Local Happenings
Nevada Department of Ag and Wild Horse Connection Sign a corporative Agreement!
Last month, Wild Horse Connection (WHC) and the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) signed a cooperative agreement for wild horse range management in the Virginia Range. WHC’s responsibilities will include responding to citizen concerns regarding public safety, carrying out diversionary feeding when necessary and providing water resources when necessary. This new agreement addresses wild horse management for the safety of the public and the horses. In addition, WHC will respond to emergency calls regarding injuries or other wild related issues. Please see emergency number below. “Wild Horse Connection is honored to have the added privilege of working with the Nevada Department of Agriculture to manage the Virginia Range horses, along with aiding community concerns, public education and working actively to limit public safety issues,” Corenna Vance, WHC president, said. Congratulations Wild Horse Connection! WHC is always looking for more volunteers. If you’re interested, contact them here: info@wildhorseconnection.org. The 24/7 emergency line is: 775-352-3944.
The Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association Taking Strides for Wild Horse Protection
Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association (VRWPA) is a local group working with Carson City to install a fence to keep the wild horses safe who live near Dayton in their natural habitat. Every fall and winter, the wild horses come out of the hills above Centennial Park and the Eagle Valley golf course and onto Arrowhead Drive. The horses travel down Arrowhead Drive to the businesses and neighborhoods in the area. Some horses have traveled as far as Benson’s Feed and the Maverick Station on Hwy 50. This is dangerous for people as and the wild horses. Last year, the stallion Chewy and the mare Janine were killed when they were hit by cars. A few horses were relocated to another part of the Virginia Range to keep them from going into the golf course where grass is readily available.
VRWPA has put together a plan along with Carson City to be proactive and are working together to build a 3500' fence. The fence will keep the horses from gaining access to Arrowhead Drive and will connect to the existing fence for the east golf course, around Centennial Dr. The fence will also connect to another fence for the west golf course (see map). VRWPA hopes to install the fence by end of October.
The cost of the labor and gates, so the public has continued access to the public land, is $13,000. American Wild Horse Campaign has supplied the fencing materials. VRWPA has raised $8000 toward the $13,000 needed. VRWPA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and needs your help to raise the $6000 to install the fence, and be prepared for any unforeseen costs. Please help us keep the people of the community and the wild horses safe by donating to this important project. Thank you!
https://www.gofundme.com/k7rch6-a-cause-i-care-about-needs-help
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A map of the fence that will aim to protect wild horses from getting hit by cars.
VRPA is doing a trivia night at the Ponderosa Salon in Virginia City this Friday, October 4th, from 6pm-8pm! . The trivia game is lots of fun and VRWPA provides the food! Come out and show your support!!
Hidden valley wild horse protection fund license plate
The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued a new license plate to directly support the Virginia Range Wild Horse Herds this month. Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund (HVWHPF) developed the license plate and it will support many of the local groups dedicated to preserving the Virginia Range Wild Horse Herd.
“Range management, Horse wellbeing, and public safety are our top priority. By keeping the horses on the range and away from the highways and residential areas, both the horses and the public are served” explained Shannon Windle of the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund.
“We will use the money from the license plates to work with a wide cooperative of wild horse groups within the Virginia Range Herd’s territory. Groups like Virginia Range Wildlife Preservation Association in the Virginia City Highlands, Wild Horse Preservation League in Dayton, Wild Horse Mentors in the Stagecoach/Silver Springs area as well as folks in Lockwood and the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center,” Windle said.
Recently a meeting was held in Virginia City to establish the transparent procedures for project and funding approvals for all the local groups working together and for the public to have confidence in the license plates.