Arizona Cuts Salt River Horse Herd by Over 100 in New Contract

The state has awarded management of the Salt River horses to the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, but with a requirement to remove 120 horses over the next 5 years.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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After reviewing proposals, the state of Arizona has renewed its contract with the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group to manage the Salt River horses. However, the new contract comes with a painful condition - the removal of over 120 horses from the current herd of 274 over the next 5 years.

Why it matters

The Salt River horses are a beloved and iconic part of the local ecosystem and community in Arizona. The required removal of over 100 horses from the herd is seen as a major setback for the group that has fought to keep the horses in their natural habitat along the Salt River.

The details

Under the new contract, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group must reduce the current herd of 274 horses down to 243 by the end of this year. They have agreed to remove 25 horses per year for the next 5 years, with the horses being relocated to sanctuaries or other lands where they can still be visible to the public.

  • The state has given the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group until the end of 2026 to reduce the herd to 243 horses.
  • The group has agreed to remove 25 horses per year for the next 5 years, starting in 2026.

The players

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group

The non-profit organization that has managed the Salt River horses since 2018 under contract with the state of Arizona.

Simone Netherlands

The founder of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group.

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What they’re saying

“We are grateful that we have the contract, but I have to be honest: it's going to be heartbreaking for us.”

— Simone Netherlands, Founder, Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (azfamily.com)

“It's hard to express how happy and how sad at the same time. This is against what our mission is. We've always fought for these horses to stay exactly where they are, but to prevent the worse outcome, we had to compromise.”

— Simone Netherlands, Founder, Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (azfamily.com)

What’s next

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group must remove 25 horses from the herd by the end of 2026 to comply with the new contract terms with the state of Arizona.

The takeaway

This contract highlights the delicate balance between preserving the iconic Salt River horses and managing the herd size, as the state seeks to reduce the population by over 100 horses over the next 5 years. The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group is committed to doing this humanely, but it goes against their mission to keep the horses in their natural habitat.