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SALT RIVER WILD HORSE MANAGEMENT GROUP INC

Mesa, AZ · EIN 465280587 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE D30 · Animal-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · saltriverwildhorsemanagementgroup.org
revenue
$580K
expenses
$450K
net assets
$504K
employees
0
volunteers
100
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

Protect study and humanely manage the Salt River wild horses as part of our national heritage.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) is a nonprofit organization based in Arizona dedicated to the protection and humane management of the Salt River wild horses. They collaborate with the Tonto National Forest Service and the Arizona Department of Agriculture to ensure the welfare of these horses, which are recognized as a historic and national treasure under state law.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $95K
    During times of limited natural resources we provide highly needed certified weed free hay to maintain the health of the Salt River wild horses.
  2. #2 $8K
    Improving safety of wild horses through fencing road patrol and monitoring in the field. Administration of humane fertility control by darting mares in the wild.
named programs · 1 · from sources

what they call their work

Humane Management Program
Manages the Salt River wild horse population through humane practices, including a fertility control program to maintain a balanced herd size.
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • Wild Horse Fertility Control & Monitoring 34 activities
    • Advocacy for Alpine Wild Horse Management
      Offered humane and cost-effective solutions for wild horse management to the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest during official meetings and has pending litigation against a contractor and the Forest Service regarding alleged misconduct in wild horse removal.
    • Advocacy for Salt River Wild Horse Protection Plan
      Participates in monthly collaborative meetings and developed "Proposal 2," a wild horse protection plan advocating for no removals, population reduction through fertility control, no habitat reduction, no boundary river fence, an enforceable 50 ft distance rule, and an overpass for safe horse access.
    • Advocacy for Wild Horse Protection
      Advocates for the legal protection and humane management of Salt River wild horses, contributing to the passage of state laws, defending against lawsuits, monitoring legislative efforts, and developing proposals for wild horse management.
    • Advocacy for Wild Horse Protection Legislation
      Advocates for and contributes to the passage of state laws, such as the Salt River Horse Act, that protect Salt River wild horses from harassment, shooting, killing, slaughter, and capture, and monitors legislative efforts like HB2858.
    • Advocacy for Wild Horse Protection Legislation
      Advocates for and contributes to the passage of state laws, such as the 2016 law protecting Salt River wild horses from harassment and slaughter, and the Salt River Horse Act, which legally recognizes them as non-stray livestock. The organization also monitors and provides updates on legislative efforts related to wild horses.
    • Advocacy for Wild Horse Protection Legislation
      Advocates for and contributes to the passage of state laws, such as the Salt River Horse Act, that protect wild horses from harassment, slaughter, and capture, and monitors legislative efforts related to their management.
    • Advocacy for Wild Horse Protection Legislation
      Advocates for and contributes to the passage of state laws, such as the Salt River Horse Act, that protect wild horses from harassment, slaughter, and capture, and monitors legislative efforts related to their management.
    • Advocacy for wild horse protection legislation and policy
      Advocated for the passage of the 2016 state law and contributed to the Salt River Horse Act, which legally protects Salt River wild horses from harassment, killing, and capture, and recognizes them as non-stray livestock. Continues to monitor and provide updates on relevant legislation such as HB2858.
    • Alpine Wild Horse Research and Litigation
      Documents Alpine wild horse populations in the Apache National Forest and engages in pending litigation against contractors and the Forest Service regarding alleged misconduct in wild horse removal and auction practices.
    • Collaboration and Policy Development for Wild Horse Management
      Participates in monthly collaborative meetings to advocate for the rights and protection of Salt River wild horses, offers humane and cost-effective solutions for wild horse management to government agencies, and develops comprehensive wild horse protection plans.
    • Collaborative Wild Horse Management Planning
      Participates in monthly collaborative meetings and develops proposals to advocate for humane and cost-effective solutions for wild horse management, including protection plans that address population reduction, habitat, and public safety.
