Nevada's Plan to Transfer Ownership of Nearly 3,000 Free-Range Horses

Nevada is considering transferring ownership of nearly 3,000 free-range horses in the Virginia Range by the end of May. This decision has sparked a debate over the future management and welfare of these iconic animals.

According to state officials, the Nevada Department of Agriculture has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for individuals or organizations interested in taking ownership of the herd. However, opponents argue that this move could be disastrous for the horses, which are symbolic of Nevada's western culture.

The proposal follows a breakdown in the agreement between the Nevada Department of Agriculture and the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), which previously managed the horses on behalf of the state. "The NDA set the stage to destroy the Virginia Range horses by canceling the community-based cooperative agreements for humane management," said Deniz Bolbol, spokesperson for the campaign, in a written statement. "That’s unconscionable and we will not allow it to stand."

In October, the department canceled the agreement, citing the volunteer organization's failure to meet its obligations. The group disputed this characterization, accusing state officials of undermining the deal by involving third parties not part of the agreement.

By December, the department voted to terminate the state's ownership of the horses entirely. The RFP seeks a non-profit entity willing to take ownership of 2,951 horses. "The intent, as outlined by the board during their meeting and in the RFP, is to select an owner that will work to keep the horse population on the range and facilitate adoptions of any horses that need to be removed from the range," department director Jim Barbee stated.

The RFP calls for a "reputable animal advocate organization that has the experience, knowledge, tools, resources, and financial ability to manage the horses according to their needs." It is intended that the selected owner will maintain the horse population on the range and facilitate adoptions of any horses removed from the range.

Opponents of the plan argue that once the state relinquishes ownership, the new owner will have little leverage to keep the animals on the range. Unlike wild horses under federal Bureau of Land Management jurisdiction, free-range horses in the Virginia Range are considered feral or "estray" livestock, falling under state jurisdiction. This means they are not protected by federal regulations that restrict the sale of wild horses for slaughter.

The Virginia Range horse population includes all feral and estray horses roaming in the area bounded by U.S. Highways 395 to 95A, Interstate 80, and U.S. Highway 50, according to the department. "Should the plan to give away the horses proceed, the public would no longer have any say into how these beloved horses are managed and treated," the campaign stated in a press release.

The department's RFP acknowledges that after the ownership transfer, the new owners would control the horses' fate. "Once this transfer occurs, the NDA will have no liability or authority to make decisions about the (horses) so transferred," the document states. "The owner will be subject to all federal, state, and county laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to livestock."

According to the RFP timeline, after responders submit proposals, there will be a proposal opening on April 16, followed by an evaluation by a committee of local, state, and federal officials. A selection of new owners and transfer of ownership could occur by May 15.

Originally posted by Reno Gazette-Journal