foal
![Bonding](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/ada2f724-49fa-41d1-8255-ab675703b62a/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-25.jpg)
Bonding
![Shy One](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/ed7062a4-992c-4f04-99f6-58dcfc7ec29a/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-30.jpg)
Shy One
![Good Hair Day](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/e495c5ab-ac8e-4738-827f-687a025cf60a/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-32.jpg)
Good Hair Day
![One Cloud](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/b8b4394d-360a-411f-a03a-39f6cafb9bd3/stallion+fight+color.jpg)
One Cloud
![Sunset Stallion Battle](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/f1e3507a-390f-4104-ac16-11df44744fdf/Freedom+to+be.jpg)
Sunset Stallion Battle
![Curves](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/3c5e4a56-1245-4347-b9fe-382c7e55acd5/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-33.jpg)
Curves
![Strength and Dignity](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/fc5a4a91-60d5-4bde-a0a8-55638ade6621/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-34.jpg)
Strength and Dignity
![Peaceful](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/f60499ff-e68c-4ea5-b236-7fd1a246e4da/Peaceful+water.jpg)
Peaceful
![Splash](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/7e759872-ae71-4c12-aa21-1ba831e340e8/Splash.jpg)
Splash
![Love](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/80bbc06a-b4bb-47ee-af11-e6555515b4cd/good+bye.jpg)
Love
![Family Band](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/af278646-e478-4a1f-818f-43265f8e9354/untitled-5695-Edit-3.jpg)
Family Band
![Reflections](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/85ec55a1-13d1-4375-b030-87c6402e7aef/Good+night.jpg)
Reflections
![Maverick](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/3cd2ad7e-2e83-4b8a-9b1a-0b99d053239b/Maverick.jpg)
Maverick
![Strength](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/74780cbc-c888-433d-8961-ac87a81619e2/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-6.jpg)
Strength
![Family of Three](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/a077b0cd-0a10-40aa-9dcc-a1789feec3ff/Onaqui+Wild+Horses-5.jpg)
Family of Three
![Onaqui Three (sepia)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/0f626502-9881-4042-afc0-b8625ad73315/9EA66844-CC45-4F9F-8714-3D666D9DC0B8.jpeg)
Onaqui Three (sepia)
![Free Run](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/f6478317-dc2e-4907-9a7b-f8c7dc1f9ad2/Young+run.jpg)
Free Run
![Posturing](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/0f55ff94-236f-4e51-88f9-704fa559726e/Onaqui+2.jpg)
Posturing
![Three wild Onaquis](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/edd74010-235e-471b-ae6e-e4fa1976e7e3/Wild+Ones.jpg)
Three wild Onaquis
![Four Resting Stallions](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/11ee6acd-9e5d-4bb5-9d22-1c7177b06c43/Great_Basin_Desert_2017-9087-Edit.jpg)
Four Resting Stallions
![Young Rascals](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/a4b0820d-7107-4afb-a5c8-613a1d23840b/Great_Basin_Desert_2017-0679-2-Edit.jpg)
Young Rascals
![Stallion in Sepia](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/cf1a57ad-0dfb-4cf9-8034-236320fca61d/untitled-5060-Edit.jpg)
Stallion in Sepia
![Symbiosis](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/2e3d6c1e-5c9f-45e7-84a8-685e46447d4e/untitled-5380-Edit.jpg)
Symbiosis
![Freeze Branded](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/394fc689-1c7a-427f-9745-6dd5e67a76a9/Onaqui+Portrait.jpg)
Freeze Branded
![Eye of the Beholder](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6187f518ff7883292daddef3/125dd768-1c3f-4e70-84b3-3789dded7118/untitled-5526-Edit.jpg)
Eye of the Beholder