Arizona Department of Agriculture Agrees to Reduce Salt River Horse Herd to 120 in Five Years
Agent
Key Points:
- An agreement aims to reduce the Salt River horse herd from 274 to 120 over five years
- More than 50 people rallied at the Arizona Capitol in support of the wild horses
- Critics call on Governor Hobbs to protect the horses like former Governor Doug Ducey did
- The Arizona Department of Agriculture will work with the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
Not far from the Phoenix metro area, horses graze along the riparian areas of the Salt River, peaceful and unaware of the ongoing fight about their herd at the Capitol.
An estimated 274 horses make up the Salt River herd, but that number will be reduced to 120 horses after five years, according to a recent agreement by the Arizona Department of Agriculture and the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group.
In a news release, the Agriculture Department said the gradual reduction balances the limited range resources available while maintaining the genetic integrity of the herd. The plan also provides new safeguards to protect the horses that leave the management area and only be relocated to sanctuaries approved by the department.
On April 7, more than 50 people rallied at the Arizona Capitol in support of the horses. Supporters say it is a fight they have been embroiled in for the last 10 years — one that has received renewed attention due to a new controversial management agreement and a potential legislation that would offer more protection for the herd.
Susie Bell, an advocate who is a member of the Friends of the Salt River Wild Horses group, was among the crowd of those who came in support of the wild horses — a significant cultural and ecological attraction for those visiting the Salt River.
"We want the governor to stand up and protect the Salt River horses like Governor Doug Ducey did when we fought for them ten years ago. She hasn done anything yet as far as standing up to protect them," Bell said. "We are calling on her to do that as part of the effort in trying to stop the removals of over half of the Salt River wild horses with no justifiable imperative to do so at this time."
A spokesperson for the Governor's Office said: "The Arizona Department of Agriculture recently conducted a thorough procurement process to select a partner that will help manage the horses. In collaboration with the selected contractor, the state is committed to sustainably managing the herd to protect the long-term health of the horses and their habitat."
The group was awarded the contract again in February and has seen previous success at managing the size of the herd. They rely on natural attrition and a birth control method delivered via dart. The herd size has been decreased from 450 over the past several years for the sake of preserving ecological stability in the areas surrounding the river.
Currently, the horses live on about 19,000 acres around the Salt River, but advocates said there are no peer-reviewed scientific studies to determine how many horses can be supported on that amount of land.
The department said in an email they have never mandated a herd reduction target and have not specified or required a herd target of 120 horses. They said the contractor, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, proposed reducing the herd to 120 over the term of the five year contract. The group did not respond to a request for comment.
"AZDA is committed to preserving the health, safety, and integrity of the Salt River Horse Herd and is statutorily mandated to humanely manage the herd," the department wrote. "Humanely and sustainably managing the herd requires balancing what the ecosystem can sustain as well as the size and diversity of the herd."
The department said it considered a variety of proposals to reduce the size of the herd, including the continuation of fertility control and the gradual, humane relocation of horses.
The department said it does not have authority over wild horses or their budgets and cannot mandate that contractors use specific management techniques. The contractor, Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, is responsible for implementing the contract terms.
The controversy comes as advocates seek to preserve what they consider a cultural and ecological treasure. The horses have been grazing along the Salt River for decades, drawing visitors who come to watch them in their natural habitat.
Rep. Cody Reim, a state representative who has been involved in the debate, said some legislators want to give the horses further protection before they can be removed from the area.
The department said the agreement reflects a balanced approach to managing the herd while respecting the ecological needs of the riparian environment. They emphasize that the decision-making process considers both the welfare of the animals and the sustainability of the ecosystem they inhabit.