Another victory for the Wild Ones...

The forest service guys have decided to take a step back and reevaluate plans to round-up the wild horses along the Salt and Verde Rivers (aside from the fact that legally they can't do anything right now because of the injunction)

 Photos by ME!!!!  PLEASE don't  take without permission

Both of these pictures are mine and aren't  for use without permission.

Anyway, according to the article they have decided to work with citizens and the activist groups.  Gee, if you'd  done that to begin with rather than be underhanded and sneaky, it would've  saved a lot of time, energy and HEARTACHE.

ARIZONA

Forest Service backs away from wild horse roundup

Jessica Boehm, The Republic | azcentral.com3 hours ago

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The Tonto National Forest on Thursday appeared to have backed away from a plan to round-up free-roaming horses along the Salt River, citing the strong public backlash.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., on Thursday provided The Arizona Republic with a statement from Neil Bosworth, Tonto National Forest’s supervisor, saying, “We appreciate the local community’s feedback and we’ve decided to take another look at the proposed gathering of stray horses at Tonto National Forest."

Isaac Hale/The Republic

Salt River Horses trot around at Butcher Jones Recreational Area in Tonto National Forest located near Mesa on Aug. 4, 2015.

"The Forest Service will continue to engage with the local community, state and federal officials to explore potential alternatives for meeting our obligations for both land stewardship and public safety."

U.S. Forest Service officials were not immediately available to elaborate on Bosworth’s statement.

Earlier Thursday, a legal request to halt the removal of 100 free-roaming horses near the Salt River was temporarily denied by a judge, according to a statement from a local horse advocacy group.

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group went to federal court seeking an injunction late Tuesday that would halt the Tonto National Forest Service’s plan to remove the horses in an area near Bush Highway in the far East Valley.

RELATED: Arizona congressional delegation: Delay horses roundups

MONTINI: Politicians lamely try to hop a ride

That request was temporarily denied Wednesday morning, until the defendants in the case are properly served. They were expected to be served today, according to the statement from the Wild Horse Management Group’s lawyer.

“It is not permanently denied,” the statement said. “The judge simply advised us that we need to properly serve our defendants before any decision can be made.”

Wild horses of Salt River

A small victory, but still a victory...

I may put too much of my personal life "out there".  I don't  mean on the web, but in general, day to day things.  Because friends and co-workers know I  spent several years as a Sea World regular, whenever something happens there, they come to me for my opinion and details.  Whenever something happens at a zoo, people come to me as well.  Not only that, but after something  happens at a zoo I can't  even visit one without some random people seeing my camera and wanting to ask me if I'd  heard about blah blah blah and what do I  think about it.  Forget that I'm  trying  to focus on taking  pictures, they just start talking to me.  I don't  think  I've  ever approached another photographer at the zoo and asked them about blah blah blah.  Well, now that I've  been going  out photographing the Salt River wild horses I have, once again, become very popular.  Everyone wants to know what I  think and if what this group says is true or what that group says is true.  Monday I  tried to tell my family that the topic of the horses was off-limits and I  didn't  want to talk about it.  That lasted all of 10 minutes.  <sigh>.  So, I  have become the unofficial cheerleader or spokesperson or whatever for the wild horses at work and home.  Nothing I  can do about it so I  may as well embrace it and hope I  don't  scare people off with my passion.  If I  do, it's  your own fault for asking me about them.  Hahahaha.

So, the national forest people followed the letter of the law and posted their public notice of intent to remove them in a newspaper, albeit a very small and specialized one they probably hoped nobody would see.  Boy were they wrong.   Someone noticed it and alerted the proper people.  Initially it was just a small group of activsts, but that number has balooned to more than 60,000 and from all over the world.  Yesterday there was a rally at one of the locations the horses hang out and there were even some horses there at the time, including a 2 day old foal.  Most of the news stations were out there to broadcast the rally and Mike Watkiss, who is a well-known  journalist in Arizona did several broadcasts from there.  People have been sharing the plight of these horses all over social  media  and supoort for them has exploded.  The best part is that the Arizona government is involved.  Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake are supportive of the horses remaining where they are and Governor Doug Ducey promising Arizona will do what it can to protect these horses.  We are even trying to get celebrities behind us.

