Useful Information Regarding Wild Horses

This summer there seems to be an increase in wild horse activity in and around our valley. In early July, 2011, a group of Streamboat Valley neighbors concerned about the horses gathered to discuss some of the issues. From this a decision was made to share information we learned that may be useful in your interactions with the horses.

  • The wild horses in our valley are considered Virginia Range Estray horses. They are property of and managed by the state of Nevada, whether they are on private properties or surrounding BLM land. This is due to a decision in 1984 when BLM declared our area "wild horse free" and turned over all future horse management to the state. As state horses, they are not subject to the same rules and protections as federally managed horses. They are governed by Nevada law and managed through the Nevada Department of Agriculture. (Click here to see a map of the Virginia Range)

  • Jim Barbee, the director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, visited Steamboat Valleys on July 5th, 2011. He said there is currently no budget for managing the horses. This means there is no prison program for gentling them, no adoption program, zero dollars for maintaining them. Consequently, any horses that are picked up due to complaints are sent to Fallon for public auction as livestock. They are sold by the pound to the highest bidder. It is our understanding from sources other than Mr. Barbee, that many, if not most of these horses end up slaughtered.
  • Nevada is a “fence out” state. That means it is the private property owners’ responsibility, under the open range law, to fence out any unwanted livestock. It is not the state’s responsibility to contain the horses. Mr. Barbee has clearly stated that wild horse complaints will only be taken seriously if the proper livestock fencing is in place around property. If that is the case and horses have broken through and damaged private property, then the state will protect property rights by trapping and removing the horses. This can only be done with the approval of the property owner to set up a horse trap on his/her property.

  • It is illegal to feed or harass wild horses. It is legal to provide water. It is also illegal for private individuals to corral or contain the horses.

  • It is acceptable to gently drive the horses off of your property.

Horse PowerOpen in New Window and Hidden Valley Wild Horse Prtection FundOpen in New Window have provided signs to be erected in Steamboat Valleys that say "Unlawful to Feed or Harass Wild Horses." and cites the applicable Nevada statutes. Feeding them (including providing mineral licks) encourages horses to be dependent on humans and to gather in areas of homes and where domestic horses and other animals are present. Harassing horses is inhumane.

Please exercise care and watch for wild horses when driving through our valleys. Share this information with your visitors. Tell your children not to approach them. They are wild and can be unpredictable. If you own domestic horses consider whether you have adequate fencing to keep your horses contained and the wild bands out. Experience has taught us that the white, plastic three rail fencing that many property owners in our valley have will not contain or exclude a determined wild horse band. Consider electric perimeter ribbon fencing mounted on the plastic fence, which can be purchased at a reasonable price.

  • If horses are crossing your property a quick fix may be to string caution tape across where they enter and attach additional lengths of tape that flutter in the wind. Wild horses will not usually approach this. If you don't like the looks of caution tape you can try the strings of mini flags that you sometimes see around service stations – anything that flutters.

  • Horse experts advise that you can shoo horses away, from a safe distance, using a plastic bag attached to a stick such as a broom handle. They will usually move away from the motion.

  • If you move horses any distance you will need permission to cross private property.

  • If the horses are bothersome, talk to your neighbors. They may agree and you can work together to keep them away from your homes. Or they may enjoy the horses and you might work out a compromise solution. Your neighbors could have some excellent ideas.