Nevada Board of Agriculture Votes to Transfer 3,000 Wild Horses to Private Ownership

SPARKS, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — The Nevada Board of Agriculture has voted 8-1 on Tuesday, December 12, to give away or transfer ownership of 3,000 Virginia Range wild horses to a private entity.

In October, state officials sent a termination notice to the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), with whom they had been partnering to help keep the horses from being slaughtered. This agreement was formed in 2013 and focused on population control through birth control and adoption.

The state terminated the deal because they believe the American Wild Horse Conservation did not fulfill their side of the agreement in protecting public safety. In September, a driver in an SUV collided with a wild horse and died.

Jim Barbee, the director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, said in a written statement, "Our number one priority is public safety, and that requires collaboration between the state, local, and nonprofit partners... the NDA can assist local law enforcement with the removal of feral horses upon request."

The American Wild Horse Conservation believes they have fulfilled their part and that the state is undermining themselves. Deniz Bolbol, Director of Field Operations with the campaign, said in a press release that the state and Governor "... in 2013, enacted legislation that retains state jurisdiction over the Virginia Range horses and allows the state to partner with a nonprofit for the protection and humane management of these cherished mustangs."

If the agreement is terminated, the state will not have to notify horse organizations when wild horses have been removed from the wild and if they are being sent to slaughter auctions.

Originally posted by News 4