November Local Happenings
An Update On Virginia Range Wild Life Protection Association’s Fencing Project
This month we have a fantastic update to the October Pinto Post’s post about the Virginia Range Wildlife Projection Association (VRWPA) fencing project. The fence is complete!! It spans 3,500 feet behind Centennial Park. The fence will keep the wild horses protected in their wild habitat and out of streets, protecting both people and horses!
It takes a village to build a fence! Therese Cline of Wild Horse Preservation League (WHPL) and Elena Sullivan of VRWPA secured approval from city officials and spearheaded the project. The American Wild Horse Campaign supplied T-posts and wire. VRWPA is continuing to raise additional funds to finish paying for the fence instillation labor.
Donations can be made here. Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated and to everyone who worked so hard on this project! Great job!!
Elena Sullivan standing with the newly installed fence and gate!
Elena and another area of the long fence completed.
A small portion of the completed fence.
VRWPA Necklaces And Wreaths For Sale
Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association is still selling handcrafted necklaces and beautiful holiday wreaths! The wild horse necklaces are $20 and the wreaths are $25. Check them out here!
All necklaces are handmade and no two are alike.
A wild horse charm can be added to the wreaths.
South Reno Fencing Project
Strong cooperation between three landowners and the City of Reno helped address an area that was allowing wild horses to move from the range to neighborhood roadways, causing a potentially dangerous situation for both horses and humans.
As the City of Reno grows and development pushes the urban-wild interface, both advocates and the city are faced with issues that don’t yet have precedent or policy on how to resolve them. In this case, the junction of a new Toll Brothers project with a newly paved road, the existing Rilite Aggregate pit entrance, and an NV Energy substation created a “pathway” for wild horses from the range to the east, allowing for horses to wander into roads and neighborhoods.
When this situation was brought to the attention of local advocates, Tracy Wilson reached out to Ward 2 Councilwoman Naomi Duerr for help. Councilwoman Duerr was able to bring together all the parties and a quick resolution by the builder was proposed and readily agreed upon.
Councilwoman Duerr has been not only an enormous help on wild horse/suburban development issues as they arise, but also has been a leader as an elected official in being proactive in addressing concerns in a positive way for our local wild horses. A big thank you goes out to all who worked hard on finding a positive solution for everyone, both equine and human!
Photos of the new fencing aiming to close a “pathway” allowing horses to migrate on to roadways and into neighborhoods.
Another angle of the much needed fencing.
Wild Horse Connection Diversionary Feeding Project
Wild Horse Connection (WHC), which has a cooperative agreement with the Nevada Department of Agriculture ( NDA) for range management and rescue of Virginia Range horses, is currently engaged in a large scale diversionary feeding program to keep the wild horses off public streets and up in the hills where they are safe and away from human interference. WHC is asking for donations to support this costly, but incredibly important project. WHC have 22,000 followers on its Facebook page. If each follower donates just one dollar, imagine the impact that would have!!
Check out Wild Horse Connection for more information and donate via PayPal to support WHC efforts.
Photo of WHC ‘s diversionary feeding project by Lisa Serba.
Wild Horse Preservation League Diversionary Feeding Project
The Wild Horse Preservation League (WHPL)’s diversionary feeding project has begun. The current focus is to move horses away from US Highway 50 to approved feeding locations. So far the project has attracted approximately 28 horses!! There are at least 40 wild horses just in this area alone.
Over $1,200 worth of hay has been purchased to date. It is important to note the VR horses are not starving, there is ample food on the range. This project is purely for public safety. WHPL hopes to set up two additional feeding locations to draw horses away from the Rainbow Road and Harbor - Old Town areas. A special thank you to Carson Masonry and Steel Supply for the kind and very helpful donation of wooden pallets to support the large (see photos!!) haystack.
WHPL is asking for donations as the project is expensive and ongoing. Donate here.
Please note: It is illegal for the public to feed wild horses, punishable with a fine up to $2,0000 and charges of gross misdemeanors. WHPL is able to do diversionary feedings with written approval of the Nevada Department of Agriculture and under the supervision of Wild Horse Connection, the Virginia Range Management Group, via its cooperative range management agreement with the NDA.
The pallets kindly supplied by Carson Masonry and Steel Supply
The high quality hay bought so far for this project
The American Wild Horse Campaign 2020 Calendars Are Here!
Order your AWHC 2020 calendars here! This year’s calendar highlights the beautiful horses of the Virginia Range. Every month offers a breathtaking photo taken by mostly local photographer. All proceeds from the calendars go directly to supporting AWHC’s field programs. These calendars make wonderful holiday gifts and are available now, so get yours before they’re gone!
2020 Calendar Preview
American Wild Horse Campaign Documentary Update
Read an interview with the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC)’s filmmaker Michael Alfulso. Michael recently visited northern Nevada as part of his work on a mini-documentary about the Virginia Range mustang program. In the article, he talks about the spectacular passion and dedication of the many people he interviewed and about his hopes for how the new film will be perceived. Read the full interview here.
Documentary crew and interviewees snapped a quick selfie during filming. From left to right: Michael Alfuso, Tracy Wilson, Wayne Woolway, and Deborah Walker.
California State Legislators and Nevada Wild Horses
Left to right: Jennifer Fearing of Fearless Lobbying, Puja Navaney, legislative aide to Gloria, Suzanne Roy of AWHC, and Assemblymember Todd Gloria.
Last month, AWHC presented California Assemblymember Todd Gloria and his legislative aide Puja Navaney with photos of wild Virginia Range mustangs named in their honor. Asm. Gloria and Puja worked hard this year to pass AB 128, a bill to improve protections for California horses from slaughter. It was signed into law by California Governor Newsom on October 12th, 2019.
"Mr. Mayor" (Asm. Gloria is running for mayor of San Diego) is a stunning bachelor who lives in the USA Parkway area, while Puja is a beautiful filly from Stagecoach. Asm. Gloria and Puja were thrilled to have real wild horses named after them and we were honored to be able to recognize their work to protect wild and domestic horses in AWHC's home state.
A special thank you to Tracy Wilson for the photograph of Mr. Mayor and to Christine Dallas for the photograph of Puja!
Gloria receiving the photo of Mr. Mayor
Puja receiving the photo of Puja the filly.
Register for 2020 Least Resistance Training Concepts Classes
Register now for 2020 Technical Large Animal Rescue trainings! Least Resistance Training Concepts has released their 2020 class dates. These classes are a great opportunity to get certified in technical large animal rescue. There are a variety of different classes to take, from a two day large animal rescue operations course to a class on large animal water rescues to emergency livestock handling. These courses are intensive, taught by experts and will prepare you very well for a variety of potentially dangerous situations for both equines and people. Register here.
A class participant “hanging out” between classes! TLAR classes are both fun and informative!
LBL Equine Rescue Fundraiser And Painting Class
On Wednesday, December 11, LBL Equine Rescue is organizing a painting class and fundraise at the Dayton Community Center. Participants will be painting an image of a horse (pictured below)! The fee for the class is $30 per person and a portion of that will go to directly to LBL Equine Rescue. The class starts at 6 pm and is a family class, appropriate for children age 11 and older. There will be refreshments, a dessert bar, and a raffle contest! Raffle tickets will be for sale during the class and the winner will be announced at the end. Come on out, paint a beautiful picture, have fun and show your support for LBL Equine Rescue!! Sign up here.
The horse pictured here will be the one painted in the class.
Virginia Range License Plate
Nevadans, the Virginia Range license plate is always available for purchase! For more information on how to get your very own Ghost plate click here.
