Monitor Wild Horse Territory
The Monitor Wild Horse Territory (WHT) is administered by the Austin/Tonopah Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Location/Habitat
The Monitor WHT is located in Nevada approximately 15 miles east of Tonopah. The territory consists of about 380,000 acres of Forest Service land in the southern half of the Monitor Mountain Range.
The topography of the area is mountains and valleys. Elevations range from 6000 ft to 11,000 ft. Climate is represented by hot, dry summers and cold winters. Temperatures range from below zero in the winter to 90° + F in the summer. Average annual precipitation is 5-12 inches.
The territory consists of 3 primary vegetation types: 1) low sage community, 2) desert shrub community, and 3) pinyon-juniper community.
Wildlife present within the territory include elk, deer, antelope, hawks, owls, and bats.
Livestock grazing occurs within the territory.
History
Although Spaniards brought horses with them to the Nevada area in the 16 th and 17 th centuries, it is believed that progeny from strays of early emigrants, as well as abandoned and stray animals from early mining booms and settlement of homesteads account for much of the current wild horse population in the Monitor Territory. Many of the abandoned animals were the result of economic slumps and periodic droughts which plagued the early settlers. Also many of the wild horses are descendants of the Dixon strain.
The Dixon strain, developed by Tom Dixon, a rancher who came from Ireland to California and then to Nevada in 1869, was a mixture of Shires, Percherons, Morgans, Hambletonians, and various Irish stock. Hambletonians were the foundation bloodline for the Standardbred breed. At one time Dixon’s horses ran at large over much of Nevada (including Long Valley to Fish Creek, Spring, Diamond, and Monitor Valleys) and numbered over 10,000.
Also adding to the population are remnants and descendants of the Clifford “steeldusts.” “Steeldust” was a common name referring to a preferred type of cow pony. These horses were descendants of Steel Dust, a Kentucky bred stud born in 1843. Steel Dust was of Thoroughbred lineage, but an excellent sprinter. He was a blood bay who stood 15 hands high and weighed 1200 lbs. He was moved to Texas and became a popular sire for ranch stock. Many ranchers would breed captured wild mares of Spanish decent to Steel Dust, and the result was a much desired cow horse. Horses of Steel Dust lineage became commonly known as “steeldusts,” and these horses later became known as Quarter Horses.
Herd Description
Wild horses of the Monitor WHT come in a variety of colors. Grays are common in the territory, along with bays, blacks, sorrels, roans, and buckskins. The horses average 14-15 hands.
For More Information
Contact the Tonopah Ranger District at 775-482-6286.
Info
Return to “Nevada - Monitor Wild Horse Territory”
Jump to
- The Basics
- ↳ Report an Emergency
- ↳ Animal Injuries / Deaths
- ↳ Hazardous Environments
- ↳ Introductions
- States with BLM HMAs
- ↳ Colorado
- ↳ LITTLE BOOK CLIFFS WILD HORSE AREA HMA
- ↳ PICEANCE-EAST DOUGLAS HMA
- ↳ SAND WASH BASIN HMA
- ↳ SPRING CREEK BASIN HMA
- ↳ Info
- ↳ Arizona
- ↳ ALAMO HMA
- ↳ BIG SANDY HMA
- ↳ BLACK MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ CERBAT MOUNTAINS HMA
- ↳ CIBOLA-TRIGO HMA
- ↳ HAVASU HMA
- ↳ LAKE PLEASANT HMA
- ↳ California
- ↳ Info
- ↳ BITNER HMA
- ↳ BUCKHORN HMA
- ↳ CARTER RESERVOIR HMA
- ↳ CENTENNIAL HMA
- ↳ CHEMEHUEVI HMA
- ↳ CHICAGO VALLEY HMA
- ↳ CHOCOLATE-MULE MOUNTAINS HMA
- ↳ COPPERSMITH HMA
- ↳ FORT SAGE HMA
- ↳ FOX HOG HMA
- ↳ HIGH ROCK HMA
- ↳ LEE FLAT HMA
- ↳ MASSACRE LAKES HMA
- ↳ NEW RAVENDALE HMA
- ↳ NUT MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ PIPER MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ RED ROCK LAKES HMA
- ↳ TWIN PEAKS HMA
- ↳ WALL CANYON HMA
- ↳ WAUCOBA-HUNTER MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ ROUND MOUNTAIN (DEVIL'S GARDEN PLATEAU) HMA
- ↳ Idaho
- ↳ Info
- ↳ BLACK MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ CHALLIS HMA
- ↳ FOUR MILE HMA
- ↳ HARDTRIGGER HMA
- ↳ SANDS BASIN HMA
- ↳ SAYLOR CREEK HMA
- ↳ Montana
- ↳ Info
- ↳ PRYOR MOUNTAIN WILD HORSE RANGE HMA
- ↳ Nevada
- ↳ Info
- ↳ AMARGOSA VALLEY HMA
- ↳ ANTELOPE HMA
- ↳ ANTELOPE VALLEY HMA
- ↳ ASH MEADOWS HMA
- ↳ AUGUSTA MOUNTAINS HMA
- ↳ BALD MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ BLACK ROCK RANGE EAST HMA
- ↳ BLACK ROCK RANGE WEST HMA
- ↳ BLUE WING MOUNTAINS HMA
- ↳ BUFFALO HILLS HMA
- ↳ BULLFROG HMA
- ↳ CALICO MOUNTAINS HMA
- ↳ CALLAGHAN HMA
- ↳ CLAN ALPINE HMA
- ↳ DESATOYA HMA
