Salt River Wild Horse Management Group Celebrates at State Capitol

Phoenix, AZ (May 10, 2016) — Dozens of Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) members and supporters, joined by riders on horseback waving flags, will gather on 17th Avenue in front of the State Capitol to celebrate HB 2340, the bill to protect the Salt River wild horses. The street will be closed to regular traffic.

The advocates will gather in anticipation of the signing of the bill, and a 10:30 am press conference with Rep. Kelly Townsend, the sponsor of the bill, and Simone Netherlands, president of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, as well as other important officials. The bill cleared its final hurdle in the legislature with a 53-3 passage in the House last week.

Event Details

What: Celebration/Rally for Salt River Wild Horses preceding press conference.

When: Wednesday, May 11, 2016, 10 a.m. to Noon

Where: 17th Avenue, which will be closed off to all other traffic. AZ State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ

HB 2340 criminalizes the harassment or killing of a Salt River wild horse, clarifies that they are not stray livestock, and establishes a process for implementing a humane management program in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies and a private entity.

While this bill is a clear victory for the wild horses, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group warns that the law will not become effective immediately. An enactment clause requires the state to enter into an agreement with the Forest Service by December 31, 2017, before the law takes effect.

Memoranda of Understanding will also need to be signed between State and County officials and a private entity. The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, with 100 active volunteers on the river, has confidence that all parties will work together to implement an effective and humane management protocol to permanently protect the horses that mean so much to the people of Arizona.

We thank the public for the amazing support and encourage the public to stay involved in the well-being of the Salt River wild horses throughout that process.

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group volunteers are out on the river daily, documenting and stewarding the herd and educating the public about safe observation and protection of the horses.

# # #