But at the moment, we have a reprieve.  The public notice said the round-ups would start Friday and only an act of Congress could save them.  Well, it looks like we are a step closer to that act of Congress.  I speculate that the forest people chose now to start the round-up  because Congress is not in session.  Now it doesn't  matter because they agreed to wait until Congress is back in session in September.  It's  a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.  It's  very relieving to know that we have state senators and representatives behind us.

Here is the story from the Arizona Republic's website.  Note that the forestry spokesperson claims they haven't  received any of the letters from the politicians yet, but I  doubt that for some reason.  She says they will read the letters and they had better!

ARIZONA

Congressional delegation: Delay Salt River horses roundups

Jessica Boehm, The Republic | azcentral.com1 hour ago

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As members of Arizona's congressional delegation sought to delay or halt the removal of 100 free-roaming horses in the Tonto National Forest, a state lawmaker said Wednesday she had been promised no removals would take place until at least September.

"We are assured that no action will be taken to round up or remove the Salt River horses before the U.S. Congress comes back into session in early September," state Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, said late Wednesday. Townsend said she was given the assurance after meetings with U.S. Forest Service officials.

I hope I get the chance to see this precious baby go through its color transformation as he grows up.  He's  brown now but will one day be solid "white" (grey)

Barbara Sullivan

There are dozens of wild horses which live along the Salt and Verde Rivers more

Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake sent a letter to Tonto National Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth and Arizona Department of Agriculture Director Mark Killian earlier Wednesday calling for a postponement of the roundups, which had been legally posted to begin Friday.

“A growing number of our constituents have expressed deep reservations about the Forest Service’s intent to gather these horses and transfer them to the Arizona Department of Agriculture,” the senators said in the letter.

MONTINI: Politicians lamely try to hop a ride

ROBERTS: Arizona pols to feds: Leave Salt River horses alone

The Tonto National Forest said there are no plans to begin removals on Friday and no contractor has been selected to do the work.

Republican Reps. David Schweikert and Matt Salmon and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also requesting a halt in plans to remove the horses.

“Wild horses are an integral part of the history of America’s West, and the latest move by the U.S. Forest Service to impound the herd that roams near Mesa, Arizona, shows a disappointing lack of understanding of the priorities and needs of the local community,” Salmon said in a statement.

Spokeswoman Carrie Templin said the Forest Service has not yet received the letters and will “try to address any concerns” after the service has reviewed the letters.

Simone Netherlands, president of Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, said her team filed a request for an injunction Wednesday afternoon in federal court in a bid to legally halt the round-ups. The matter is expected to be assigned to a judge Thursday morning.

An injunction would force a legal debate on the merits of the Forest Service's proposed action. The voluntary halt touted by Townsend will allow time to seek a political compromise.

"Now that we know that there is some breathing room -- hopefully we can come to good solution in this matter,'' Townsend said.

Test your trail smarts quiz results...

Okay.  For those of who read and maybe took yesterday's  quiz about being trail savvy, I  promised to provide the "optimum" answers today and here I  am.  Now, before I  reveal my own results, I  just want to say (or maybe remind) that I  have personally never been in any of these situations and answered on the basis of what I  would do if I  was.  With that in mind, you might be surprised to hear I got a score of 85, which makes me Trail Savvy.  I probably would have gotten a perfect score had I  not picked wine over water, cell phone in a saddle bag over on my person and pass out snacks during an unexpected trail break rather than keep my horse a safe distance away.  The only of those I  would consider changing my amswer to would be the wine one, but why not have both wine AND water?  The cell phone thing, yes it would make more sense to have the phone on your body in case of an emergency dismount, but cell phones can fall out of pockets very esily.  I speak from experience.  I also think question  6 has 2 answers.  It says when you ride alone you shoule 1) notify someone 2)carry a cell phone or 3) do neither of the above.  I think you should do BOTH 1 and 2.  Why wouldn't  you take a cell pjone with you?  Even if you're  riding in an area that might have sketchy service it's  better than nothing at all.

