Beloved wild stallion shot in Utah desert, reward fund tops $30,000

Pyrite, a beloved Onaqui wild horse known as Goldie Glory, was fatally shot on Nov. 3 near Simpson Springs in Tooele County. He died seven days later, about three miles southwest of Dugway Proving Ground, after succumbing to his injuries. Photo: Onaqui Catalogue Foundation

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Pyrite, a striking Onaqui stallion also known as Goldie Glory, succumbed to gunshot wounds on Nov. 10, a week after being shot near Simpson Springs in Tooele County, Utah. Pyrite was part of the Onaqui Herd, a group of wild horses that roam the western desert of Utah. His death underscores a troubling trend of violence against wild horses and burros on public lands.

Known for their striking markings and calm temperament, the Onaqui horses have become iconic symbols of the American West, attracting wildlife photographers and visitors from around the world. Their lineage is thought to include Spanish mustangs, and they represent the cultural and historical heritage of wild horses in the U.S.

Since 2022, at least 60 wild horses and burros have been killed across the West, according to the American Wild Horse Association, Recent incidents include the shooting of two stallions in the Onaqui Herd Management Area in March 2023 and 25 horses in San Juan County, Utah. Despite ongoing investigations by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service, the perpetrators remain at large.

Suzanne Roy, executive director of the American Wild Horse Conservation, called for a federal task force to address these crimes. “Shooting or killing a wild horse is a serious federal crime,” she said in a statement, pledging the organization’s continued support for law enforcement efforts.

 

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A coalition of organizations, including the BLM, Red Birds Trust, Wild Beauty Foundation, and the Onaqui Catalogue Foundation, has pledged over $30,000 in reward funds for information leading to an arrest in Pyrite’s case. The conservation group alone has contributed $6,000 toward the effort.

This senseless violence has sparked outrage among wild horse advocates and the public. Federal agencies urge anyone with information to come forward to help bring the perpetrators to justice. Call the Utah Law Enforcement Tip-Line: (800) 722-3998 with any information regarding the shooting, anyone who may have seen anything suspicious, or any observations of shooting occurring during the period of Nov. 3-9, 2024.