Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
  • Home
  • Alpine Wild Horse Fund
  • Donate
    • Alpine Wild Horse Fund
    • Sponsor a Horse
    • Jade’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
  • Donor Dashboard
  • SaltRiverHerd@Respect4Horses.com
  • (480) 868-9301
  • About Us
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Donor Dashboard
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
  • Home
  • Donate
    • Alpine Wild Horse Fund
    • Sponsor a Horse
    • Jade’s Legacy Fund
    • Bequest Form
    • Supplemental Feed Program
    • Donor Dashboard
  • Alpine Wild Horses
  • 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
  • What You Can Do
    • Sponsor a Horse
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Corporate Sponsorship
  • Shop
  • 0 items

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Arizona wild horses to be captured and sold at public auction

Homepage Government IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Arizona wild horses to be captured and sold at public auction
Government, IN THE NEWS, UPDATES

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Arizona wild horses to be captured and sold at public auction

March 14, 2022
By Kristy
0 Comment
3306 Views

March 14th

For immediate release: Arizona wild horses to be captured and sold at public auction, SRWHMG to meet with Apache Sitgreaves Forest Service in attempt to keep Alpine wild horses off dinner plates abroad.

Picture is proprietary property of Alpine Wild Horse Advocates, by Shelley Thompson.

 

Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, Alpine, Arizona (March 16th, 2022)…The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) issued the following statements in response to the U.S. Forest Service’s notification of “stray livestock” removal in Alpine. A contractor hired by the Forest Service will capture and remove at first 20 Alpine Arizona wild horses and take them to the Holbrook public auction, (a notorious slaughter auction) on March 30th after trapping them in a remote location in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest on March 21st. The Forest Service is being compelled to round up a total of 400 wild horses from this remote area of the Forest, in response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity of Tucson, which wrongly claimed that the horses were harming a small species known as the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.

“The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group condemns the plan to capture historic Arizona wild horses from Alpine and sell them at the horrific Holbrook slaughter auction on March 30th.”

Sadly, these horses have no current legal protections under the law, they are not considered part of the Heber herd, and we understand that the Forest Service has little to no options to keep some of the horses there. However we have to try, because the local community of Alpine loves them and it would not be fair to take this important recreational resource from them.

This short 7-day notice by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest does not give much time for solutions and it does not give the local community a chance or due process for input on this decision. The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group will stand by this small community and we will be calling for better and more humane solutions, such as fertility control, and we are willing to help.

We warn that if they are indeed brought to the Holbrook auction, these peaceful families of wild horses are almost certain to end up in slaughter plants in Mexico, as this auction is frequented by known kill buyers who do not like to be outbid. Kill buyers buy horses at these auctions and truck them to Mexico where the cruelty and slaughter of these innocent horses is unimaginable.

While these horses are being referred to as “stray livestock” the Alpine wild horses are possibly the most historic wild horses in Arizona, because they roam along and around the historic Coronado Trail. Fransisco Vazquez de Coronado was the earliest Spanish explorer who brought a huge expedition of 1200 men along with thousands of horses on this trail between 1540 and 1542, just 40 years after Columbus arrived, and 60 years before General Crook used the same trail.

SRWHMG is also concerned that no environmental analysis has been performed to establish the impacts of removing the wild horses, who have lived in the Forest potentially for centuries, on this wilderness area that is so vulnerable to wildfires. The fire abatement that wild horses provide should not be underestimated and removal of horse grazing from the Forest could leave the area at significantly more fire risk this coming fire season.

While the CBD press release celebrates a victory for the New Mexico Meadow jumping mouse, it fails to inform it’s own supporters that their lawsuit against the Forest Service demands the removal and inhumane disposal of approximately 400 beloved wild horses.

We are shocked that the Center for Biological Diversity cares about mammals like wolves and bears, yet is forcing the slaughter of entire families of beautiful historic wild horses. Many CBD members are also members of our group, and we know for a fact that these members care about all sentient animals on our public lands.

Alpine is a beautiful, abundant natural area with a very small year round population where the residents almost entirely depend on tourism to this nature destination, including hunting, fishing, hiking etc. None of the residents we spoke to including hunters and birders and hikers, are supportive of removing all of these wild horses from their small community, because the horses add a valid tourism and economic boon, which cannot be said of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.

There are thousands of acres and plentiful water for wild horses and mice to live peacefully together especially considering that there is only one wild horse per approximate 5000 acres vs. thousands of elk and deer. In addition, wild horses have far fewer impacts on riparian areas where the mice live than do cattle, and the Forest Service has already removed the cattle from the area.

We propose that there needs to be a study of the recovery of the area, now that the cattle are gone, to actually determine if it was the horses that caused riparian damage. The wild horses simply appear to be the scapegoats once again. These cherished animals are often victims of bias by those who continue to wrongly view them as invasive or feral, despite scientific research that has firmly established the American wild horse as a native, reintroduced North American wildlife species.

