So, this happened a couple weeks ago. I was working on a new book idea for my publisher and wound up researching the the wild horses of the Salt River Valley. In my story, the heroine and heroine are part of a small group of people being chased by the bad guys through the Superstition Mountains (here in Arizona) during a horrendous downpour. FYI, the Superstition Mountains are where the fabled Lost Dutchman’s Mine is supposedly located. Several times during my characters’ dangerous trek through the mountains (am I doing a good job building suspense?) they encounter a small herd of free roaming horses. The horses are former ranching stock that were set free years earlier during a fire in an attempt to save them. The ranch horses then joined a herd of wild horses and were never recaptured. Still with me?
Where am I going with all this, you may ask. Well, I wound up reading quite a bit about the wild horse of the Salt River Valley, which I’ve been fortunate enough to see myself several times over the years. The Salt River runs from east to west through central Arizona, first junctioning with the Verde River and then the Gila River. It’s also very near where I’m setting my story, and there are lots of ranches in the area — which is good because this all makes sense for my book.
According to local history, horses have been living wild in the Salt River Valley since at least the early 1900s, but probably for much, much longer than that. In 1687, Missionary Father Eusebio Keno (or Kino, I’ve found both spellings) traveled the southern part of Arizona and is supposed to have left hundreds of horses and cattle at the many missions founded by the Spaniards. Horses aren’t native to American, so every single one living here now, or has ever lived here, was either brought to this country or descended from a horse brought to this country. According to some DNA studies being done on the Salt River Valley wild horses, they are approximately three-percent Spanish colonial descent. Not bad. According to Embark, my dog is two-percent wolf 🙂
Like in a lot of states, there’s controversy surrounding the wild horses if the Salt River Valley. The value of preserving wildlife versus impact on the land is hotly debated. Currently, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, and others, are working diligently to protect Arizona’s “mustangs” and, as of now, their efforts are paying off. If you kayak or tube down the Salt River, like I have (okay, I was younger and a little fitter), you have a good chance of spotting wild horses. This sight is pretty inspiring and makes for a great plot element in a western romance book!
Cathy McDavid has been penning Westerns for Harlequin since 2005. With over 55 titles in print and 1.6 million-plus books sold, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll. This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins is married to her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world seven years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about good looking cowboys riding the range, busting broncs, and sweeping gals off their feet — oops, no. Make that winning the hearts of feisty, independent women who give the cowboys a run for their money. It a tough job, but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.
That’s so interesting! I love seeing the mustangs but I’ve only seen them on tv documentaries.
It is really cool to see. Once, when we were tubing, we came around a bend in the river and there they were. A whole small herd.
What an amazing sight to see. Thank you for sharing this with us horse lovers.
Such an amazing sight.
Good morning! I would love to see these horses. I didn’t even know that none of the wild horses were ever native to America. I’m always learning new things & history from authors that I didn’t know. Thanks for the great blog!!
I did know horses weren’t native. What I didn’t know was how much that specific point is used in the debate for and against preserving the wild mustangs.
I would love to see the beautiful wild horses, what a sight to behold I’m sure. Thank you for such a great blog. I never knew that horse weren’t American born, how interesting !
It is something. I feel fortunate to have seen them twice.
We lived in Mesa for 32 years and tubed the Salt a lot when I was younger. We were fortunate enough to only see the horses once, near where the verde joins the Salt. They were so beautiful!
A fellow (former) Arizonan. That is so cool. I, too, tubed the Salt a lot when I was younger – college and in my twenties. But I actually only saw the horses later, when we took our own kids on a couple family tubing trips.
I just had to share this post! Great read! Yes, you kept the suspense going. Thank you!
Thanks so much for sharing, Kathy <3
Beautiful horses, Cathy. Your book will be fun to write!
Thanks, Pam. Fingers crossed I sell it. Though, I did talk to my editor yesterday about something else, and she dropped a very promising hint about the proposal.
What a fabulous book idea, Cathy! And such interesting research. I love that there are still bands of wild horses out there. I might need to visit the Salt River one of these days. 🙂
It’s a beautiful piece of still untamed wilderness not far from Phoenix, which makes it all the more interesting 🙂
Welcome today. Oh but this is interesting about these horses. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to your book
Thanks, Lori. Here’s hoping my editor likes it ;)))
Wow, I love your post, Cathy! I would love to see these horses. Must be quite a moving sight. I love the movie Electric Horseman and have watched it at least a dozen times but I still cry like a baby when Robert Redford sets that horse free and it joins a herd of wild horses. It was home at last. I would love to read your story set in the Salt River Valley. 🙂
Thanks, Linda. It really is an inspiring to see the wild horses. Kind of takes your breath away. I won’t lie, I’m on the side of preserving this wild, living piece of history.
YES this is wonderful, unfortunately the BLM is rounding them up and putting in feedlots where they (1,000s) are not doing well at all and many more round ups are being scheduled for this year!
I often considered adopting a mustang. They can make wonderful riding horses, with the right training.
Interesting!! What a great element to your book!
Thanks, Trudy!
Cathy, Thank you so much for sharing this fascinating post! Horses are so majestic!
They truly, truly are!
Love that they still want to preserve the wild horses. I’ve always been fascinated with the wild Mustangs.
In the Coastal Atlantic, from Assateague to the Carolinas, there are wild ponies, most famously known for the ones in Chincoteague, and they are protected, too.
I just loved the Misty books when I was a kid <3
The idea for your book sounds like one I would really enjoy reading, I would love to see the wild horses out roaming around in open spaces, it would be something I would never forget.
You don’t forget it, Connie 🙂
This was so exciting to read, I have seen tv series about wild horses but didn’t realize the entire background. I think it is great that people are preserving these horses and are protected.
It is great, Peggy. Such resourceful animals. I’m amazed they thrive in a harsh environment.
I ;oved your story. I love the beautiful pictures of the horses. Did u know at one time the soldiers once had camels take things across the desert.
Thanks, Emma. And, I had heard about the camels but forgotten until you mentioned it. Cool story.,
I have seen the wild horses on the Yakama Nation lands. Beautiful, yes, but I have also seen the grass chewed down to nothing because there are too many. It is very sad to see the pictures of wild horses emaciated from lack of food and or water because there are way too many for the land to support. The BLM is always looking for more people to adopt the horses they round up.
Yes, Alice, it is a hotly debated topic. I wish there was an easy answer.
Thank you for sharing Cathy Love all the Beautiful Horses and Loved your story! Have a Great Day!
Thanks, Sarah. Same to you!
I would love to see these wild horses myself, loved your post.
Thanks so much. I hope you do get to see the horses one day!
There is something inspiring about the sight of wild horses running free. We have seen some in our travels out west over the years as well as the wild donkeys, “begging burros,” of Custer State Park in South Dakota. They are not nearly as pretty as the wild horses, but they definitely get up close and personal. There needs to be a way to balance these wild horse populations and land management plans. From what I have read, most of the complaints come from ranchers using BLM land for grazing their herds and they don’t want the competition. That land belongs to all of us and should be used for programs that benefit us all. The beauty of these horses is something for us all to enjoy.
I’ve seen the wild burros, too. They are cute in a funny way. I agree the land belongs to all and truly hope we find a way to share it.