Swasey Wild Horse Roundup Reports

Welcome to AWHC’s reporting page for the 2026 Swasey Mountains wild horse roundup in Utah. The BLM plans to remove approximately 140 horses from the Swasey Mountains Herd Management Area, where it sets the appropriate management level at 60–100 horses. The operation uses helicopters to move horses into temporary corrals. We’ll share BLM’s daily updates and totals here as they become available.

The BLM has offered limited, reservation-based public observation through escorted tours. Schedules and locations may change with weather, safety conditions, and operational needs, so check the BLM’s latest instructions before making plans to attend.

Tuesday, October 3, 2026

Animals Gathered: 28 (10 stallions, 14 mares, and 4 foals)
Animals Shipped: 28 (10 stallions, 14 mares, and 4 foals)
Animals Released: 0
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

Observation was ½ to ¾ of a mile away from the trap.

During the first runs, five horses were being pushed to the trap and scattered. One of those was brought in. Then three more horses were brought in, but when the Prada/Judas horse went in he quickly turned around startling one of the horses running in and causing it to rear against the panels.

Two pintos were then brought in - the yearling went in but the mare turned around and ran back out of the wings. The pilot pursued it up the rocky slopes behind the trap and back down to the south. A wrangler rode out and roped her and waited for a trailer. The wrangler began riding toward the trailer pulling the mare behind while she bucked. Three people went out to assist as they continued pulling the horse by the neck rope to the trailer until she fell to the ground. Immediately one man knelt on her neck and they tied some of her legs. It appeared like they tied something to her tail and began to pull her around at which point she flipped over. She attempted to get up with legs tied a couple times flipping back over to the ground. It did not appear they used a board to load her. It looked like they took a rope thru the side of the trailer which the wrangler pulled to get the mare to stand (with tied legs) to get onto the trailer. It was difficult to see from my distance, but it looked like they untied her in the trailer and stood her up before taking her to the trap.

Several more runs were made, the largest being 10 horses.

Our observer was not able to see the horses at temporary holding because they were sorting and shipping directly to Sutherland. She asked about the roped mare and was told she was fine, but was not able to see her.