Lastly we are concerned if there will be a public viewing area to safeguard the well being of the horses and if not, for live cameras to be installed that point to the bait trap operation for transparency to the public.

Much like Arizonans and Americans everywhere did not stand for the removal of the Salt River wild horses, we do not believe they will sit silently by, while these Alpine wild horses are captured and may end up on a dinner plate in a foreign country. Instead, we propose that these horses be managed humanely, and their population be reduced through the use of the humane fertility control vaccine, PZP, however legislation may be needed to accomplish this.

Our organization is meeting with the Apache Sitgreaves Forest Service this week and we need horse advocates to put in their two cents in very polite and respectfull ways, to keep lines of communication open. We firmly believe that there is a win-win situation to be found, but all parties and stakeholders need to be willing to come to the table, in order for our Arizona wild horses NOT to end up on a table.
There are many additional issues to be considered which we will bring up in our meeting and ofcourse we will speak to the benefits of a humane birth control program, which can be much more effective in lowering a population than attempted removals. Removals are scientifically known to cause compensatory reproduction in the population that is left. In addition horses will continue to come over from the adjoining reservation when there are no bands to protect the territories they have occupied, as fences are difficult to maintain.

We are saddened that the slaughter of our beautiful Arizona wild horses is on the table again and that we have so little time to try to prevent it.

So together we are calling on the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) to be reasonable and help facilitate more humane solutions.

  • this is their office line: (520) 623- 5252

And we are calling for the humane treatment of this historic wild horse population by the Forest Service.

  • this is the correct number: (928) 235-5764

Again please stay polite and kind, we have always found that it takes positive people to make a positive difference.

A tally will be kept by the Forest Service of how many people call and write, which is an important tally that may be considered by legislators as well, so let’s give the Alpine wild horses a strong voice. Jeffrey Todd who will be answering the phone lines will also call people back if you leave a message with your phone number.

For more information on the humane fertility control PZP please visit the Science and Conservation Center at www.sccpzp.org. Our PZP darting program has reduced the number of foals in the Salt River wild horse population in the Tonto National Forest, from more than 100 in 2019 to just 2 in 2021. It is our goal to humanely decrease the size of the population slowly over time, so that it can remain in balance with it’s habitat, while at the same time keep these cherished animals healthy and protected, for future generations of Americans to enjoy.

For more information about the beautiful Alpine wild horses please join the facebook group Alpine Wild Horse Advocates where people are welcome to add their opinions and pictures of these beautiful horses.
If you care, please share, thank you!


Previous Story
Is the slaughter of Arizona wild horses back on the table??
Next Story
BREAKING NEWS: Alpine wild horses to be removed and sold at public auction.

Related Articles

In Memory of Mirabelle

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] February 3rd With a heavy heart we have to...

Come out to see us at the 69th Annual Parada del Sol parade and Trails End Festival!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] February 2nd Come out to see us at the...

AVAILABLE NOW! 2023 Calendar

SRWHMG 2023 Calendar

STAY INFORMED

It is our goal to protect and preserve the Salt River Wild Horses in their current habitat. To get our alerts please sign up and get involved!

Stay Informed

SUPPORT THE HORSES

UPDATES

  • In Memory of Mirabelle Friday, 3, Feb
  • Come out to see us at the 69th Annual Parada del Sol parade and Trails End Festival! Thursday, 2, Feb
  • [video] Look at this endearing Salt River stallion dozing off 💗 Monday, 30, Jan
amazon smile
Salt River Wild Horse Management Group

1 day ago

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
It was again incredible, to feel, hear and see the support, enthusiasm and love for wild horses from the general public! It is one of the most important things for all legislators and public officials to understand; your constituents love wild horses and want to see them preserved and treated humanely!! We had an awesome time in the Parada del Sol Parade, here is a little view from our perspective, thank you Scottsdale!! #paradadelsolparade ... See MoreSee Less

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group is feeling drained.

