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Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
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Wild Horses Have Value

Homepage FAQs Wild Horses Have Value

 

The position we witness regularly, that wild horses and burros have little or no value on our public lands, is quite outdated and very offensive to the large majority of the American public who do see value in wild horses and burros. Please let us explain.

While it is certainly detrimental to wild horses and burros that they are not putting money directly into anyoneโ€™s pockets (if they did, their story would certainly be much different),ย  it does not mean that they have no value.

Wild horses and burros hold not only great recreational, aesthetic, ecological, emotional, historic, cultural, educational, genetic and scientific value, but indeed they hold real economic and financial value to the areas where they exist as well as to our country as a whole.

 

Recreational and tourism value:

The first and most obvious value is Eco-tourism. Aย wide variety of recreational visitors frequent areas where wild horses and burros exist for that one specific reason; to experience the wild animals in their natural habitat.

The Salt River wild horses bring tens of thousands of visitors to the Tonto National Forest that otherwise would have no interest in the area. The wildlife viewing industry is growing fast; $75.7 billion was spent nationally for trips and equipment by over 91 million people in 2016 (published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Eco- tourism of Americaโ€™s wild herds is an economic resource with huge beneficial economic implications; the opportunity to view wild horses is unique to America and brings the feeling of connection with the old Wild West. It also draws tourism from abroad to our country; just like elephants and giraffes are an economic asset to Africa, so are wild horses and burros to America.

Economic value (not the same as recreational value) :

Wild horse tourism of course translates directly into additional revenue for the areas where they exist, but it also translates into positive economic value for many artists who sell their art and photographs of the wild horses as their means of living.

In addition, Real Estate brokers assess that wild horses increase property values for real estate in the area, which means real dollars in peopleโ€™s pockets.

Wild horses can act as landscapers and lawnmowers that keep flammable grasses and weeds down.

Ecological value:

Science exists to support that wild horses have many beneficial impacts on their environments and other science exists that wild horses have negative impacts on their environments. ย Depending on who you talk to, wild horses are either amazing for the environment or they are detrimental to it.

More likely, wild horses have both positive and negative impacts on their environment, just like ANY other species. However, since it has been proven that they have lived here for many centuries, it is unlikely that all of a sudden detrimental changes will occur in their habitats now.

The stretch of the lower Salt River inhabited by the wild horses is one of the most biologically rich areas along the entire 200-mile river, in spite of the many human caused challenges it faces.

Photo-documentation accumulated by members of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group supports this observation with evidence over long periods of time. The evidence shows healthy and growing trees, seedlings sprouting from horse manure, abundant plants and flourishing wildlife diversity in the very area on the river where the horses have roamed for hundreds of years, the bald eagles are also thriving in this particular area and have doubled in the last ten years according to Game and Fish.ย  Is this all a coincidence or is it is possible that wild horses have beneficial impacts?

  1. The large mesquite trees are shade trees with great importance to all wildlife, these trees rely almost 100% on their seeds being spread through horse manure, which also provides the bed for fertilization.
  2. Horse manure improves overall fertility of the soil which promotes all green growth in the area.
  3. Wild horses significantly reduce the fire danger by keeping dry flammable grasses and underbrush from growing too tall and becoming a fire hazard.
  4. Overabundant eel grass in the river can become a problem in the summer months when it clogs the river, the wild horses are the only species reducing the river eel grass, in doing so they keep the river from becoming stagnant.
  5. Wild horses provide a diet for predators and scavengers; such has mountain lions and bob cats as well as coyotes, foxes and vultures.
  6. The impact of wild horse hooves may help improve aeration of the humus and keep fungi down.

Emotional value:

Many long time locals are extremely attached to the wild horses they grew up with. Many new residents say they are the reason they moved to the area. The unprecedented outpouring of letters and calls when they were threatened with removal, attest to the emotional value that the wild Horses represent not only to local residents, but to thousands of Arizonans and American citizens as well. There is a deep meaning, connection and value that wild horses foster in Americans. ย People find solace and peace in spending time with them.

While some may dismiss emotional value as something negative, undoubtedly no progress in history would have ever been made, without emotion.

