FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal Court Allows Lawsuit Over Alpine Wild Horse Auctions to Move Forward
Phoenix, AZ — February 28, 2026

Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) announced today that a federal judge has denied the government’s motion to dismiss SRWHMG’s lawsuit challenging unlawful practices involving Alpine wild horses removed from the Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest.

In a January 20, 2026 order, U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi ruled that SRWHMG has standing and may proceed with its claims against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, and their contractor Rail Lazy H Contracting and Consulting LLC.

The Court found that SRWHMG adequately alleged real financial harm and ongoing violations, including harm caused by faulty and inadequate public notice of horse auctions and removals.
SRWHMG alleges that Defendants failed to provide sufficient legally required notice of Alpine wild horse auctions, leaving rescue organizations and the public without sufficient time to organize, fundraise, or participate in online auctions with sign up deadlines.

As a result, SRWHMG alleges it was effectively excluded from the auctions, forcing it to rescue Alpine wild horses later by purchasing them from third parties at inflated prices.

Alleged Self-Dealing in Public Auctions

According to the Second Amended Complaint, Rail Lazy H—the Forest Service contractor responsible for capturing, impounding, transporting, and auctioning Alpine wild horses—engaged in self-dealing during online public auctions.

SRWHMG alleges that Rail Lazy H’s owner, Jackie Hughes:

• Removed members of the public from live online auctions, at one point excluding all public bidders;
• Ejected advocates even after they had already won horses; and
• Used that control to acquire the horses herself, eliminating lawful competition.
• Removed horses from the forest without ever offering them in any public auction.

The Court recognized these allegations as sufficient to support claims involving violations of “maximum return at minimum cost” and full and open competition requirements.

Allegations of Animal Cruelty and Horse Deaths

The lawsuit further alleges animal cruelty resulting in injury to Alpine wild horses, including during capture, transport, loading, and auction, as well as violations of federal transport-time limits.

As Judge Tuchi stated, SRWHMG alleges Defendants engaged in “animal cruelty resulting in injury to the horses through their processes in the capture, transport, loading, and auction of the horses.”

SRWHMG further alleges that many Alpine wild horses died, some after SRWHMG had already purchased them while still in possession of contractor, that many foals disappeared, and that other horses became severely ill at the auction site and later died.

Why This Matters

Rail Lazy H joined the government’s failed motion to dismiss. The company is owned by Jackie Hughes, who was also seeking authority to manage the Salt River wild horses.

What Happens Next

Defendants must now file answers, and the case will proceed into discovery.

“This ruling has been long coming, said Simone Netherlands, and now we will offer all of our evidence of how poorly these horses as well as horse advocates are treated by Rail Lazy H and the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest.