Rep. Kelly Townsend introduced a floor amendment to HB2340 on Wednesday during an Arizona House Committee of the Whole session that secured the future of the Salt River wild horses. Townsend was applauded for her efforts to work with interested parties in reaching an agreement on the management of the herd.
Townsend’s amendment scaled back her bill from one that prescribed a full management program under the direction of the Arizona Department of Agriculture, to a simple case-by-case management program to address incidents as arise with the horses.
Currently, when an issue arises that requires attention, local management groups have worked with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (Lake Division) and with the United States Forest Service. The proposed floor amendment will codify this process, along with criminalizing the shooting of a wild horse, releasing a domesticated horse into the wild, or harassing a Salt River wild horse. The amendment also defines a Salt River wild horse.
In a statement released Wednesday, Townsend thanked Director Mark Killian of the Arizona Department of Agriculture and Supervisor Neil Bosworth of the US Forest Service “for their willingness to explore the feasibility of creating a full management program for the horses, and regrets that the fiscal note came in far above what the State can currently afford or justify.”
Townsend also thanked horse advocates such as Trudy Bastman “who offered this common sense solution to this seemingly insurmountable issue, and Tina Wooten who helped with the issue of the shooting death of Dottie,” one of the beloved horses. Townsend also commended the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, and their President Karen Sussman and local board member Jill Irvine for “their guidance and education over the months regarding the unique qualities and needs” of the wild horses.
ISPMB president, Karen Sussman stated, “We believe that every step of the way, Representative Townsend has had the best interest of the horses at heart. We commend her efforts to save the Salt River wild horses so that all Arizonans and people from around the world will be able to someday visit this historic herd.”
ISPMB also commended the “Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, who for years, have supported these river horses. The Community has a strong management program protecting the horses residing on their side of the river.”
Adding to the protection of the animals, ISPMB put up a $5,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator who killed Dottie last October.
ISPMB is the oldest wild horse and burro organization in the U.S. ISPMB’s first president, Wild Horse Annie, Velma Johnston, was instrumental in the passage of the 1971 federal law (PL 92-195), the Wild Horse and Burro Act which passed unanimously through both houses of Congress, according to the group.
Despite having attempted to launch an ugly internet attack against Townsend as part of their highly questionable campaign to have the federal government control the herd, Rep. Townsend thanked the controversial Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and their president, Simone Van der Salm Netherlands.
Townsend has worked with the groups to ensure that the horses remain undisturbed and wild in the Salt River area where they have resided since as early as 1890, as documented in the Arizona Archives.
“We thank and commend Rep. Townsend for addressing our concerns and for working to craft legislation that will promote protection of this historic herd that is so loved and treasured by the people of Arizona,” said Van der Salm Netherlands.