The value that the local and statewide community places on the Salt River Wild Horses is a micro-example of the same value that the majority of Americans see in all of the wild horses of America. The outpouring on a national scale in just the last year of letters, emails, phone calls, news coverage, documentaries, rallies, lawsuits, as well as a letter from over 54 Congressmen demonstrates Americaโ€™s will to fight for and preserve their rightful heritage, the icons of the American Wild West.

Aesthetic value:

As a test, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group asked people to look at two pictures and pick which one they liked better. One picture is of the Salt River with the horses and the mountains in the background and one is the same picture but now without the horses in the river.

The picture of the river PLUS the horses was preferred by 1700 people who responded in 24 hours, as opposed to two people who said they liked the river better without the horses. This proves that the horses, just by being there, add value to the natural scenery.

Testimonials:

โ€œI love the picture with the horses. They represent what Arizona is, the love of life and land. They are a natural beauty, just like the Grand Canyon, they are a breath of yesterday and a hope for tomorrow to me. I love them and all they ask is for life, nothing more. โ€

Jill Ray; โ€œOne can see something similar to the bottom photo in many many places, but..the top one is a wonderful rarity, and of course my favorite!โ€

Jack Kramer: โ€œI love horses at the river, there is no other reason to drive 2000 miles each spring. We have a river but no horses here in Minnesota.โ€

 

Educational value:

Teachers can teach their students from history books about wild horses roaming the American plains hundreds of years ago. Then, after classroom time, the teachers can take their students out on the Salt River where they can still witness wild horses for themselves.

Art students and teachers often come to the river to teach and learn techniques for painting horses. Many students at the local high schools have written essays on the Salt River Wild Horses. Educational seminars are taught about the wild horses. Wild horses are sought after subjects for education.
Genetic and Scientific Value

Less research is currently available about wild horses than about wild zebras in Africa. More research is needed in regards to the adaptations, health, hoof strength, as well parasitic resistance in wild horses. Such research can benefit veterinary solutions for the entire horse industry. In addition more studies about ย behavior and family structures and also birth rates and death rates is needed. Wild horse DNA and genetics could also prove of utmost importance in wild horse research. ย Many things may never be discovered unless we have the opportunity to study them.

Scarcity value:

Wild horses still exist in 10 states. In some of those states the population is low like in Arizona, where only approximately 500 remain on our public lands. (that does not include Indian nations and reservations). While in some areas in Nevada there may be a large concentrated number of wild horses, they are a rare sight (scarse) in the rest of America as most States have none. On a national scale weย  have approximately 60,000 left in the wild according to the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), however no unbiased count is currently available.

That number is actually very low when you understand that that number is for the entire United States. To put that in perspective for example please compare other species national numbers;ย  36 million deer, 1 million elk, 670,000 pronghorn antelope and 70,000 bighorn sheep who were deemedย  โ€ a species of concernโ€ until just last year.

In the federal Endangered Species Act the term species of concern is not defined, but many agencies and organizations maintain lists of at-risk species. Many time a species with less than 50,000 specimens constitutes a species of concern. So if wild horses were any other species, they would be dangerously close to becoming a species of concern.

No, we will not any time soon be overrun with wild horses in the streets. However, we do agree that wild horse populations need to be managed responsibly for the areaโ€™s where they exist for an optimum natural balance. Very similar to the protected Saguaro cactus, of which we have many thousands in Arizona, there can be many wild horses in some locations but none in others. Therefore wild horses are local treasures and have a high scarcity value.

Individual value:

While we are placing material and emotional value on these horses from many different points of view, we should not fail to see that the true value of any living being is not dependent on the opinion we may have of it.

Each individual life and the quality of it needs to be considered and the value of compassion should never be underestimated.

Albert Einstein, who has had a limitless influence on our modern day society, knew it when he said: โ€œThe notion that animals have no rights and our treatment of them bears no significance is a perfect example of the crudity and barbarity of western society.โ€

 

Historic and cultural value:

History reports that Spanish explorers brought over Spanish horses between 1519 and 1600. The Western plains in the 1800โ€™s once were home to millions of wild horses as well as millions of buffalo. When our ancestors arrived in wagons to settle in America, they found wild horses were part of the scenery. ย On August 14, 1805, Meriwether Lewis commented on the Shoshonesโ€™ herds: โ€œMost of them are fine horses. Indeed many of them would make a figure on the South side of James River or the land of fine horsesโ€.ย  In 1834 George Catlin painted โ€œwild horses at playโ€, and wrote an account of thousands of wild horses on the plains that were as tricky to capture as wild deer.

