Off the rope

Despite a positive meeting with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, local horse advocates were dismayed to learn that 41 Virginia Range horses are still scheduled to be auctioned at the Fallon Livestock Marketing Auction on Jan. 9. Members of Reno-based nonprofit Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection fear that the auction would allow the horses to be slaughtered.

In an open letter to Gov. Brian Sandoval, the nonprofit asks for the NDoA to “Stop sending all Nevada Virginia Range wild horses to the livestock auction immediately. … Stop the random trapping of these horses. … Re-engage the cooperative agreements previously entered in to between NdoA and wild horse advocate groups. … Re-engage wild horse advocates willing to assist in the on-going management of the Nevada horses. … Encourage and support new legislation and departmental policies that will protect and preserve the Nevada Virginia Range horses.” The letter will be delivered to Gov. Sandoval on Jan. 4.