Salt River Wild Horses Still in Jeopardy

October 20, 2015

By Moonbird

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Press Conference and Walk for Wild Horses Planned for Saturday in Mesa

Mesa, November 12, 2015, In spite of the best efforts of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, as well as unprecedented public and political support for the protection of the Salt River wild horses, the US Forest Service still has not agreed to the protection and humane management of the wild free roaming horses in the Tonto National Forest, which means these beloved wild horses are still in jeopardy.

The 120 day postponement of the roundup will expire on December 18^th right before Christmas. Another extension has been requested by the SRWHMG to give more time for solutions to be worked out.

“This is just a reminder to the Forest Service as well as the State Agriculture Department that the Arizona public wants to see humane management of these horses without ever removing one horse off the river”, states Simone Netherlands, president of the group. She explains:” it is entirely possible with the use of immuno- contraception PZP to manipulate the herd size humanely.”

Members of the SRWHMG are certified in the darting application of this humane form or birth control for wild horses. The reason why the Forest Service has not jumped on this opportunity is not clear at this time.

The SRWHMG, in cooperation with the Iowa Café, plans a press conference and peaceful walk to raise awareness for these now famous wild horses of Arizona. Details below as follows:

Event: Press Conference and Walk for Wild Horses.

Date and Time: Saturday, November 14, 2015, 3 pm to 5 pm.

Location: The Iowa Café, 1129 N. Higley Road, Mesa, AZ.

Details: Press Conference starts at 3 pm. Walk starts at 4 pm, ends at 5 pm.

Speakers: Simone Netherlands, President of the SRWHMG will give an update. Local residents will testify how they witnessed the wild horses here since before 1971. Dolan Ellis, official balladeer of AZ, has been watching the wild horses since the 1960’s, he will recant his memories and also perform his wild horse song; “ Orphan of the hills”.

Walk: The walk will start after the press conference. From the Iowa Café, people will walk to the intersection at Adobe Road, cross at the crosswalk and return to the café. The sidewalk is wheelchair, stroller and bicycle accessible.

Participants: Please bring your own signs. The SRWHMG will offer t-shirts for sale for ten dollars. This family-friendly event will also include face-painting and coloring for the kids as well as a raffle.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASES
CONTACT: Simone Netherlands, President, SRWHMG, 928-925-7212

October 20 2015

Salt River Wild Horse Lawsuit Dropped in Effort to Create Public/Private Partnership

Phoenix, Arizona (October 20, 2015) — Based on recent statements by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) that it has NO current plans to round up the Salt River wild horses in the Tonto National Forest, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG), dismissed its lawsuit against the agency without prejudice, meaning that it can be refiled at any time. The lawsuit was filed to block the USFS’s plan to round up the horses, which was first announced by the USFS in their July 31 Notice to Impound.

The USFS has agreed to regularly meet with the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) to work in good faith toward establishing a long-term, humane plan for the horses. The agency has also committed to providing the Management Group with sufficient notice prior to any agency action to remove horses.

“We have dismissed our lawsuit as a sign of good faith and to promote further negotiations,” said Simone Netherlands, president of the SRWHMG. “It is and has always been our intent to work with Forest Service officials, not against. Although the horses are not safe yet, the USFS intent has changed from roundup and removal, to discussing and exploring options to protect the horses.”

The attorney for the Management Group, William A Miller explained, “As a roundup is no longer planned, there is no agency decision to challenge in court, but should the wrong decision be made in the future we can refile the lawsuit.”

“The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group is based locally, and our many members and volunteers are prepared to undertake the hard work necessary to keep the Salt River wild horses right where they belong,” Netherlands concluded, “in the wild”.

###The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group is an Arizona-based nonprofit organization established to preserve, monitor and scientifically study the Salt River Wild Horses. For almost 20 years, the group has maintained records of each wild horse and has presented the US Forest Service with a proposal to humanely manage their population numbers, while maintaining the herd’s genetic viability.

Salt River Wild Horses Still in Jeopardy