    • Contracted Wild Horse Management
      Manages the Salt River wild horse herd under a five-year contract with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, encompassing humane management, rescue, emergency feeding, fence maintenance, habitat improvement, and public education.
    • Contracted humane management of Salt River wild horses
      Has managed the Salt River wild horse herd under contract with the Arizona Department of Agriculture since 2018 and was awarded a new five-year contract for continued humane management, including rescue, feeding, fencing, habitat improvement, and public education.
    • Daily monitoring and data collection on wild horse herds
      Maintains a daily presence in the Tonto National Forest to monitor individual wild horses, recording data on herd behavior, birth and death rates, injuries, aging, and migration patterns. Maintains a comprehensive database of all Salt River wild horses, with a documented count of 313 horses as of September 2023.
    • Development and promotion of wild horse protection plans
      Developed "Proposal 2," a comprehensive wild horse protection plan advocating for no removals, population reduction to 200 over ten years via fertility control and natural attrition, preservation of historic habitat, an enforceable 50 ft distance rule, and infrastructure improvements like an overpass funded by MCDOT. Presented solutions during official meetings with the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest and participated in collaborative advocacy meetings from 2018–2019.
    • Humane Management of Salt River Wild Horses
      Manages the Salt River wild horse herd under contract with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, implementing a humane fertility control program that has reduced the foaling rate from over 100 foals per year to one or two, and reducing the overall herd size without removals. This includes daily monitoring, data recording, and responding to emergent situations.
    • Humane Management of Salt River Wild Horses
      Manages the Salt River wild horse herd under contract with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, implementing a humane fertility control program that has reduced the foaling rate from over 100 foals per year to one or two, and reducing the herd from 450 to 274 horses without removals. This includes daily monitoring, data recording, and responding to emergent situations.
    • Humane Management of Salt River Wild Horses
      Manages the Salt River wild horse herd under contract with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, implementing a humane fertility control program that has reduced the foaling rate from over 100 foals per year to one or two, and reducing the herd from 450 to 274 horses without removals. This includes daily monitoring, data recording, and responding to emergent situations.
    • Humane fertility control and population management
      Operates a humane fertility control program using birth control darts to manage the Salt River wild horse population, reducing the annual foaling rate from over 100 to one or two foals per year and achieving a negative growth rate with only one foal born among 400 horses in one year. The herd was reduced from 450 to 274 horses between 2018 and the present without removals.
    • Legal Advocacy and Litigation for Wild Horse Management
      Engages in legal actions, including filing injunctions and defending lawsuits, to prevent the removal of wild horses and ensure humane management programs are upheld, and pursues litigation against contractors for alleged misconduct.
    • Legal Advocacy and Litigation for Wild Horses
      Engages in legal actions, including filing injunctions and defending lawsuits, to prevent the removal of wild horses and protect humane management programs, and has pending litigation against contractors and the Forest Service for alleged misconduct.
    • Legal Defense and Litigation for Wild Horse Management
      Successfully defends lawsuits aimed at overturning humane management programs for Salt River wild horses and engages in pending litigation against contractors and government agencies regarding alleged misconduct in wild horse removals.
    • Legal Defense of Humane Management Programs
      Successfully defends lawsuits aimed at overturning humane management programs for Salt River wild horses, resulting in their dismissal by federal courts.
    • Litigation and legal defense for humane management
      Engages in litigation to protect wild horses, including a pending case against Rail Lazy H and the Forest Service for alleged misconduct, and successfully defended a lawsuit challenging the humane management program, resulting in dismissal by the U.S. District Court.
    • Public Awareness and Legal Action to Prevent Horse Removals
      Alerted media, held rallies, and filed an injunction in federal court in 2015 to prevent the removal of Salt River wild horses by the Forest Service.
    • Public awareness and emergency intervention campaigns
      Alerted media, held rallies, and filed an injunction in federal court in 2015 to prevent the removal of Salt River wild horses by the Forest Service, demonstrating active public mobilization to protect the herd.
