In the wake of crash, horse advocates protest again

In the wake of Tuesday night’s crash, horse advocates returned to the state Capitol to again call on Gov. Brian Sandoval to reinstate the program using humane birth control to reduce the number of horses in the Virginia Range from the Dayton corridor through Virginia City to south Reno.

“Last night’s horse-vehicle accident on Highway 50 highlights the need for the humane management to resume,” said Louise Martin, spokesman for several horse advocacy groups.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture has canceled the birth control darting program and has said it intends to turn management of the Virginia Range horses over to a private non-profit group. Advocates say they fear that’s the first step to eventually selling off the horses, possibly for slaughter.

Authorities investigated a collision between a Lyon County sheriff’s cruiser and horses on U.S. 50 on Tuesday night, the Nevada Highway Patrol reported.

The crash was reported shortly before 6 p.m., near the intersection of Highway 50 and Enterprise Road east of Dayton.

Westbound Highway 50 was blocked, but all lanes reopened shortly after 7 p.m.

One deputy was transported to a hospital, and the injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening, the NHP reported.