But by the 1850โ€™s much like the buffalo, the slaughter of wild horses began. The US Government helped the ranchers and settlers as well as the Indians get rid of the wild horses. In two centuries of heavy persecution wild horse numbers dwindled from millions to fewer than 30,000 in 1971, which is when Congress passed the WFRHBA (the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act) in order to declare them an integral part of the American landscape and preserve them for future generations.

Wild horses are an important living remnant of days long gone. We settled this country on the back of horses, they plowed our fields and they fought our battles. They have been part of both Native American as well as early American culture for centuries. But unlike the buffalo, we still have the opportunity to preserve this living piece of our American history, forever.

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SALE: SPECTACULAR IMAGES

This collection of images is available for print with the majority of the proceeds being donated to the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group.

UPDATES

  • This guy, his name is Arco, but it should be Perseverance. Monday, 22, Feb
  • 🐴Breeding season🐴 Monday, 22, Feb
  • These are some examples of the cool horse jewelry that you’ll receive if you donate to this Valentine’s day fundraiser. Wednesday, 17, Feb
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Please don't trash the Tonto National Forest, it is their home. Sincerely, SRWHMG. ... See MoreSee Less

3 hours ago

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Clean it up people. If you want to see the horses, go. But don't leave trash. No target shooting. Just stay a safe distance and enjoy the magestic wild Salties. This is just disgusting and you are ruining it for others and making it unsafe for the horses. Shameful.

There's areas that you're allowed to go shooting out there however everyone should pick up after themselves. Thank you guys for your hard work.

Good work. Sad to see disrespect but thankful your volunteers are out there. Lead on ๐Ÿค 

Humans ruin everything!๐Ÿคฌ

Humans should be banned until they show respect for nature!!!!

WTF????? Why isn’t this being monitored?

Thank you all for everything you do!

why do people always hurt animals

thank you, thank you thank you, God bless you

Thank you SRWHMG. for all you do! AZ peeps please share!๐Ÿ˜ฐ

Ridiculous

Amen

Thank you for all your hard work! Volunteers are do awesome!

Thank you for all you do.

Amen!!!

It is shameful that people have no respect...wonder what their homes look like...thank you for all your efforts...

Thank you for all the hard work..It is shameful to see this...๐Ÿ’”

Thank you for cleaning up, I just don’t understand how people are so disrespectful of the earth ๐Ÿ˜”

Job well done warriors!

What ashame... I have visited from upstate NY with Family and this is a favorite of mine. The forest area is beautiful and people should respect the land and the wildlife.

Thankful for all the hard work done๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ I’m excited to get involved supporting these efforts and supporting the organization once I’m an official AZ resident. I just don’t understand people that are so inconsiderate to litter and leave debris like that all over.

People are such slobs.... Thank you so much for your hard work. โ˜บ

Wish I were nearer to help! Thank you๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•

Call the news channel

Thank you!

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๐Ÿ—‘Some areas of the Tonto National Forest are becoming so shamefully trashed. This morning our volunteers tackled an area where the horses love to hang out, but even if there was grass, it is dangerous to graze here, because of the glass and bullets everywhere! FYI this is not part of our job description; horse management is in our title, not waste management, but we cannot help but worry, what will our forests look like years from now?? FYI, this is a non target shooting area! These are our winnings for today, Thank you dear SRWHMG volunteers! ... See MoreSee Less

5 hours ago

๐Ÿ—‘Some areas of the Tonto National Forest are becoming so shamefully trashed. This morning our volunteers tackled an area where the horses love to hang out, but even if there was grass, it is dangerous to graze here, because of the glass and bullets everywhere! FYI this is not part of our job description; horse management is in our title, not waste management, but we cannot help but worry,  what will our forests look like years from now??  FYI, this is a non target shooting area! These are our winnings for today, Thank you dear SRWHMG volunteers!Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment
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Thank you for picking up others trash since they cannot do it themselves.

