Bill to Protect Salt River Wild Horses Passes Unanimously Out of AZ Senate Committee

Phoenix, AZ (March 8, 2016)- Wild horse advocates are celebrating a unanimous vote by the Arizona StateSenateCommittee on Federalism, Mandates and Fiscal Responsibility in favor of HB 2340. This bill aims to protect the famedSalt River Wild Horsesin the Tonto National Forest near Mesa.

“We are grateful to the members of thisSenateCommittee for their enthusiastic support for this legislation and ourSalt River wild horses,” said Simone Netherlands, president of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group. “It’s great to see our legislators standing up for the will of the people to protect this irreplaceable Arizona natural treasure.”

The bill, introduced by Rep. Kelly Townsend, passed the House on February 25. It will now move on to the fullSenatefor a vote.

The Scottsdale-based Salt RiverWild Horse ManagementGroup and the national American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) threw their support behind the bill after Rep. Townsend amended it to remove a provision for state ownership, which would have cost Arizona nearly $800,000 annually.

The bill now criminalizes the harassment or killing of a Salt River wild horse, clarifies that they are not stray animals, and establishes a process to humanely manage the horses in partnership with community groups, addressing safety concerns for both the horses and the public.

HR 2340 now heads toward the fullSenatefor a vote.

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 (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation)(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.