Keeping the Salt River Wild Horses Free 🐴
We the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG), keep the Salt River wild horses free by: 1. Continuously advocating for their rights since 2010. 2. Monitoring and keeping accurate data on every horse in the herd. 3. Working with the authorities, not against. 4. Implementing solutions at no cost to the government. 5. Promoting ...
Respecting Wild Horses
Respect wild horses by maintaining a 50 ft distance from them at all times. Help us protect wild horses by sharing this video, thank you! SRWHMG.
Advocates call for more enforcement after video shows man kayaking at Salt River horses
TONTO NATIONAL FOREST, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- Advocates are calling for more enforcement and clarification under the Arizona statute protecting horses after a man was recorded on video kayaking directly at Salt River horses over the Memorial Day weekend. Officials with the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group shared the video on their Facebook page ...
UPDATE: Bush Hwy re opened as of 3 pm.
ALERT! Bush Hwy is CLOSED! Never in our lives have we seen so many people in the Tonto National Forest and on Bush Hwy! All Rec Areas are filled to capacity, there is stand still traffic everywhere. Authorities have had to shut down Bush Hwy from all sides, from the Beeline, from Power Rd and ...
FROM THE AZDA: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOTICE : Suspected VSV in Salt River Horse Herd
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Arizona Department of Agriculture has identified four Salt River horses in the Bulldog and Goldfield areas of the Salt River which have lesions consistent with Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV). While these horses are suspected to have VSV, it has not been confirmed by testing. Out of an abundance of caution, all ...
Signs Posted!
These are the signs we have posted at all main entrances to the Forest. Horse riders please beware. We have already discovered 4 more suspected cases. Please share with your horse back riding groups and friends. This is the press release from the AZDA: NOTICE : Suspected VSV in Salt River Horse Herd PHOENIX, Ariz. ...
4 Salt River Wild Horses Suspect to Have VSV.
Factual information about the Salt River Herd: 99% of the Salt River wild horses are healthy, strong, shiny and fat. However, since VSV (Vesicular Stomatitus Virus) has been confirmed in Arizona, we were worried about some weird looking skin at the coronet band of two older stallions and one older mare. One younger filly also ...
Monitoring and ID-ing Salt River Wild Horses.
Can you tell which horses are the same and which are different? In these pictures you can see how similar some of the face markings can be. Yet we need to know exactly who is who, especially with the mares, because they are all on a different PZP time schedule and they each have their ...
Rescue Spotlight: Felicity is the cutest!
Our hotline rang at 11 pm; two wild horses had fallen into the South Canal and were struggling and floating toward the deadly transfer dam. It made the national news at the time, this was 2018. With a huge effort from our volunteers plus 18 firefighters, Felicity and Iggy were hauled out in the nick ...
You Make a Difference!
Our rescued Salt River wild horses can’t have the river, but they can have their own waterpark! They are simply fascinated by water. All of these sweet souls would have died slowly in the wild, had it not been for our rescue program. These are orphan foals, and horses with detrimental injuries, horses hit by …
Cut Fences Cause Band of Horses on Hwy.
Constant public interference jeopardizes Mick's band. The USFS, AZDA and SRWHMG need your help. There has been a lot of interference in the humane management of the Salt River wild horses lately. The breaking of gates, the pushing of horses, the interfering with an ongoing project, placing water in dangerous areas and the cutting of ...
Kelly Townsend Has Sponsored a bad Bill: HB 2858
🚨ALARM: The sponsor of the original Salt River Horse Act, Rep. Kelly Townsend, has sponsored a bad bill, HB 2858, which would amend and potentially undermine the original Salt River Horse Act by limiting humane management. The bill as written will block life-saving measures that are sometimes necessary to sustain the health and well-being of ...