Thank you to all the volunteers. I know this isn’t part of your job description. But your actions make it so much safer for the horses. I figure if they spoke human they’d tell you thank you to. Next time you see one of the regulars hanging out in this area and they give a slow blink and half closed eye for a moment...accept it as horse for thank you.

Thank you everyone for a nasty job well done. Our National Forests and Wild Horses should have a clean environment to graze and roam. We Americans seem to have no regard for our natural resources. Let’s do a better job. ๐ŸŒŸ. ๐ŸŒŸ. ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ท

This happens all over the country unfortunately. It's so sad and disgusting that people simply cannot pick up their trash or take it to a waste mgt facility. These are also people that don't care and lazy.

Thank you all for cleaning it up for the safety of horses and other wildlife and for all the visitors to the river. All you SRWHMG volunteers are selfless, amazing, wonderful people. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿด๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ’œ

Can't wait until our new found forest visitors will go back to visiting Disneyworld and other more trasheable places in urban areas.

Awful, thank you for picking all this up. It seems to happen everywhere anymore.

What is wrong with people!?! No respect for the land and probably their home, too!

Recycle the metal it could pay for some food for the animals. It might not be much unless you hang onto it and wait for prices to go up.

Pretty sad, looks like Tonto forest in Payson during the summer...

What is wrong with people who trash our lands? Is it a genetic disorder?

Thank you for All that you do! If everyone cared as much what a different world we would live in.

How sad that people think it’s ok to dump their trash anywhere they want. Thank you all so much for making it better for all of the wild life in the forest. You guys are the best ♥๏ธ

Thank you so much for caring. Post a clean up day ahead of time. Maybe, some of us could help you guys.

Have not seen an update on NEIMAN since he got his teeth done, is he improving

So sad that people deliberately trash a area. Shooting in an area that’s off limits? Why?? So glad there are kind and caring folks out there to help clean these areas . Nature, the horses, and all wildlife deserve better.

It’s a shame, as we become operational, we are planning on doing the same, it’s not our responsibility, it’s not in our contract, we do it because if no one does, it will affect us all. We see a lot of people out on the wash target shooting, didn’t know it’s not allowed, I always thought Federal land is prohibited to shoot on

I have seen how gross people have left the area. My teen children take a bag with us when we hike to get trash. But nasty stuff is left in the water and on paths People are hygienically challenged all the way around

Sad and angry both,to bad can’t IDENTIFY owners,back up on there front lawn open end gate,dump it and see how they like it๐Ÿ˜

Thank you! People are so disrespectful. If we each pick up what we see, and leave nothing behind the horses would probably really appreciate it.

It is sad that so many people have such a disregard for the environment. Trash thrown everywhere.

What a shame. If we lived down there, we'd pitch in to help. It's been quite a few years since we lived down there, but I don't ever remember it being this bad.

So perhaps I’ll start carrying a garbage bag when I’m in the area several times a week with my camera... there are plastic bottles all along the river... ๐Ÿ˜ž

Thank you all you do on behalf of your love for the wild horses. I will never understand the selfishness and entitlement of people who litter and don’t discard their garbage responsibly. ๐Ÿ™

I would love to help clean these areas up if you need volunteers! Please advertise and post on Facebook dates and times!!!

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This guy, his name is Arco, but it should be Perseverance. He is missing one eye completely, and has a corneal ulcer/scar in the other one. He recovered from a grody looking abcess on his head just last month, and he recovered from a fractured shoulder a few years ago. Yet still, the bachelors are learning, that you better not treat him like he's handicapped!
Zoom in on his left eye and you'll see it is just pink skin in his eye socket. Wild horses are amazing. (No worries, this horse is on our permanent "watch" list. It means we monitor him and make sure he's OK all the time.) SRWHMG.
Photo by SRWHMG Rick Blandford
... See MoreSee Less

6 days ago

This guy, his name is Arco, but it should be Perseverance. He is missing one eye completely, and has a corneal ulcer/scar in the other one. He recovered from a grody looking abcess on his head just last month, and he recovered from a fractured shoulder a few years ago. Yet still, the bachelors are learning, that you better not treat him like hes handicapped!
Zoom in on his left eye and youll see it is just pink skin in his eye socket. Wild horses are amazing. (No worries, this horse is on our permanent watch list. It means we monitor him and make sure hes OK all the time.) SRWHMG. 
Photo by SRWHMG Rick Blandford
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Thank you for Arco’s story. He has had his ‘challenges’ but seems to have overcome them nicely! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป Thanks for watching out for him and others.

