Bill to Protect Salt River Wild Horses Gains Support; Passes House

Phoenix, Arizona— On February 25, the ArizonaHouse of Representativesapproved HB 2340, as finally amended. This bill, which aims to protect the famedSalt River wild horsesin the Tonto National Forest, is now in the Senate, where it is scheduled for a hearing before the Federalism, Mandates and Fiscal Responsibility Committee on March 8 at 9 a.m.

The Salt RiverWild Horse ManagementGroup and the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) initially opposed HB 2340 but dropped their opposition after bill sponsor Representative Kelly Townsend significantly amended the legislation to better protect the horses. The groups sent a letter to theHouse of Representativesurging support for the amended bill.

The Townsend amendment removes the provision that would have attempted to assert Arizona jurisdiction over theSalt River Wild Horses. The bill would have placed the herd under the management of the State Department of Agriculture, which would have cost the state an estimated $1 million annually and resulted in their management aslivestock, not wild animals. The bill as now amended and passed recognizes and stipulates that theSalt River Wild Horsesare not livestock.

The amended bill also defines the scope of the herd and clarifies that horses that are part of the Salt River Wild Horse Herd are not stray animals. Additionally, the amended bill establishes clear jurisdiction and provides a process to resolve any incident that requires interaction with the herd in order to protect the health and safety of the horses and the public. The bill also criminalizes harassing, shooting, or killingSalt River wild horsesand affirms their importance to the state.

“We thank and commend Rep. Townsend for addressing our concerns and for working to craftlegislationthat will promote protection of this historic herd that is so loved and treasured by the people of Arizona,” said Simone Netherlands, president of the Salt RiverWild Horse ManagementGroup.

The Salt RiverWild Horse ManagementGroup and the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) have been working to secure lasting protections for this beloved herd since last summer when the US Forest Service announced the impound and removal of the beloved herd. The groups maintain that the Forest Service has the duty, responsibility, and legal authority to manage all resources within the Tonto National Forest and that theSalt River wild horsesare clearly an important and valued economic, historic, and recreational resource within the forest.

TheSalt River Wild Horse Management Groupis an Arizona non-profit organization established to protect, monitor, and scientifically study theSalt River Wild Horses. The SRWHMG has been spearheading the effort to secure lasting protections for this iconic and beloved wild horse herd in the Tonto National Forest.

TheAmerican Wild Horse Conservation(AWHC) is dedicated to defending America’s wild horses and burros to protect their freedom, preserve their habitat, and promote humane standards of treatment. AWHC’s mission is endorsed by a coalition of more than 60 horse advocacy, public interest, and conservation organizations.

More information on theSalt River wild horsescan be found here.