News from Nevada’s Virginia Range: Vol. II

Highlighting groups working to protect our mustangs: American Wild Horse Campaign * Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang Rescue * Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund * LBL Equine Rescue * Let 'em Run * Least Resistance Training Concepts * Wild Horse Connection * Wild Horse Preservation League * Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association
 

A Wild Reunion

On June 8, 2019 a foal was observed separated from his family band that were identified by photographers/fertility control darters who document the bands in the Lockwood Landfill area. They called the situation in and stayed with eyes on him until responders could arrive. The young foal was trying to hook up with other bands but was getting roughed up by other horses and his family band had been seen heading a mile away. Separations can occur when skirmishes between stallion or other things happen on the range. Read about what happened next!

Photo above does not depict the mare and foal. Photo by Christine Dallas

The Latest Local Happenings


From fundraisers to adoption events, local groups have working hard to help their local herds and horses in need! Read about upcoming and past events below!

Feel Good News

June was a wonderful month for our Virginia Range program! The collaborative fertility control program is making amazing strides, rescued foals have been adopted, local advocates have been in the media and so much more. Click below for an update on all the recent feel good news.

Spotlight: Businesses Helping Horses

Randy Pitts, President of F&P Construction is a behind-the-scenes force for protecting the Virginia Range Mustangs. Since last year, Randy has generously donated supplies and use of his equipment to ensure that the wild horses who roam the 100,000 acre Innovation Park in Sparks have access to lifesaving water during the dry summer months.

Randy donated all the supplies necessary to fence off the well pump installed by the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) with assistance from Blockchains LLC at a spring that had dried up, gravely endangering the horses who depended on that water source. Working with Blockchains and with assistance from F&P, AWHC also erected several water tanks and troughs for wild horses in other areas of the park, which Randy’s team now keeps full. Business leaders like Randy play a key role in the effort to protect our cherished Virginia Range range mustangs and we are grateful for their generosity and support!

 

License Plate that Supports Wild Horses

The Nevada Virginia Range Mustangs Special License Plate is now available through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)! The plate features a photo of a Virginia Range stallion, Ghost, taken by Ellen Holcomb.

The proceeds received from the plates directly benefit the Virginia Range wild horses in a variety of ways including fencing, fertility control, hay for the rescued horses and diversionary feed for the wild ones (when needed and approved), rangeland rehabilitation, orphan foal rescue, public education campaign, rescued horse training program, etc. You can see the initial proposed budget and more information on how to obtain the plate here or at the DMV site below!
 

The Pinto Post is a volunteer-run, electronic publication not branded to any one organization but created to shine a light on the incredible work of the many wild horse organizations in the Reno/Carson City area. Our next issue will come out August 1, so please submit articles and ideas by July 24 if you'd like an item included:  ThePintoPost@gmail.com.