    • Research and documentation of wild horse populations
      Conducted field research documenting nearly 400 Alpine wild horses in the Apache National Forest and maintains an ongoing database of individual Salt River wild horses to support population management and advocacy efforts.
    • Salt River Wild Horse Management
      Manages the Salt River wild horse herd in the Tonto National Forest through a contract with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, implementing a humane fertility control program that has reduced the foaling rate from over 100 to one or two per year, and maintaining the herd at a negative growth rate. This includes daily monitoring, data recording, and emergency response.
    • Wild Horse Management Policy Development and Advocacy
      Participates in collaborative meetings and develops proposals for humane and cost-effective wild horse management, advocating for solutions such as fertility control, habitat preservation, and public safety measures.
    • Wild Horse Monitoring and Data Collection
      Maintains a daily presence in the Tonto National Forest to monitor and record data on individual Salt River wild horses, including herd behavior, birth and death rates, migrating patterns, and the health of aging or injured horses. This data is maintained in a database of all Salt River wild horses.
    • Wild Horse Population Data Collection and Research
      Documents wild horse populations, such as almost 400 Alpine wild horses in the Apache National Forest, and maintains a database recording every Salt River wild horse on the Tonto National Forest, including herd behavior, birth/death rates, and migrating patterns.
    • Wild Horse Population Management through Fertility Control
      Implements a humane fertility control program using birth control darts to manage the wild horse population, specifically reducing the foaling rate of Salt River wild horses from over 100 foals per year to one or two per year, and achieving a negative growth rate in the Salt River herd. This program has reduced the herd from 450 to 274 horses without removals since 2018.
    • Wild Horse Population Research and Data Management
      Documents wild horse populations, such as almost 400 Alpine wild horses in the Apache National Forest, and maintains a database recording every Salt River wild horse on the Tonto National Forest, including herd behavior, birth/death rates, and migrating patterns.
    • Wild Horse Population Research and Data Management
      Documents wild horse populations, such as almost 400 Alpine wild horses in the Apache National Forest, and maintains a database recording every Salt River wild horse on the Tonto National Forest, including health and behavioral data.
  • Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation 13 activities
    • Alpine Wild Horse Rescue and Placement
      Rescues Alpine wild horses from slaughter auctions by bidding against kill buyers, covering purchase prices, transport, veterinary care, and placement into sanctuaries or good homes. This includes documenting almost 400 Alpine wild horses and coordinating the placement of 118 horses.
    • Alpine Wild Horse Rescue and Placement
      Rescued 440 of approximately 600 removed Alpine wild horses from slaughter auctions by bidding against kill buyers, covering purchase, transport, veterinary care, and sanctuary placement, and coordinated the placement of 118 Alpine wild horses into good homes.
    • Alpine Wild Horse Rescue and Placement
      Rescues Alpine wild horses from slaughter auctions, covering purchase, transport, veterinary care, and sanctuary placement, and coordinates their placement into good homes through online auctions and coalition efforts. The organization also maintains a sanctuary for rescued Alpine wild horses.
    • Alpine Wild Horse Rescue and Placement
      Rescues Alpine wild horses from slaughter auctions by bidding against kill buyers, covering purchase, transport, veterinary care, and placement into sanctuaries or good homes through online auctions and coalition efforts.
    • Alpine Wild Horse Rescue and Placement
      Rescued 440 of approximately 600 removed Alpine wild horses from slaughter auctions by bidding against kill buyers, covering purchase prices, transport, veterinary care, and placement into sanctuaries or good homes through online auctions and coalition efforts.
    • Emergency Wild Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation
      Rescues and rehabilitates suffering and injured wild horses, including providing sanctuary for those with fatal injuries, and operates an emergency hotline for rapid response to emergent situations.