Baby Salt River horse saved after death of her mother
SALT RIVER, AZ (3TV/CBS5) — A baby horse whose mother died on the Salt River has been rescued and is now safe. The 8-week-old foal, Rosy, was found alone after the apparent death of her mother, who was known as the oldest mare in the Salt River herd. She was 25. The Salt River Wild …
SRWHMG Sets Precedent Humanely Managing Wild Horses
For immediate release: Salt River Wild Horse Management Group sets precedent humanely managing wild horses, but needs help from the public. Tonto National Forest, Mesa, Ariz. (March 7th, 2018) —Multitudes of people visit the lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, to see the Salt River wild horses. These beautiful wild animals are managed ...
Felicity Just Had Her Baby!
**Mare rescued from drowning in AZ canal, gives birth to healthy foal!** It was a traumatic rescue on May 20th 2018, when SRWHMG and 14 firefighters helped pull Felicity and Iggy out of the AZ canal. Afterwords, we did not know if Felicity would make it because she had inhaled a lot of water (which ...
Worth the saving? Rescue highlight.
Worth the saving? Rescue highlight: This is Snow, orphaned in the wild, almost died from acidosis combined with anemia (mesquite bean poisoning). Needed initial fluids and plasma treatments then special feedings every hour around the clock for weeks. Raised in a living room. Now 7 months old and loving life together with his best buddy ...
Weekend Update: Highway Patrol, Parade & More
Maximizing our productivity! It was a very very busy weekend for all of us at the SRWHMG! Luckily we are able to split into several different teams to cover all positions in a lot of different places; we have a team for Bush Hwy patrol, a team at the parade and our sales booth, the ...
Warning: Helicopter Registered to Sabercat Productions
Beware: This helicopter, registered to Sabercat Productions and flown by N5 helicopters in Scottsdale, appears to come to the lower Salt River often for the purpose of chasing and harassing Salt River wild horses, who are protected pursuant to A.R.S. 3-1491. These pictures were taken this past Sunday, February 17th when this helicopter flew very ...
RIP Cinnamon: It’s Happened Again
Not again. Last night at 10.30 pm we received another dreaded call. We regret to inform you that Cinnamon, this beautiful ten year old dun mare, passed away from impact with a vehicle, at Coon Bluff horse crossing. She died from a broken neck, so at least she did not suffer for long. While his ...
It’s Young Ducey’s Birthday Today!
It is young Ducey's birthday and he is doing fabulous! Also, the first foal of 2019 was born this week! (Out of a different mare) We will soon announce the name of the person we are naming him after in appreciation. Pictures coming soon!
Update: Horse Deaths Deemed Shootings
Update: We've seen enough evidence to call these deaths horse shootings. We are compiling a report. We found the lone filly, who's still very confused and stoic. We are worried about her. SRWHMG.
Shootings of wild horses and Wild Horse Management Group.
Modern day wild west horror story in a National Forest in Arizona. The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group is in Heber, Arizona with a team of 6 volunteers and our Heber affiliates. We are finding out a lot more about the recent apparent shootings of Federally protected wild horses and we are checking on ...
Stunning Salt River Wild Horse Video
A stunning video of our Salt River wild horses playing and battling. A good reminder to give wild horses their space. Please enjoy these spectacular sights while keeping a 50 ft distance at all times or stay behind the fences. Please keep dogs on a leash and please do not park right at a horse ...
Wild Horses Have Incredible Bonds
Use Caution on Bush Highway
ALERT!! This gorgeous lead stallion was hit on the road this morning, and had to be euthanized. This is horse #2 just this year, 2019!! IF you are driving Bush Highway, please SLOW DOWN. The horse crossing signs are at ACTUAL horse crossings. Underpasses and a completely fenced off road are the only permanent solution, ...
Birth Control for Horses
This program is so important because it makes the authorities happy, it makes the public happy and most of all, it keeps the horses happy and where they belong! SRWHMG.
Managing SRWH Herd Numbers
MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS5) -- Our Salt River wild horses are now protected. But part of protecting them, also means managing herd numbers. The group that watches over them is doing that by giving them birth control, delivered via dart. It takes patience and good aim to track and dart female wild horses. [RELATED: Protected: Salt River wild ...
