News Release Contact:  Patricia Haight, Ph.D. – (480) 232-8068

For Immediate Release    

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united states congressman honors Arizona’s rim country

wild horses

Congressman Raul Grijalva Reads Tribute to Arizona Wild Horses in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests into United States Congressional Record

(Phoenix, July 10, 2007).   Arizona residents are especially proud and honored today after learning that United States Congressman Raul Grijalva read a tribute to wild horses living in Arizona’s Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests into the record of the United States Congress last week

Congressman Grijalva read a tribute to these magnificent and unique horses in Washington, D.C. on June 6, 2007.

The rim country wild horses are culturally tied to Arizona for more than 400 years since Father Eusebio Kino visited the Rim Country on horseback bringing as many as 130 horses or more with him on each trip in the late 17^th and early 18^th centuries. Father Eusebio Kino, the Padre on horseback, was known for his ranching abilities and horsemanship and visited the Arizona rim area while exploring for places to establish new missions.  Historical documents verify that Father Kino took extra horses with him as remounts.  Historical research on these unique horses also establishes the connection of the rim country horses to Father Eusebio Kino and possibly to the Spanish explorer Coronado as early as 1508.

The rim country wild horses are descendants of Spanish horses brought by Father Kino and other Jesuit missionaries from Spain to Mexico where many were kept by the Yaqui people for the Jesuit missionaries and then brought on ships around the coast to California for mounts during explorations by the Jesuits and Spanish soldiers throughout Arizona and California during the 17^th and 18^th centuries.  Many of the horses demonstrate the traditional Spanish colors of buckskin, bay, chestnut and black. Their ancestors were prized as war horses, as mounts for explorers, settlers, the United States cavalry and by ranchers and cattlemen for their heart and stamina.

In his tribute, the Congressman described the rim country wild horses as a precious natural resource to be preserved for our children and for generations to come.

Dr. Pat Haight of the Conquistador Equine Rescue and Advocacy Program said,” We are thrilled and proud that Congressman Raul Grijalva honored our beautiful rim country wild horses in the United States Congress.”

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