Salt River Horse Management Interim Agreement

The Arizona Department of Agriculture awarded contract CTR077869 to Salt River Wild Horse Management Group Inc. for comprehensive management of the Salt River horse herd within Tonto National Forest. The contract, effective from July 25, 2025, to December 31, 2025, encompasses a range of critical services including herd population control, emergency response, veterinary care, and habitat management. The organization will implement a humane fertility control program using Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP) immunocontraception, with the goal of achieving zero population growth for approximately 400 wild horses.

Key deliverables include daily monitoring of horse populations, rescue and rehabilitation of injured animals, removal of deceased horses, emergency feeding during drought conditions, and maintenance of detailed horse demographic databases. The contract, originating from House Bill 2340, involves collaborative management with the United States Forest Service and involves over 100 trained volunteers certified in large animal emergency response. The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group will provide these services at no direct cost to the state, funding the program through public fundraising, grants, corporate sponsorships, and support from the American Wild Horse Campaign.