Incredible survival instincts. Arco is amazing and I’m so thankful for the SRWHMG who watch over him ♥๏ธ

Animals are amazing with injuries, etc. Glad you are watching out for him as well. Yes, can definitely see he has an issue with that left eye.

He reminds me of a Willie Nelson song “Tougher Than Leather”.....

All animals have NO PITY!! They are all strong in their own ways!! ๐Ÿ˜Šโค๏ธ

Love to hear their stories! I have a BLM mustang and they are truly amazing animalsโค๏ธโค๏ธ

I think he deserves that name change!! Great photo!!

Spunky stallion and dedicated volunteers

Love looking at the picture/reading the posts thank you

Love these beauties! Great photography!

You all are AWESOME!

Can you somehow get him and treat the eye?

Incredible photo!

chng.it/cZyhRyNp Please share this it’s to bring awareness for the wild horses were being killed in Arizona

which one is he?

Please PM me. i have a product that will help heal pink eye and infections in humans and animals. i'm also sending you PM

He’s a very strong looking guy when you get to see him in action. I love him โค๏ธ

Wild horses and their ability to “fight”through their injuries, pain and even blindness. Way to go Arco, show these youngsters whatcha got! Thank you SRWHMG for monitoring these incredible horses.

He has been on a helluva journey. Love the guy. Thanks Simone Netherlands , the AZDA, TNF and the many volunteers who watch after him and all the wild horses.

Arco is one tough dude!! He managed to overcome and adapt with the loss of his eye...and he's still wild and free.โค SRWHMG, many thanks for keeping watch over these beautiful horses. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

He is lucky to be at Salt River where there are no roundups. If he was captured anywhere else, they would shoot him because of his blind eye and past injuries. Thank goodness for your organization! I wish all Mustangs were taken care of like you do! Stopping the roundups and implementing cooperative agreements between advocacy groups and the local governments as you do so successfully needs to be the goal of everyone. Herd management can be very humane and kind.

Will he be ok out there on his own??? Kinda having rough spot. Needs his eyes to keep up safe and sound ?♥๏ธ♥๏ธ♥๏ธ

Can’t imagine the paun he is in with that eye ulcer. Poor guy.

Will Arco be ok out there with only one eye? Will he lose the other eye as well? Thank you so much for looking out for these beautiful horses!!! I love the pictures of them and have always wanted to go out and see them. I'm now rethinking that. I don't want to get in their way during this breeding season.....or any time.

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ยฎ ยฉ2012-2020 Salt River Wild Horse Management Groupยฎ EIN: 46-5280587
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Monday, 22, Feb
This guy, his name is Arco, but it should be Perseverance.
Monday, 22, Feb
🐴Breeding season🐴
Wednesday, 17, Feb
These are some examples of the cool horse jewelry that you’ll receive if you donate to this Valentine’s day fundraiser.
Wednesday, 17, Feb
LOVE LOVE 💘
Wednesday, 17, Feb
Donate today💕 and recieve a lovely piece of wild horse jewelry from our collection! 🎁
Wednesday, 17, Feb
Neiman, an old but great lead stallion was not doing good at all, he is the same horse we rescued out of the snare-trap.

Welcome back,

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
  • Home
  • Donate
    • Sponsor a Horse
    • Jadeโ€™s Legacy Fund
    • Bequest Form
    • Supplemental Feed Program
  • Updates
    • Long Term Plan
    • In the News
    • HB2858
  • Info
    • Background
    • FAQs
    • Wild Horses Have Value
    • History of Wild Horses
    • Horse Viewing Guidelines
    • Protected by AZ State Law
    • How Long Have They Been Here?
    • Humane Birth Control
  • Video
  • What You Can Do
    • Sponsor a Horse
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Corporate Sponsorship
  • Shop