It was an Oopsie and she didn’t do it on purpose, but here is how to steer clear of wild horses when paddling the lower Salt River. 🛶🐴🛶🐴🛶

In Arizona you are highly likely to run into wild horses when paddling, especially on memorial day weekend, and many paddlers today already have!

Once horses start to cross the river, it is very hard for them to avoid you, and it is also hard for you to avoid them, because of the current. It is kind of like an accident waiting to happen in slow motion, so here are some tips.

• Once the horses start to cross, they are going to go directly to where they are looking. A horse always looks in the direction it wants to go.
• While Salt River wild horses are very good swimmers, they do not have a lot of mobility or turnability in the river, this is because of the current, but also because of the bad footing on the rocky river bottom.
• Adjust your trajectory long before you get to the horses ahead; go wide left or right, or speed up or slow down, before it’s too late.
• If it’s too late and you happen to get in close contact with a horse, don’t try to scare the horse more than it already is. Don’t yell or wave your paddle, but stay calm, so you can both get out of the situation quickly and safely.
• A horse might kick out, if something touches his body, but he/she will always try to avoid you first.
• In the history of the Tonto National Forest, Salt River wild horses have never been aggressive toward people, which is pretty amazing when you think about it.
• If you are trying to purposely run into horses, or make them leave the river, you are harrassing them and interfering with their lives. This is illegal (ARS ~3-1491) and there will be many people videoing you.

We have not been authorized to put up our informational signs yet. However through our education program and our volunteers spreading information in a kind way, we feel that things are getting better than they used to be. It will likely never get less busy at the river, but with more of the public educating the public, peaceful coexistence is possible.

Thumbs up for everyone spreading positive information. Be kind, be safe and Happy Memorial Day!