Why are the Salt River wild horses decorated with little balls this time of year? 🎄

December 10th

Starting end of November beginning of December the Salt River wild horses seem to exchange their Majestic regal looks for some funny looking hairstyles.

Photo by SRWHMG Photographer Debra Mykitiak and Cindy Pope.

These decorations in their manes and tails are actually burrs from the cocklebur plant. These plants are native to North America but are considered a pest and you can imagine why. Seeds are covered with stiff, hooked spines, which stick to fur and clothing. This plant is zoochorous, which means they count on the help of animals. We don’t like the plant much because it is also poisonous to horses, especially in the seedling stage. However, the horses seem to smell the plant and skip it, which may be why the burrs end up in the manes. Luckily we have seen no mysterious horse deaths.

So no worries, because every year for as long as we can remember, by the time the new year comes around, these burrs will be mysteriously gone and manes and tails will look freshly combed again. (The horses groom eachother)

So, since we can’t walk up to them and pick these out, let’s just pretend they are Christmas decorations. If you see any funny looking Salt

River wild horses, be sure to post them on our community page here 👉 Salt River Wild Horses – Advocates.

Happy holiday decorating everyone. SRWHMG.

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