REFLECTIONS

More exploration of Arizona by this columnist, his wife and relatives brought them in close contact with some wild horses.
Yes, there are wild horses in Arizona, mostly near the Salt River.
On our first visit to Arizona in early January, thanks to relatives Cindi and Darelll Hansen of Blooming Prairie, we were able to see some wild horses.
Cindi Hansen was all fired up to take us to a point on the Salt River where many of these wild horses resided. We saw 15 wild horses the first time. On our second visit, we saw more than 35.
I did some more research on the wild horses of Arizona and found a very informative and well-written story on the wild horses by Pat Parris of KGUN9.
Parris wrote: "Even though their numbers are a fraction of what they once were, it's still possible to see these wild horses up close and to see what makes them Absolutely Arizona."
 
According to the Bureau of Land Management, there are just under 100,000 wild horses in north America, with many of them living on Navajo Nation land, Parris added
"Only about 600 wild horses live throughout the rest of Arizona."
We saw the wild horses in large herds living along the banks of the lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest.
Parrris said the horses are descendants of the Spanish horses that were brought over by Spaniards to conquer America.
The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group watches over the group and feeds them.
While searching for the wild horses, we saw many amateur photographers and others seeking a glance at the horses.
The Hansens even stumbled into a former neighbor, Jef Behnken, son of Betty and Ken Behnken. He likewise was looking for the wild horses as he enjoyed a vacation with his family.
Head west to Arizona. There's lots to see there.