    • Emergency Wild Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation
      Rescues and rehabilitates suffering and injured wild horses, including providing sanctuary for those with fatal injuries, and operates an emergency hotline for rapid response to emergent situations.
    • Emergency Wild Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation
      Rescues, reunites, and rehabilitates suffering and injured wild horses, including providing sanctuary for those with fatal injuries. This includes responding to emergent situations via an emergency hotline and providing care for rescued foals and injured horses.
    • Emergency Wild Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation
      Rescues and rehabilitates suffering and injured wild horses, including providing sanctuary for those with fatal injuries, and operates an emergency hotline for rapid response to emergent situations.
    • Emergency response and public safety operations
      Operates a 24/7 emergency hotline (480-868-9301) to respond within 15 minutes to urgent situations involving wild horses. Conducts habitat cleanup by removing barbed wire, nails, and trash, and maintains fencing and installs horse-proof gates along Bush Highway to reduce horse-vehicle collisions.
    • Monitoring of Wild Horse Health
      Monitors injuries in wild horses until they heal and tracks the health of aging wild horses.
    • Wild Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation
      Rescues and rehabilitates injured, suffering, or separated wild horses, including foals, providing veterinary care and sanctuary for those with fatal injuries. This includes responding to emergent situations via an emergency hotline.
    • Wild horse rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary placement
      Rescues, rehabilitates, and provides sanctuary for injured, suffering, or at-risk wild horses, including foals separated from bands and horses rescued from slaughter auctions. The organization has rescued 440 of approximately 600 removed Alpine wild horses, placed 118 into private homes, and maintains a sanctuary where rescued horses recover and thrive.
  • Wild Horse Emergency Feeding & Water Provision 7 activities
    • Emergency Feed and Water Program
      Implements an emergency feed protocol during drought conditions, distributing semi-truck loads of hay across multiple feeding points in the Tonto National Forest, and provides water in the northern corridor to encourage horse migration away from riparian areas.
    • Emergency Wild Horse Feed Program
      Implements an emergency feed protocol for wild horses during drought conditions, distributing semi-truck loads of hay across multiple feeding points in the Tonto National Forest with authorization from state and federal agencies.
    • Emergency Wild Horse Feed Program
      Implements an emergency feed protocol for wild horses during drought conditions with authorization from state and federal agencies, distributing semi-truck loads of hay across multiple feeding points in the Tonto National Forest.
    • Emergency Wild Horse Feed Program
      Implements an emergency feed protocol for wild horses during drought conditions, distributing semi-truck loads of hay across multiple feeding points in the Tonto National Forest with authorization from state and federal agencies.
    • Emergency Wild Horse Feeding Program
      Implements an emergency feed protocol for wild horses during drought conditions, distributing semi-truck loads of hay across multiple feeding points in the Tonto National Forest with authorization from state and federal agencies.
    • Emergency feed program for wild horses during drought
      Implements an emergency feed protocol to provide hay at feed stations across the Tonto National Forest during drought conditions, distributing 4 semi-truck loads of hay (half bermuda, half alfalfa) across 15 feeding points. This program operates with authorization from state and federal agencies and under partnership with the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
    • Water provisioning to guide horse migration
      Provides water in the northern corridor of the Tonto National Forest to encourage wild horses to migrate away from sensitive riparian areas, supporting habitat protection and herd distribution.
  • Infrastructure Installation & Site Maintenance 5 activities
    • Habitat Improvement and Safety
      Maintains and repairs fencing along Bush Highway and recreation areas, installs horse-proof gates to reduce horse-vehicle collisions, and engages volunteers to remove trash and debris from the Tonto National Forest to improve the environment for wild horses and visitors.
    • Wild Horse Habitat Improvement and Maintenance
      Maintains and repairs fencing along Bush Highway and recreation areas, installs horse-proof gates to reduce horse-vehicle collisions, provides water in the northern Tonto National Forest to encourage migration, and engages volunteers to remove trash and barbed wire.
