South Steens HMA

The HMA is managed for pinto colored horses with above average conformation. Colors however range from pinto to buckskin, sorrel, bay, palomino, gray brown and black. The horses in this herd average anywhere from 14 to 16 hands in size and from 900- to 1,200 pounds.

Location: The herd area is about 70 miles southwest of Burns and 10 miles south of Frenchglen along Hwy 205 and the Steens Mountain south loop road.

Size: More than 130,000 acres.

Topography/Vegetation: Elevation ranges from 5,000 to over 7,500 feet. Climate is harsh with very cold winters and dry, hot summers. Area is in rugged high desert country located on the southwestern flank of Steens Mountain and is characterized by extremely rocky surfaces divided by canyons, rimrocks and plateaus, dissected by perennial and intermittent stream channels.

Wildlife: Pronghorn antelope, mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, coyote, badger, black-tailed jackrabbit, cottontail, bobcat, and mountain lion. Also, Golden eagle, chukar, California quail, red-tailed hawk, kestrel, and great horned owl.

AML:  159-304

Horses from the South Steens HMA on the range.  BLM photo

Flickr Album: Oregon Wild Horses Herd Management Area