Running Free - Wild Horse Art

"Running Free" is a piece that holds deep meaning for me, featuring a wild herd of horses led by a spirited colt against the dramatic backdrop of the Onaqui range. The inspiration for this painting came from reflecting on the fragile nature of freedom—these horses are free until they aren't, much like us as humans.

As I painted this scene, I couldn't help but think of my childhood memories of running freely in the open fields near my home. I felt an exhilarating sense of possibility in that vast space and each step filled me with pure joy—just like the wild horses in this artwork galloping across the landscape.

Set under an intense stormy sky, this piece showcases the raw beauty of the mountains while highlighting the grace and elegance of the horses. It speaks to my love for nature and the wild west of Utah, and I hope it resonates with others who cherish the spirit of freedom and reflect on their own experiences of connection with the natural world.

Reference photo used with permission by Jami Bollschweiler

More about the Onaqui Herd and Herd Management:

Unfortunately, these beautiful animals are at risk.The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to round up and remove these animals from our public lands.

The federal government uses costly and cruel practices to eliminate wild horses and burros from our public lands to clear the way for taxpayer-subsidized livestock grazing. Each year, the BLM uses low-flying helicopters to brutally stampede, capture, and remove wild horses and burros by the thousands from Western public lands.

Those that survive roundups are stockpiled in government holding facilities. If they aren't adopted or auctioned off, they are sentenced to a lifetime of being warehoused in long-term holding facilities. At worst, wild horses end up in the slaughter pipeline.

Approximately 80 million taxpayer dollars fund this mismanaged program, annually.

Source: https://americanwildhorsecampaign.org/