Volunteers with the Salt River Wild Horses Management Group gathered in Fountain Hills on Sunday, Dec. 18, and worked to free two wild horses that had been inadvertently fenced out of their range area for several weeks.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office began receiving reports several weeks ago about the horses wandering in the neighborhoods from Four Peaks Park toward the northeast boundary of the town. They were also seen as far north as Rio Verde.

There was one report that one of the horses was injured and deputies confirmed that, but were unable to get anyone to respond to assist that horse at the time.

On Sunday the volunteers reopened the fence line and guided the stranded horses back to the Fort McDowell side. The fence was repaired where the horses went through as well as other weak spots along the line.

The horses were reported headed toward the Verde River and back toward their range along the Salt River.