U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) joined a fellow Arizona Republican colleague in requesting coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the proper management of the state’s Salt River and Heber wild horse herds.
“Wild horses embody the spirit and heritage of the West and are beloved by Arizonans. These animals deserve to be protected and treated humanely,” Rep. Ciscomani said on June 12. “For too long, the Salt River and Heber horses have faced cruel and improper removal, and we must ensure they receive the protections they deserve.”
The congressman, who is co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, and his colleague requested that the USDA’s U.S. Forest Service (USFS) ensures the herds are properly managed and that the USFS is fully complying with all applicable federal and state protections.
In a June 8 letter sent to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers wrote that the Salt River horses hold a special place in Arizona’s history and identity, a fact reflected in a dedicated state statute protecting their right to remain in the wild.
“We were therefore surprised when, in August 2024, the Forest Service transmitted a request to the Arizona Department of Agriculture seeking revisions to its management plan that would remove these horses from their habitat, particularly given the agency’s position in May 2024 litigation, where it disclaimed authority over the management of these very horses,” they wrote.
Rep. Ciscomani and his colleague wrote that they also have concerns that the USFS’s participation in the planning process may not have complied with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
“We hope to work together to ensure that the process is on a solid legal footing going forward,” they wrote.
Likewise, the Heber wild horses are a beloved Arizona herd and are protected under federal law, according to their letter.
“We wish to draw your attention to the Heber Wild Horse Territory, where the Forest Service has authorized the impoundment of horses identified as “unauthorized livestock” as of April 27,” the lawmakers wrote. “We recognize that horses protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act are excluded from that category, and we are confident that is the intent. We raise this simply to underscore the importance of clear protocols being in place to ensure that federally protected wild horses are not inadvertently caught up in the effort.”
They told Secretary Rollins that they welcome an opportunity for their staffs to connect with hers “to work through both of these issues and find a path forward.”
The American Wild Horse Conservation supports the letter.