BLM Idaho manages six wild horse herd management areas on approximately 418 thousand acres. The combined appropriate management level for all HMAs in the state is 617 animals.
The Four Mile wild horses are known to be of excellent size with good conformation and color. This is the result of the influence of released Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse studs to the herds periodically up to 1978. It is also suspected that horses bred for Cavalry Re-Mounts may have also influenced the herd. In addition to the typical colors of bay, brown, and black, the wild horses include many chestnuts, pintos, paints, roans, grays, duns, grullos, and a few Appaloosas. Population 111.
Location: About 15 miles north of Emmett, Idaho
Size: 25,806 acres
Topography/Vegetation: Rolling hills and sagebrush steppe
Wildlife: Wildlife living in the area include pronghorn, mule deer, and upland bird species.
On October 15,2017 eight members of Squaw Butte spent an almost perfect fall day exploring a small section of this HMA. Parking at 4 mile creek, we rode an eight mile loop in the south west section of the HMA. We saw a band of mustangs, but they were on a hill side a couple of miles away on the other side of a canyon which would have taken a couple of hours to cross. Everyone indicated that they had enjoyed the day and were excited to see the horse, even if it was at a distance.