    • Wild Horse Habitat Improvement and Maintenance
      Maintains and repairs fencing, installs horse-proof gates to improve safety and reduce horse-vehicle collisions, provides water in specific areas to encourage migration, and engages volunteers to remove trash and debris from the Tonto National Forest.
    • Wild Horse Habitat Improvement and Safety
      Maintains and repairs fencing, installs horse-proof gates to improve safety and reduce horse-vehicle collisions, provides water in specific areas to encourage migration away from riparian zones, and engages volunteers to remove trash and hazards from the Tonto National Forest.
    • Wild Horse Habitat Maintenance and Improvement
      Maintains and repairs fencing, installs horse-proof gates to improve safety and reduce horse-vehicle collisions, provides water in specific areas to encourage migration away from riparian zones, and engages volunteers to remove trash and hazards from the Tonto National Forest.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$580K
Contributions & grants$576K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$730%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$450K
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$504K
Cash$396K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$504K
Liquid reserves10.6 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +0.2%
relationships · 28

who they work with

  • ADOT Partner — Works with ADOT to improve traffic safety through horse crossing signs and other measures.
  • AZ Equine Partner — Provided veterinary assistance during rescues.
  • Alpine Wild Horse Advocates (AWHA) Partner — Collaborates on documenting Alpine wild horses, attending auctions, and forming a coalition to find homes for horses.
  • American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) Coalition — Coalition partner in securing long-term protection for Salt River wild horses and co-authored Proposal 2.
  • American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) Partner — Filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit alongside SRWHMG.
  • Apache Sitgreaves National Forest (ASNF) Government — Offered humane and cost-effective solutions for wild horse management to the ASNF.
  • Arizona Agriculture Department Government — Provides cooperation and authorization for the emergency feed program.
  • Arizona Department of Agriculture Partner — Manages Salt River wild horses through a partnership.
  • Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) Government — Awarded a new five-year contract for humane management of Salt River wild horses.
  • Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) Government — Government agency with jurisdiction over the horses, works closely with SRWHMG for daily management, and will receive the final decision for a long-term management plan.
  • Arizona State Agriculture Department Partner — Works with the department towards the humane management of Salt River wild horses.
  • Concur inc. Partner — Agency that organized and mediated the Salt River Horse Collaborative meetings.
  • Forest Service Government — Government agency with jurisdiction over the horses, works closely with SRWHMG for daily management.
  • Forest Service Government — Government entity against whom the organization has pending litigation related to wild horse removal.
  • Forest Service Government — Interacts with the Forest Service regarding wild horse management, including responses to announced roundups.
  • MCSO Partner — Assisted in the rescue of drowning wild horses.
  • Maricopa County Department of Transportation Partner — Works with the department to improve traffic safety through horse crossing signs and other measures.
  • Nirvana Sanctuary Partner — Sanctuary in Texas where rescued Alpine wild horses are thriving.
  • Rail Lazy H Partner — Contractor against whom the organization has pending litigation for alleged misconduct related to wild horse removal.
  • Rail Lazy H Partner — Contractor for the Forest Service involved in wild horse removals.
  • SRP Partner — Alerted the organization about drowning wild horses for rescue.
  • Science and Conservation Center Partner — Provides backing for the fertility control program.
  • State Ag Department Partner — Seeks to enter into a public-private partnership for the humane management of the Salt River wild horses.
  • U.S. Forest Service Government — Provides cooperation and authorization for the emergency feed program.
  • U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Partner — Works with the USFS Tonto National Forest on the humane management of wild horses and filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit alongside them.
  • USFS Partner — Seeks to enter into a public-private partnership for the humane management of the Salt River wild horses.
  • Wild Horse Ranch Rescue Partner — Supported Proposal 2, which was written by SRWHMG and AWHC.
  • Wild Horse Refuge Partner — Sanctuary in Colorado where rescued Alpine wild horses are thriving.