Arizona Senate Committee Considers Bill to Protect Salt River Wild Horses

Phoenix, AZ (March 8, 2016) – Today, the Arizona State Senate Committee on Federalism, Mandates and Fiscal Responsibility will hear HB 2340, a bill designed to protect the famed Salt River Wild Horses in the Tonto National Forest near Mesa.

Introduced by Rep. Kelly Townsend, the bill passed the House on February 25. The Scottsdale-based Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and the national American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) are urging Arizona State Senators to pass this important legislation.

The hearing follows a vigil held by members of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, who spent a day on horseback atop Coon Bluff, overlooking the Salt River wild horses’ habitat. Their display of American and Arizona flags, along with a banner reading “Don’t Let Them Become History,” garnered significant public support and attention.

“We built this great country on the backs of horses – including ancestors of the Salt River wild horses,” said Simone Netherlands, president of the SRWHMG. “This is about more than wild horses. It’s about who we are as Americans, what we stand for – and what we don’t. We urge the Senate to pass HB 2340 to protect the Salt River wild horses as an incredible and beloved natural resource in our state.”

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) initially opposed HB 2340 due to concerns over state ownership and management by the Arizona Agriculture Department. However, amendments by Rep. Townsend, prompted by a fiscal note indicating $1 million in costs, have garnered support from wild horse advocates.

As currently written, the bill:

• Defines the horses as an economic, historic, and recreational resource of the state, not stray animals.
• Criminalizes the harassment or killing of a Salt River wild horse.
• Defines their historic habitat on the lower Salt River.
• Provides a process to humanely manage the horses in partnership with community groups, addressing safety concerns for both the horses and the public.
• Eliminates fiscal burdens on the state by not asserting state ownership of the horses, who reside on federal land.

“We commend Rep. Townsend for her dedication to protecting the Salt River wild horses and her willingness to amend her bill to accomplish that goal,” said Suzanne Roy, Executive Director of the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation). “We hope that the Arizona Senate will listen to the strong will of Arizonans, who want the Salt River horses recognized and protected on the lands where they have roamed for well over a century.”

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

The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) 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.