The Conquistador Equine Rescue & Advocacy Program

• At this time, there are an estimated 250 to 600 unbranded, unclaimed free-roaming wild horses in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests including foals affected by this NEPA process and by a court ordered stipulated agreement between the US Forest Service and animal welfare organizations and private individuals who sued in 2005 to protect the horses.    The agreement requires that the USFS keep the Heber wild horse territory and manage horses in the territory and on surrounding public lands in the Sitgreaves National Forest. 
• However, the FS persists in calling the horses "feral" or "unauthorized trespass livestock" although the Wild Horse and Burro Act clearly defines all unbranded, unclaimed free-roaming horses on public lands managed by the US FS or BLM as protected wild horses.  The US FS also is doing only an evironmental assessment instead of a full environmental impact study on the Territory and the horses as a complete NEPA would require.  While we hope the FS will do the right thing and manage the horses in viable herds, and assure that any who are removed are removed in the most humane way and are placed in good homes or in a preservation program, we have serious concerns.  
• It would be a very serious mistake for the United States Forest Service to be involved in an effort to have all of the horses declared “feral” or "unauthorized trespass livestock" in an attempt to have them removed and to avoid their responsibility to manage them in viable herds and to preserve these culturally important wild horses and precious natural resource for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.
• It also would be very costly for the United States Government because Plaintiffs reserved the right to file suit again if the Forest Service does not keep to its agreement.

Please take a moment to send a fax and to make polite phone calls to your federal legislators about this issue.