So, here's  the scoring and the experts' reasoning for the correct answers.  I hope you all scored well...


What’s your score? Give yourself 10 points for every answer (A), five points for every answer (B), and zero points for every answer (C). If your score was 80 or over, you’re in the ranks of savvy trail riders. Not only do you have trail experience, you also possess ingenuity and an awareness of unnecessary risks. If your score was between 50 and 75, your savvy is so-so. You take risks that can make things go bad quickly. Zero to 45 points? You’re a trail wreck waiting to happen. You’re either nonchalant about your safety and that of others, or a rookie who needs a good trail mentor. 

Choices Vs. Outcomes
Let’s review the scenarios you were quizzed on, so you can see how your choices often affect outcomes on the trail.

Trail beverage: Water wins you the full 10 points because it can serve multiple purposes beyond your own hydration. With water, you can clean a cut, swallow or dissolve meds, soothe a sunburn, and cool yourself or your horse. Water belongs on every trail rider’s must-take list. An energy drink simply isn’t as smart a choice. You can replace its quick-energy properties easily by eating a protein or granola bar before your ride. Alcohol…do we even need to say it? Drinking and riding never mix, alone or in mixed company.

Cell-phone carry: You’re best off to keep your phone on your person, secured so it doesn’t jostle off. (An open shirt pocket doesn’t qualify!) That way, you still have access to it should you and your horse part company. Even if you still have hold of your horse, you don’t want to be fumbling at saddlebag enclosures to reach your phone in a true emergency. Riding with your phone or anything else in your free hand is a flunk-out move. It’s easy to lose the device if your horse spooks or bucks, and you also lose use of the hand for controlling your horse or grabbing the saddle horn.

Horse’s headgear: A halter worn under the bridle is the mark of a trail rider who thinks ahead and is ready to tie or hand off his horse at a moment’s notice. While you get five points for at least having a halter with you, tied somewhere on the saddle, you also risk losing your horse when you have to pull the bridle to halter him. And, you can’t respond as quickly to a situation that requires you to secure your horse. No halter at all? No score. 

Your headgear: It’s a no-brainer for your brain: Helmet use protects it. A hat or ball cap is only a little better than nothing, with at least some sun protection. Sure, we all know that a helmet alone doesn’t guarantee your safety. Nevertheless, it’s hard to argue against a protective helmet’s value for trail riding, especially when horseback riding is among the leading sports for head injury. Combine distance of your head’s fall (about 8 feet from atop a horse) with chance for hard-object impact (rock, log, flying hoof), and you get a recipe for high risk.

Saddlebags: While it’s convenient and perhaps more sanitary to keep one bag dedicated to your food, those aren’t the only considerations. If you’re a savvy trail rider, you think of your horse’s back when loading a set of saddle bags, ensuring that the load is even on both sides. You also keep tally of what’s been removed or consumed, and readjust your saddlebags accordingly. Only a clueless rider uses her horse’s back as a one-sided tote for party beverages.

Riding alone: Let’s face it, this runs risk up all by itself, because there’s no one at hand to help you with any problems. If and when you do go out alone, your smartest option is to “file a flight plan” with someone who can initiate a search if anything keeps you from getting back. Leave word of where you’re going and when you expect to be back. State which horse you’re on, and something about what you’re wearing; these details can help someone find you in the event that you’re too hurt to ride or unconscious. While your phone may allow you to call for help, it won’t send someone looking for you, and may not work when or where you need it.

Tree blocks trail: The first rule here is, “Don’t make things worse.” You show good savvy by sizing up the variables before making a next move. Can the tree be moved so you can get by? Are you in a place where you can safely dismount/remount? Does your horse tie reliably? Are there other riders to worry about? The safest call is to turn around. Depending on the trail’s location, you may not be able ride safely off-trail to get around. Imagine, for instance, a steep bank that you’d need to climb, or bogging footing. In some areas, riding off-trail is forbidden due to fragile soils and potential for erosion. It’s dangerous to jump a treefall when it’s one so large that your horse can’t simply step over it.

