With our humane management in the field, we are showing that there is a better way, as opposed to cruel and expensive removals. Our way is a win-win for the public, as well as for the government, and of course for the horses themselves.

It is puzzling why anyone would want to attack these successful programs, and the state legislation that protects these beautiful horses.

The Plaintiffs (CBD and hunter friends) made claims that are false and contained no scientific evidence  to back the allegations. Here are some examples:

To start, the CBD alleged there are 600 Salt River horses. However, the Long-Term Management plan, on which they base their lawsuit, clearly discloses there were 450 horses at the time of its writing in July of 2022. However, the current population is now substantially lower at 313 horses, as of  September of 2023. In our SRWHMG database we hold a record of every single horse, if it has ever been on the Tonto National Forest. At the present time 100 of these recorded horses, are not on the forest land at all, and instead reside on the adjoining reservations, making the exact total count only 313 horses in the Tonto National Forest, this includes the birth of the 2 foals of 2023.

An official fly-over helicopter count by the AZDA and BLM in 2022, concluded an estimation of 270 horses. Of course our on the ground counts are more accurate, but the helicopter count confirms that the numbers by CBD are completely fabricated. In addition of the 313 horses, only approximately 150 are roaming near and around the lower Salt River riparian area the complaint refers to, and the other 150 roam the northern high mountain habitat. Water is provided in the northern corridor to accomplish migration wider out from the riparian area.  Therefore this petty lawsuit is  technically aimed at 150 Salt River horses around the riparian area, NOT 600.

Second, the complaint omits the fact that the number of foals in this herd is only one or two per year.  This is an important detail in order not to mislead a judge.

Furthermore, the CBD and hunter organizations falsely allege that the long-term management plan aims to lower the population to 200 horses over 25-35 years.  Please see attached long term management plan proving this is not true. The plan sets a population goal of 100-200 horses to be reached within the next 10 years. The lawsuit is therefore based on false allegations.

The relief the lawsuit seeks is the halt of the fertility control program and other programs that keep the horses safe like maintenance of fencing and rescue of injured horses. It may be obvious that halting the management of the horses, would cause a boom in population, which would then cause more environmental concerns, not less. What is the motive behind encouraging a boom in population if the goal is to protect the environment? This is the big question, and the answer is the dubious fact that the CBD is aiming to make the situation so unsustainable, that there will be a need to roundup the horses. Ours is not the only lawsuit they have filed to try to get rid of wild horses.

Even more falsehoods include the claims that these horses eat cottonwood trees, which we know they do not, and no such evidence exists. We however have years and years of cottonwood pictures young and old, they are quite abundant along the river. Fingers cannot be pointed to horses for cottonwood decline if there is any at all. However, the last few years of long-lasting drought and SRP low water management of only 8 CFS in the Salt River, is hard on all trees, especially water-dependent trees like cottonwoods on the edge of the river. In addition, the recent high floods have caused the washing away of riverbanks along with many saplings, but otherwise, cottonwood trees can be seen in abundance along the Salt River.

Furthermore, the suing parties offer no proof of declining numbers of any of the species mentioned in the lawsuit. In fact all species along the river are living symbiotically together including the horses, who are protected by ARS 3-1491 from slaughter and killing and are determined in that bill NOT to be stray livestock.

Species are doing so well that bighorn sheep are being seen again along the lower Salt River with babies, bald eagle nesting is at an all-time high and deer are seen grazing the abundantly green hills this spring. (see pictures of deer grazing in a healthy environment)

In fact, the only population that is declining along the Salt River, is the horse population.

Plaintiffs omit the fact that horses have many positive impacts on their environment as well, such as their manure that contains live seeds of trees, which at the same time provide a great fertilization bed for saplings until they are established. Most of the trees in the forest have sprouted from horse manure, which helps all other species, especially birds. However, of course the lawsuit does not mention any positive impacts the horses have, as it aims to scapegoat them for all environmental damage.

There are more facts completely omitted by the Center for Biological Diversity:

The Tonto National Forest is visited by 8 million people per year, which does cause severe environmental concerns and problems with pollution. Thousands of tubers, kayakers, 4×4’s, horseback riders sadly leave much trash behind and cause disturbances for natural animals.

While the hunters act like they want to protect wildlife, in actuality they just want to kill wildlife. They are out for the bighorn sheep which have been seen often along the river this season. The over-hunting of birds and furred mammals, impact all animals negatively, including protected species. During the hunting season shots ring loudly all day, all around the lower Salt River. Extreme amounts of hunting related trash and bullets litter the floor of the forest. Even illegal hunting activities, like cruel snares have been found around horse legs, causing a necessary intervention and rescue of horse “Neiman” in 2020 with a snare around his hoof.

With the 8 million yearly visitors and the many different recreational interests, it is obvious that the Tonto National Forest is managing one of the most difficult and highest recreational forests in the nation. Because of their concern for the environment and consideration for public opinion, they have made responsible and sustainable decisions, which are to their discretion and are not applicable to NEPA requirements.

Steps have even been taken out of over-abundant concern for the environment, while the reduction of the herd occurs over time. For example, water troughs have been strategically placed away from the riparian area, which encourage the horses to use the entire 20,000 acres, as opposed to concentrating around the riparian area. The Forest Service has also placed boundary fencing between the reservations and fencing along the roads so that horses are safely confined and don’t escape their 20,000-acre habitat.

The long-term management plan is a responsible management plan, in-line with protecting the environment, in-line with State statute, in-line with the Forest Service NEPA requirements, and in-line with the will of the public. The lawsuit, which seeked to terminate the successful management programs and “do nothing instead”, was frivolous.

Simone Netherlands, president of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group states; “If the environmental concern was genuine, they would not attempt to halt a successful birth control program, as that would produce a larger and uncontrolled population of horses. Once the population is out of control, then the horses will be removed. It will be far better to stay the course of humanely managing the horses, and all organizations plus the Forest Service should continue to work hard together to reduce and mitigate environmental damage and pollution of the lower Salt River”.

PLEASE Join us in this historic movement to ensure that these beautiful wild horses remain wild and free and managed humanely.

Link to the humane Long Term Management Plan:

https://bit.ly/44gbMLZ