- ↳ DIAMOND HMA
- ↳ DIAMOND HILLS NORTH HMA
- ↳ DIAMOND HILLS SOUTH HMA
- ↳ DOGSKIN MOUNTAINS HMA
- ↳ EAGLE HMA
- ↳ EL DORADO MOUNTAINS HMA
- ↳ FISH CREEK HMA
- ↳ FISH LAKE VALLEY HMA
- ↳ FLANIGAN HMA
- ↳ FORT SAGE HMA
- ↳ FOX-LAKE RANGE HMA
- ↳ GARFIELD FLAT HMA
- ↳ GOLD BUTTE HMA
- ↳ GOLD MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ GOLDFIELD HMA
- ↳ GOSHUTE HMA
- ↳ GRANITE PEAK HMA
- ↳ GRANITE RANGE HMA
- ↳ HORSE MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ New Mexico
- ↳ Info
- ↳ BORDO ATRAVESADO HMA
- ↳ CARRACAS MESA (ORIGINAL NAME ROSA COMMUNITY) HMA
- ↳ Oregon
- ↳ BEATYS BUTTE HMA
- ↳ COLD SPRINGS HMA
- ↳ COYOTE LAKE/ALVORD TULE SPRINGS HMA
- ↳ HOG CREEK HMA
- ↳ JACKIES BUTTE HMA
- ↳ KIGER HMA
- ↳ LIGGETT TABLE HMA
- ↳ MURDERER'S CREEK HMA
- ↳ PAISLEY DESERT HMA
- ↳ PALOMINO BUTTE HMA
- ↳ POKEGAMA HMA
- ↳ RIDDLE MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ SAND SPRINGS HMA
- ↳ SHEEPSHEAD/HEATH CREEK HMA
- ↳ SOUTH STEENS HMA
- ↳ STINKINGWATER HMA
- ↳ THREE FINGERS HMA
- ↳ WARM SPRINGS HMA
- ↳ Texas
- ↳ Utah
- ↳ Info
- ↳ CANYON LANDS HMA
- ↳ BIBLE SPRINGS HMA
- ↳ BLAWN WASH HMA
- ↳ CEDAR MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ CHLORIDE CANYON HMA
- ↳ CHOKE CHERRY HMA
- ↳ CONFUSION HMA
- ↳ CONGER HMA
- ↳ FOUR MILE HMA
- ↳ FRISCO HMA
- ↳ KING TOP MOUNTAINS HMA
- ↳ MOUNT ELINOR HMA
- ↳ MUDDY CREEK HMA
- ↳ NORTH HILLS HMA
- ↳ ONAQUI MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ RANGE CREEK HMA
- ↳ SINBAD HMA
- ↳ SULPHUR HMA
- ↳ SWASEY MOUNTAINS HMA
- ↳ TILLY CREEK HMA
- ↳ Wyoming
- ↳ Info
- ↳ ADOBE TOWN HMA
- ↳ ANTELOPE HILLS HMA
- ↳ CROOKS MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ DIVIDE BASIN HMA
- ↳ FIFTEENMILE HMA
- ↳ GREEN MOUNTAIN HMA
- ↳ LITTLE COLORADO HMA
- ↳ LOST CREEK HMA
- ↳ MCCULLOUGH PEAKS HMA
- ↳ NORTH LANDER HMA COMPLEX
- ↳ SALT WELLS CREEK HMA
- ↳ STEWART CREEK HMA
- ↳ WHITE MOUNTAIN HMA
- U.S.F.S. Wild Horse Areas
- ↳ Info
- ↳ California - Big Bear Wild Burro Territory
- ↳ California - Black Mountain Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ California - Brushy Mountain Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ California - Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ California - McGavin Peak Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ California - Three Sisters Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ California - White Mountain Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Burro Wild Burro Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Butler Basin Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Cherry Spring Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Dobbin Summit Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Ellsworth Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Kelly Creek Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Little Fishlake Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Monitor Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Monte Cristo Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Northumberland Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Paradise Peak Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Powell Mountain Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Shoshone Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Tierney Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Toiyabe Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Nevada - Toquima Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ New Mexico - Caja del Rio Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ New Mexico - Jarita Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ New Mexico - Jicarilla Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Oregon - Murderer's Creek Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Utah - Big Creek Wild Horse Territory
- ↳ Utah - North Hills Wild Horse Territory
- National Park Wild Horses/Burros
- Wild Horse Warriors - SWB - News
- Wild Horses
- ↳ Question and Answer
- ↳ Images
- Wild Burros
- ↳ Questions and Answers
- ↳ Images
- Wildlife in the HMAs
- Adoptions
- ↳ Current Horse Adoption Events / Adopted & Saved Horses
- ↳ 2019 Tentative BLM Wild Horse Adoption Schedule
- ↳ Current Burro Adoption Events / Adopted & Saved Burros
- ↳ 2019 Tentative BLM Wild Burro Adoption Schedule
- ↳ Why? Questions and Answers
- ↳ Pending roundups
- Wild Horses Outside of the United States
- Wild Horse and Burro Advocacy Groups
- Your WH&B Camping Setups
- BE PREPARED!
- Domestic Horses and Burros
- Classifieds
- ↳ Individual Members
- ↳ Vendors
- ↳ The Rusty Spur Saddle Shop - Parker, CO