This little pond and valley is in the Pokegama Wild Horse Herd Management Area, and the first spot we saw the wild horses in 2019.
Local residents of the Pokegama area recall seeing bands of wild horses in the area since the early 1900s. The horse population is believed to have originated from one buckskin Quarter Horse stallion and approximately seven buckskin mares that a local rancher permitted to run loose on the range, a very common occurrence in the days prior to the 1934 Taylor Grazing Act. The horses now vary in color: bays, blacks, buckskins, palominos and even a few paints.
The Pokegama HMA’s Appropriate Management Level is 30 to 50 head. Only twice, once 1996 and again in 2000 did the population exceed this amount which resulted in BLM rounding up and removing horses. They were taken to Burns Holding Facilities and auctioned/sold to the public. Boy! I would love to have one of these horses! What a trail horse that would be! For some reason this herd has a low percent of annual increase. One theory is that mountain lions winter here causing high depredation the young foals. In 2013 a count was conducted and found 38 horses.
The Pokegama HMA is 80,880 acres ranging south of Hwy 66, east of Jenny Creek, and north and west of the Klamath River. The majority is private timberland. There is abundant forage and water. There are also two cattle allotments, so in the summer the horses share the land with cattle. We were also fortunate to see a huge herd of elk (25-30) to the south.
These horses are not afraid of people. One herd even followed us back to our vehicle and only ran when our dog barked. Please remember they are WILD, so don’t try to pet or feed them. The stallions can be unpredictable and may charge at you or your dog to protect their mares.
You are looking for a camo peanut butter container with log and swag.
Excerpts from the horse management plan of 2002: https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/lakeview/plans/files/PokegamaHMAP.pdf