Birth control darts used on Salt River horses
Please thank 12news for this newspiece! **The protected Salt River wild horses reside in the Tonto National Forest on FS land and are managed by the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group under the Arizona Department of Agriculture.** This herd was saved from roundup and removal, but is surrounded by civilization on all sides and …
Protection of The Historic and Beautiful SR Wild Horses
As all of you know, we have fought long and hard for the protection of the historic and beautiful Salt River wild horses, who today, are protected pursuant to A R.S. 3-1491. (Or the Salt River Horse Act, HB2340) Pursuant to the Act, last year, the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) and the U.S. Forest ...
How Cute Are They?
Trick or Treat, after dressing up, they were very thirsty! 🥛 They each get their own milk, but watch how Gideon prefers to drink together! How cute are they? Foals need milk protein until they are about 6 months old, you can help tremendously by clicking this link, to get them more milk! 👉 http://a.co/9FUqamX Please share, because ...
We Are Looking For Investors – Hay Cafe Franchise!
We have taken care of hundreds of happy customers with our Hay Cafe's (feed stations). We now finally have some beautiful new grasses coming up in the Tonto National Forest, but especially now, we need your help!🙏 Together, we got the Salt River wild horses through the worst drought in history, but we cannot just ...
Dear SRP and Dear Supporters
*100% for 100 CFS!* Dear #SRP and dear supporters, We wanted to show you what it looks like when the river eelgrass is dying. The output from Stewart mountain dam today is 30 CFS and dropping. This video was taken at 3 PM today, October 20th. As a result of our meeting with SRP upper management, they ...
Meet Ducey!
This is Ducey. Ducey was the first born foal of 2017. We named him after Governor Doug Ducey , as a thank you for everything he did for the Salt River wild horses. (The horses are now protected and humanely managed under the State of Arizona.) The horse Ducey is doing great and is now a year ...
Shocking Wild Horse Shootings – SRWHMG Offers Reward
Two beautiful healthy wild horses were found shot and killed in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. This occurred sometime yesterday, oct 13th 2018, on FS road 50, mm8, close to the Heber Wild Horse Territory. This is not the first time for someone to shoot wild horses in the Heber area or the Salt River area. ...
Animal Activists Outraged at Forest Service Handling of Wild Horses
We are glad and thankful that our Forest Service listened to the public and that we now are managing the Salt River wild horses humanely. We implore the Modoc National Forest to do the same.
Gorgeous Day For a Swim
Water Management, The Environment, and Wild Horses
SRP (Salt River Project) has no environmental clause for the management of the lower Salt River, from Stewart Mountain Dam, to Granite Reef Dam, and it is usually kept at 0 to 8 CFS during the winter. (Compare this to the average of 900 CFS during the summer.) It pains us every year to see ...
Yummy Green Spaghetti
Glimpse into the Peaceful Lives of the Salt River Wild Horses
About 15% of the Salt River Wild Horses Have the Grey Factor
About 15% of the Salt River wild horses have the grey factor. This means that they can be anything from dark grey, dappled, light grey or white. However, even when they appear completely white, they are still called a grey, because their skin underneath is black. They are only a "white" horse, if the skin ...
ANOTHER Dumped Horse in the Tonto National Forest!
We had to rescue yet ANOTHER dumped horse in the Tonto National Forest! SERIOUSLY! This one is a gelding as well and a little younger than the other one, approximately 16 to18 yrs and the paint looks to be approximately 18 to 20. Both appear healthy and not lame. After getting him safe as well, ...
A dumped horse in the Tonto National Forest!
A dumped horse in the Tonto National Forest! Listen to our president tell it like it is! Horses are a lifelong commitment. This horse served somebody, tried its best to do what was asked of him and this is what he gets. He has no idea where the river is. Had we not found him, ...
Two Arrested in Connection With Shooting at Salt River.
It's just impossible to make sense of why anyone would do this. We've looked at the suspects and we don't know them. What could possibly be in it for them? Is it their idea of fun? Has anyone heard of any other hwy shootings?
Our SRWHMG Property Got Shot At!
