February

23, 2016
Dear Member of the Arizona House of Representatives:
As President of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and Executive Director of the American
Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, respectively, we would like to express our SUPPORT for the
Townsend Substitute Amendment to the Federalism and States Rights Committee Amendment to HB
2340. With the adoption of the amendment, we also support the bill as amended.
The Townsend substitute amendment removes the provision that would have attempted to assert
Arizona jurisdiction over the Salt River Wild Horses. The bill would have placed the herd under the
management of the State Department of Agriculture, which would have cost the state an estimated $1
million annually and resulted in their management as livestock, not wild animals. The bill as amended
recognizes that the Salt River Wild Horses are not livestock, and their management falls outside the
Departments mission to regulate and support Arizona agriculture in a manner that encourages
farming, ranching and agribusiness while protecting consumers and natural resources.
The amendment also defines the scope of the herd and clarifies that the horses that are part of the Salt
River Wild Horse Herd are not stray animals. Additionally, the amendment establishes clear jurisdiction
and provides a process to resolve any incident that requires interaction with the herd in order to protect
the health and safety of the horses and the public.
Once it becomes law, HB 2340 will allow us to continue our efforts to ensure that the federal
government fulfils its responsibility to manage the herd under either the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses
and Burros Act of 1971, or the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960.
Finally, we would like to express our appreciation to Rep. Townsend for the tremendous effort that she
has expended on this issue and for her willingness to work with all parties on a solution that is in the
best interest of the horses.

Sincerely,

Simone Netherlands, President

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group
simone@respect4horses.com

928-925-7212

Suzanne Roy, Executive Director

American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign
sroy@wildhorsepreservation.org
919-697-9389