WATCH FOR WILD HORSES – SRWHMG Alerts

For a safe holiday weekend (and any after this) please help us share the following alerts!

• Please be aware that we have a band of wild horses frequenting the Granite Reef Rec site. It is the only area where we were never authorized to install fence and they have free access back and forth across the road. Please drive the speed limit and heed the watch for horses signs!
• You may also see our road patrol volunteers giving out warnings when horses are in the roadway.
• We want to make all visitors aware that there is an old grey stallion who is sick with a form of bacterial infection, possibly strangles. (but not confirmed) An abscess on his head broke last night and it looks sad as he has puss and blood running onto his face. However, he has overcome a lot worse in his long lifetime and euthanizing him at this point would deny him the chance to recover. We are aware of him and our volunteers are monitoring him very closely. If you happen to see him, please give him space and leave him in peace. Another horse who displayed the same symptoms, has already fully recovered. (Strangles or Equistrep is a fairly common equine disease and is not usually deadly. It is not transferable to humans.)

For weekend visitors, have a safe and enjoyable time watching wild horses! We offer the following tips:

• Observe a distance of at least 50 feet from any wild horse at any given time. Horses may be trying to access water — please allow them to do so. They’re just as thirsty as you are.
• Please do not feed wild horses. Feeding wild horses an inappropriate diet can upset their digestive system. We have supplemental feed stations for them, the horses know where they are.
• Do not attempt to tame or touch a wild horse. It is not good for wild horses to become habituated to people as they will then not respect our space after that.
• Please beware that there is a County wide leash law applicable in the Tonto National Forest. Please keep dogs leashed at all times, for their own safety as well.
• Observe the speed limit and heed the watch-for-horses signs. They are strategically placed at actual horse crossings.
• Be a respectful observer of wild horse behavior, don’t interfere or chase or follow them when they are walking away from you.
• Take lots of pictures, but please remember that the photo is never more important than the well being of the subject of your photography.
• Bring a garbage bag and play a role in cleaning up the Tonto National Forest. If you love wild horses, pick up trash that might harm them!
• Should you see an injured wild horse you may call the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group hotline at (480) 868 9301.
• Have fun posting your pictures on the Facebook Page: “Salt River Wild Horses – Advocates”.

We hope that people have a great time viewing wild horses, while at the same time keeping the horses’ best interests at heart. Have a safe labor day weekend!

SRWHMG