Salt River Wild Horse Management Group Inc

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) is an Arizona 501(c)3 non-profit Organization dedicated to protect, monitor, study, document and humanely manage the Salt River wild horses in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona.

The Salt River wild horses are the beloved and majestic horses roaming the lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, AZ. They are the pride of the community, a favorite subject of photographers and the icon of the wild, free spirit of the American West. These wild horses were brought into the limelight when they were slated for roundup and removal in July of 2015. The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group has monitored the Salt River wild horses for two decades and spearheaded the effort to stop the roundup and removal. We fought against the roundup with all of our resources, attorneys, contacts and political support. After long and continued pressure, the roundup was canceled in December of 2015 and we promoted the passing of State Bill HB2340 for their protection.

On a daily basis, SRWHMG uses resources towards our humane management program; taking care of fencing on the roads, monitoring and documenting the horses, rescuing when necessary, emergency feed protocol, establishment of and maintaining our rescue facility, round the clock caretaking of the rescues, PZP dart program, and helping the environment by cleaning trash within the Tonto National forest, home of the wild horses.The SRWHMG, with over 100 dedicated volunteers, keeps records of every Salt River wild horse. We record the birth and death rates, migrating patterns, herd dynamics, as well as environmental circumstances. We are improving the safety of the roads by maintaining and repairing miles of fencing along Bush Highway and the roads leading to recreation areas. We also remove dangerous downed barbed wire and thousands of nails and fishing line. We need your support for our humane management program that includes our humane fertility control program that keeps wild horse behavior intact. When we encounter needless suffering of a wild horse that won't end well, we rescue them or provide a humane ending where possible. We are not funded by anyone but the public. These wild horses belong to all of the public of America.

The Salt River herd is an important historic treasure that we need your help to protect. This herd is the rightful inheritance of every Arizonan. They are YOUR public lands and therefore they are YOUR wild horses. To us it is about keeping a small piece of the wild for future generations to come, but it is also about more than that; it is about who we are as Arizonans and what we stand for, and what we don't. Please join us in this historic fight to preserve this historic herd! When you become a sponsor, you become their guardian!

Background: The round-up was reportedly planned with riders and helicopters and the horses would be sold at public auction and most likely have ended up in slaughter houses. The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group had exactly seven days to stop it from happening before the notice would take effect and a roundup could begin.
The SRWHMG filed a lawsuit and alerted the press and the public to the imminent annihilation of the cherished herd. We made connections with over 6000 media outlets, we held rallies and we lobbied our legislators. Our attorneys, helped us negotiate with the Forest Service- it made the local news daily.
What happened next was nothing short of an unprecedented public outrage - the people of Arizona and its politicians gave these iconic wild horses their voice. Thousands of calls, letters and emails streamed into the Forest Service office. More than 100 news pieces can be found when you search "Salt River Wild Horse Management Group" , including pieces on CNN, the New York Times, USA Today.

Thank you for your support.

Testimonials

Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona after naming the first baby of the year "Ducey" to thank him for his support: "Out of all the honors I've received, this has got to be the coolest one, thank you again Salt River Wild Horse Management Group!"