This is not what we want to be in the news for! We are still in disbelief. Our SRWHMG property got shot at. Yesterday, right after feeding the rescued wild horses their dinner, volunteers Tracey, Ryan and Bren heard gunshots. They saw the truck on the Highway that was driving slowly, bam bam bam bam ...
Happy Endings: Nakota and Old Lady part 1
This sweet old gray mare had lived her whole life free on the river, and had survived at least 20 years of natures challenges, hence her name "Old Lady". But this last spring, the drought would have killed her, had we not stepped in and rescued both her and her filly. She was in emaciated ...
Live with Snow and Gideon
Snow and Gideon Together
Managing wild horses this closely, it gets tough sometimes, it does. Danger lies around the corner for each wild horse born free. Only the toughest and luckiest make it past their first year. We know that we cannot save them all, even when we give it our all, like in Cheyenne or in Sidneys case. ...
Newborn Rescued
On Saturday we rescued a newborn that was stuck in the river. We named her Sidney in honor of Senator John Sidney McCain, who fought with us for the protection of the Salt River wild horses. We tried to find her band to reunite her, to no avail. But it turns out there was a ...
Thank You Senator McCain
He was a hero for the Salt River wild horses, like he was a hero in many other ways. He represented his constituents powerfully when he wrote letters to the Forest Service questioning the roundup. Thank you Senator McCain. With utmost respect and condolences to Cindy and the family. May he rest in peace. SRWHMG.
2 Little Orphan Salt River Wild Horses Feeling Fine!
2 little orphan Salt River wild horses feeling fine! Snow is finally strong enough to be together with Gideon. He is not afraid to tell Gideon no! Snow, after losing his mother Snow White, almost died from mesquite bean poisoning. It caused severe acidosis, anemia and hypoglycemia. His blood work was awful and his heart ...
Updates On The Salt River Wild Rescues In Prescott
Updates on the Salt River wild rescues in Prescott. At this facility we have Agave (3 months, had impaction colic), Snow (6 weeks, orphan), Gideon (6 weeks, orphan), Rosco (2.5 yrs, abandoned) Pacman (2.5 yrs, suffered from bone infections) and Diamond (3 yrs, lost his hoof in a cattle guard) and Cochise (a horse that ...
A Beautiful tribute To Cheyenne
A beautiful tribute to Cheyenne from James and Shelley, who dedicated so much time to her. Please thank James and Shelley for that on their page. (Click on this link) You can also sign up for their Trust Technique course and mention that you saw it here, they will donate 25% back to SRWHMG! Thank ...
Is The Horse A Native Species?
Scientifically, wild horses are a reintroduced native species. Economically, they are a big boon to the areas where they exist. Historically, we would not be where we are today without them. Naturally, they help abait wild fires and fertilize the soil where they live. Educationally, the study of wild herd behavior is valuable. Artistically, they ...
Humane Fertility Control
Humane Fertility Control is an important part of wild horse management. Without this component we could not have saved the Salt River wild horses. From the very beginning we have said "there are better ways". We've worked hard to solve every safety issue and every management issue in order to prevent their roundup and removal. ...
Gideon, The Smallest Ever Salt River Wild Horse
Gideon, the smallest ever Salt River wild horse says:"To amount to big things, you have to care about the little things too." We want to thank all of our volunteers, and especially the night shift; sometimes they drive from Mesa to Prescott just to have a sleepless night! Little crazy? Maybe. But worth it? Tell ...
Fundraiser at Tractor Supply
What a wild fundraiser at Tractor Supply! We had a great time and are so honored to meet and talk to so many wonderful supporters at our table! You can learn about what we do and about all of our rescued wild horses and their stories. Please come say hi to us again at the ...
“They need us, so then you just be there for them.”
"They need us, so then you just be there for them", said Karen, who was on foal watch all night. Foal care is only a SMALL part of what we do at SRWHMG, but it fills a BIG part of our mission statement; Treat the herd, as well as every horse in it, HUMANELY. But ...