3 days ago

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
We really appreciate the great support from literally thousands of you; the shared sorrow seems a little lighter and gives a real sense of close community and shared love. Thank you from our many broken hearts. 💔But we don't really appreciate it when some people hurry and try to post on their pages, before we do, about sensitive information. 🙄We want to warn everyone that just because pages have the word Salt River horses or mustangs in it, does not mean they are part of our group, or even remotely support our group. In fact they exist only to compete with our group, by stealing our proprietary information and acting as if it is their own. 🤮We are not talking about normal nice pages about the horses. We are talking about the wolves in sheepsclothes. Their "news" is only begotten from rumor, is inaccurate most of the time and purposely has NO mention of our group name, so they can act as if they did the effort. 🤔👉If you have good intentions, please share our posts, do mention our name, and give us a little credit for how hard we work. We, as a group, work hard not only for the horses, but also to give accurate information to the public. We feel blessed to do this work, and because of that, we probably don't ever convey how hard it really is. The communication system and organization it takes from the top down, the directors conveying directions, volunteers following those directions and working together as a team, conveying information back again, documenting everything, and everyone giving it their all, doing what it takes, each and every time. This is not only during emergencies, there is something to handle every day...and no one gets paid a dime for their time including directors and president. We need every donation for our costs of operation. IF in doubt about the page you are on, just check if our name is posted and mentioned, it is SRWHMG for short. There are also many pages which do support our important work and share our posts ofcourse, please know we are NOT talking about those pages. We are talking about pages who steal our information and act like they did it, without ever mentioning where they got the info. They never name their source and therefore steal the credit and even take donations away from people who really mean to give it to the Salt River horses. We are the ones who organize the search party, logging every spot we've searched, making sure we don't double track, cover every square foot of the forest, with many many volunteers who took days off from work and time away from their families. If we didnt do that, no one would know what happened to sweet Mirabelle, right? Do those pages know how many square miles we had to cover? How cold the river is in February? How hard it is to see her sweet face without the life in it? She's a needle in a huge forest, covered under a tree. She's 5 months of watching out for her, she's days of monitoring when she was brand new, when it was 118 degrees. She's pride and joy, she's freedom, she's proof that wild horses can be managed humanely, she's the culmination of everything we stand for.Sorry, that's why we don't appreciate you stealing our sensitive news at a sensitive time.We have no time to have fun photographing horses because we are too busy monitoring injuries, counting bands, darting birthcontrol, fixing fences and cleaning up their environment. So that they can stay wild and free for all to see and enjoy. If you want to help, we can always use more volunteers. We get one reward only; knowing that we make a difference. Sorry, today was not a good day to ruffle our feathers. Tomorrow, just carry on with your mean girl jealous know it all shitty stuff, we will record it as evidence, laugh at the ignorance and carry on. Thank you everyone, for understanding. ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group

3 days ago

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
With a heavy heart we have to tell you that our search team found Mirabelle deceased this afternoon. We are so sorry, we know this will fall hard on so many horse advocates in our community, as it does on us. The SRWHMG team as well as AZDA Liaison Makenzie, investigated the body and the scene around it thoroughly, and all of the evidence clearly shows that it was a mountain lion attack. We were not quite sure if we still had mountain lions anymore, but now we know for sure. There were tracks, clear puncture wounds from large teeth and a mountain of sand on top of her (cashing), which is what mountain lions do when they want to preserve their prey for later. We have pictures of the evidence, but are choosing not to post those and will remember all of her happy days instead. Out of respect for nature we are leaving Mirabelle where we found her and we ask the public to do the same. Mirabelle's band knows what happened and they have accepted her loss. It is a terrible loss for them and it is a terrible loss for us, our volunteers, and the entire community. We find comfort in knowing how wonderful her life was and how loved she was by so many people. We want to thank everyone for your concern and for helping to search. We have a wonderful horse community. In honor of Mirabelle we also want to remind all horse advocates that there are wild horse babies who are less fortunate than Mirabelle. Bands with foals are being caught in northeastern Arizona and sold without limitation on slaughter, by the Apache Sitgreaves Forest Service. (not our Forest Service) There is now a bill that will prevent killing and slaughter of the Alpine wild horses, it is Senate Bill S.B. 1057, and we need to pass it. Please grieve for Mirabelle and then stand up for the Alpine wild horses in her honor, by calling your State Senators to support and pass S.B. 1057! This is the number : 602-926-3559 you can call and ask politely who your State senator is (just give them your address) then she will connect you with his/her office. Don't just leave a message, but try to really connect with your Senator! Thank you everyone! Remember; at least she was born free and died free. Rest in Peace Sweet girl. Salt River Wild Horse Management Group. Photos by SRWHMG Erin Yager and SRWHMG Rick Blandford. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

® ©2012-2022 Salt River Wild Horse Management Group® EIN: 46-5280587
SearchPostsLoginCart
Friday, 3, Feb
In Memory of Mirabelle
Thursday, 2, Feb
Come out to see us at the 69th Annual Parada del Sol parade and Trails End Festival!
Monday, 30, Jan
[video] Look at this endearing Salt River stallion dozing off 💗
Sunday, 29, Jan
Have you ever heard this many people speak up for wild horses at the same time??!
Saturday, 28, Jan
What is your opinion on this?? How should the ASNF be treating wild horses?
Friday, 27, Jan
[Video] Support S.B. 1057! Prohibits killing, shooting and slaughtering any horse in the Alpine herd.

Welcome back,

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
  • Home
  • Alpine Wild Horse Fund
  • Donate
    • Alpine Wild Horse Fund
    • Sponsor a Horse
    • Jade’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
  • Donor Dashboard