Missing shoe: Have a spare; you do it with your truck and trailer, and as a savvy trail rider, you do likewise for your shod horse. A protective hoof boot, pre-sized to your horse, is a relatively inexpensive item of gear to have on hand. It’s one of those things you’re glad to have when you need it. A makeshift hoof covering offers some protection to your horse, perhaps enough to get him back to the barn without a bruised sole. If you go ahead and ride him with nothing in place of the shoe, you score zero on horsemanship as well as trail savvy.

Stopped group of riders: Bravo for the call to keep your horse safely separated when a group ride must be halted. Horses can get anxious or aggravated in this circumstance, and it’s not uncommon for them to kick at horses they don’t know. If you’re too close, your thigh or kneecap could take the blow. Always take care when passing snacks to a group of stopped riders, especially if you don’t know their horses or their skills. A crackling wrapper or dropped treat can easily spook a horse. That leg-over-pommel move? Seriously not smart. It leaves you halfway out of the saddle while it stresses your horse’s back.

Balking at mud (or water): This is another situation in which assessment is the best first move. Unless you know a crossing spot to be safe, your horse may have good reason for refusing to go forward. Some horses panic when mud sucks at their feet; your horse can unload you as he lunges to free himself. Be sure you won’t be getting in too deep—literally—before you try getting your horse to cross. Never try to lead your horse across mud or water. Chances are he’ll either pull back and get away from you, or knock you down as he makes a huge leap right behind your back. 

Test Your Trail Ride Savvy...

Isaw this on my Facebook wall and of course I  had to take the quiz.  It is courtesy of Horse & Rider Magazine.  Take the test and tomorrow I will give you the scoring guidelines and tell you how I  did.

It’s a beautiful day, perfect for a trail ride on your favorite horse. You grab a few items, saddle up, and look forward to an hour or two of some blissful outdoor R&R.

Is that the result you’re likely to get? It depends. Going out on trails simply isn’t as secure and predictable as riding in an arena, and that’s true even of the most familiar trail you ride. You can have a problem or make a wrong judgment call just as easily when you’re half a mile from home as you can while riding the backcountry. The key is to be prepared, be alert, and keep small mishaps from escalating.

Though you can’t predict everything that might happen on your rides, you can learn and practice fundamental trail smarts that’ll boost your safety and perhaps even help you get out of a jam. Rate your trail savvy by taking the test that follows. We’ll help you brush up in areas where you may find yourself to be lacking.

1. Your horn bag has an exterior pocket for carrying a beverage. You take:
A: A bottle of water.
B: An energy drink.
C: A beer or wine cooler.

2. You ride with a cell phone in case of emergency. You carry it:
A: In a belt holster.
B: In a saddle bag.
C: In your hand.

3. Your horse’s trail-riding headgear consists of:
A: His bridle, placed over his halter.
B: Bridle only; you carry a halter.
C: Bridle only, no halter.

4. Your own headgear consists of:
A: A protective riding helmet.
B: A Western hat or ball cap.
C: Nothing, your head is bare.

5. You pack a pair of saddlebags with supplies for a full day’s ride. You:
A: Balance the bags by weight, using a scale.
B: Put food in one bag and all else in the other.
C: Fill one side; use the other for trash. 

6. When you go out alone, you always:
A: Leave word with someone.
B: Carry a cell phone.
C: Do neither of the above.

7.A fallen tree blocks your trail, so you:
A: Assess from horseback; turn back if necessary.
B: Attempt to get around the tree by going off-trail.
C: See if you can get your horse to jump it.

8. At a trailhead, your horse backs out of the trailer minus a shoe. You:
A: Apply a pre-sized protective hoof boot.
B: Improvise something with duct tape.
C: Ride your horse with his bare foot.

9. Your group stops as one rider tightens her cinch. You:
A: Keep your horse clear of others as you wait.
B: Pass around some snacks.
C: Hook a knee over the pommel and rest.

10. Your horse balks at muddy footing. You:
A: Assess first, then decide what to do.
B: Kick or spur your horse forward.
C: Dismount and lead him across

GOOD LUCK!!!!!