Little Guy Fighting To Be Alive
Just a little guy fighting to be alive, dreaming about running like the wind in a big arena with his Salt River brothers and sisters. His bloodwork is improving and his iv came out today! We think he will be as white as snow just like his mom Snow White. (who sadly passed away from ...
Wild babiemania!
We sure have our hands full these days as life has been rough for the Salt River wild horses and these foals need our help. (Because of climate and natural challenges) One thing to learn from their incredibly strong survival instinct, is that nomatter how bad things may get, you hang inthere, keep your head ...
hanging in there!
Snow is hanging in there! He is not wanting to drink his milk yet but ate all of his Timothy hay. He is getting Dextrose and electrolytes through his IV and his bloodwork shows major improvements. Yay! He is in no way better yet, but we are going to keep you, our supporters, frequently updated ...
Life is not all fairytales
Life is not all fairytales, we know that, but with mystical and kind creatures living in the Tonto National Forest, a little bit of magic is preserved there for everyone who believes in it. We fight hard for the well being of the whole herd as well as each individual horse that is part of ...
Trust Technique
Incorporating the Trust Technique with James and Shelley at our facility has been amazing. Yes Cheyenne was really wild and shy the day before! Watch the first part of the story of Cheyenne and her foal Nakota. They have made a beautiful video of it! Follow the link below to learn the Trust Technique, when ...
Cheyenne Prognosis
PROGNOSIS: Unfortunately the veterinarians prognosis was extremely grim and euthanasia is the recommendation for Cheyenne. HOWEVER, if you know anything about us, you know that we do not give up easy. In fact, all of our injured rescues, like Pacman, Diamond , Mori and Gem received an initial recommendation of euthanasia. That is not a ...
Volunteers care for smallest Salt River horse ever rescued
MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - Volunteers with the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group are nursing a newborn horse back to the health, the smallest wild horse the group says it has ever encountered. Someone called the group’s hotline Sunday after discovering the foal separated from the herd hours after birth in the Tonto National ...
Phone tip led rescuers to premature Salt River wild horse
Call it July "Foal-th". The smallest Salt River Horse ever is on the mend this Fourth of July holiday, and a phone tip may have saved the premature foal's life. Volunteers say if they didn't find this horse when they did, it would be dead by now. After getting a tip from their hotline, the salt ...
Tiny premature Salt River wild horse rescued!
A call to our hotline yesterday resulted in our field team rushing out Coon Bluff, where a couple of kids had found a tiny newborn all alone and unable to get up. After finding out from an alert bystander that the tiny baby had already been there for at least 6 hours without a mare, ...
Update on Agave
Good morning dear supporters! After a challenging time with impactions, ulcers and not much appetite, Agave is now doing absolutely fantastic! Foal raising has become an important and necessary part of what we do every day. Because when you find them so young without their momma's, well they simply only have a few hours left ...
SRWHMG Protecting Horses During Drought
The condition of the Salt River wild horses was only getting worse by the day - that's when the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group stepped in. Together with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, they started up an emergency protocol. "We have 12 feed stations all around the river and in secluded locations so they can ...
Two Emergency Feed Program Successes
We are happy to report on two recent Emergency Feed Program successes. We never wanted to have to feed wild horses, but we are in a terrible ongoing drought situation and part of our mission is to humanely manage these horses, which includes taking care of them when they are suffering. We feel that birth ...
Your Donations are Hard at Work Every Day!
Here are just some of the things we do with YOUR donations EVERY SINGLE day to keep the Salt River wild horses safe and healthy : We haul bales of hay on carts to 12 different emergency feed stations along the river. (the cost has risen to $12,000 per month.) We fill water tanks, and are ...
A Mystery with a Happy Ending
Yesterday, someone left this note for us on our gate. We will investigate and/or solve any situation that involves a Salt River wild horse and we operate a hotline especially for this purpose. Please save this number in case you ever run into a situation where our help is needed: (480) 868- 9301. It can be …
Press Conference and PZP demonstration on SRWHMG property
The SRWHMG with its 100 volunteers will implement a management program with the following components: - a birth control program to humanely reduce population growth in the Salt River wild horse herd; - emergency feeding as needed; - maintenance of fences and gates and - rescue and sanctuary of injured wild horses when needed. Thank ...
