Group rescues young Salt River wild horse after mother’s probable death

PHOENIX – A group that protects and tracks Salt River wild horses this week announced the probable death of the herd’s oldest mare and the rescue of her 8-month-old foal.

The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group described the events this week in a press release and a series of Facebook posts.

The nonprofit organization has a state contract to manage the herd that lives in the lower Salt River area of the Tonto National Forest.

The group said its volunteers initiated a search after noticing that 25-year-old Rosa and daughter Rosy were missing from their family band.

Searchers located the foal alone Monday, across the river from the band, which they realized meant Rosa had probably died.

With help from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Arizona Department of Agriculture, the SRWHMG was able to bring Rosy to safety on a fan boat.

The starving and dehydrated animal was small enough to fit into the back seat of a pickup truck, which is safer for a horse her size than a trailer, the group said.

She was taken to the SRWHMG facility, where she was checked out by a veterinarian and received IV hydration.

She is staying in a barn along with Peanut, another recently rescued foal.

Donations for Rosy’s medical care and to help the group finish building its foal barn can be made at the SRWHMG website.

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