Extreme Drought Report with No End in Sight!
SRWHMG is looking for grants. We are on our 3rd semiload of hay for the Salt River wild horses and we need your help for the next truck loads ($7000 a piece! ), so that we can continue the emergency feed program. Not only do your own donations really add up,…but also if anyone knows …
Horse Hugs and Kisses: Agave is Starting to Love Life Again!
Agave is starting to act like she loves life again! Here she is with her two very gentle Salt River brothers, who themselves were on the verge of death just two yrs ago. It's like they are encouraging her. Of course when we rescue a wild horse, large or small, we know from the start ...
BREAKING NEWS: Salt River Wild Horse Management Group secures State Contract for the management of the Salt River Wild Horses
Tonto National Forest, Mesa, Ariz. (May 28th, 2018) — The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) announces today that it has been awarded a contract with the State of Arizona to officially manage the Salt River wild horses in the Tonto National Forest. The group was notified that the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) had ...
Salt River Wild Horse and her Baby Saved from Canal Near Mesa
Its been an absolutely wild and crazy night rescuing 2 drowning Salt River wild horses from the canal! Even while they are good swimmers, they were drowning from exhaustion in 11 ft deep water. We have now transported both shaking horses to our nearby property to recuperate after their horrible ordeal. They have many cuts ...
Deaths of Salt River horses along Bush Highway lead to new safety measures
Five fatalities of horses being hit by cars since April along Bush Highway, three of them within the past week, have prompted new safety measures to warn drivers. Several message boards were placed along the highway, cautioning drivers to “slow down” and to “watch for horses," according to Tracy Ruth, communications-division manager for the Maricopa County Department of ...
Old Lady Rescued
Phon D Sutton, Mesa, Az, April 29th, 2 am. Two days ago we rescued Little Old Lady (Lolly) with a broken left Phalanx. Her mother, Old Lady, is one of the most elusive and oldest mares on the river, but needed rescue as well. Under the full moon, after two days of patiently feeding Old ...
Lolly Rescued!
Lolly was a Salt River wild horse born during harsh natural circumstances with a mother who had nothing left to give. (Physically) We rescued her and tried to fix her broken left phalanx. She was under expert care at our veteranarian, but her break did not heal the way we had hoped. We had to ...
SRWHMG Rescues Abandoned Paint Horse
An aging, domesticated brown and white Paint horse was found abandoned by a volunteer for the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group. Author: Pete Scholz Published: 4:53 PM PST April 2, 2018 Updated: 6:42 PM PST April 2, 2018 TONTO NATIONAL FOREST, Ariz - Lester Walker put the call out around 8:30 Monday morning. "We ...
Improving Safety on Bush Highway
At 7.30pm Saturday March 24th, we were called to one of the most horrific horse/vehicle accidents we've ever been called to. We immediately called it in to MCSO who were on the scene quickly. The people in the vehicle, who were physically ok, as well as the witnesses, were as horrified and shocked as we ...
FOAL AND ITS RESCUERS RESCUED!
We received an emergency call on Thursday after noon March 22nd that a foal was in possible trouble in the water. Our volunteers Bren and Ryan Schultz arrived on the scene within ten minutes and were able to save the foal from drowning just as it was floating away and dissapearing under water. SRP had ...
Red Beauty Rescue
For months we have been monitoring Red Beauty, and with dread, watched his condition go from bad to worse. Once a shiny red roan, after several bouts of colic late last year, he never fully recovered and is now in emaciated condition. We've been getting a lot of calls on him as he made a ...
Salt River Wild Horses Protected By Law!
On Friday, December 29, 2017, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group released the following press release in regards to the new Salt River Horse Act. Salt River Wild Horse Management Group Commends State & Feds for Signing MOU to Protect the Salt River Wild Horses Salt River Wild Horse Protection Act Becomes Law! Mesa, ...