The Nevada Board of Agriculture voted this week to turn the management of the Virginia Range wild horses over to a private party, opening up the possibility of the horses being gathered and sold to slaughter. Staff at the Department of Agriculture will now draw up an agreement for a private entity to take responsibility of the almost-3000 horse herd. The new managing entity will have to handle safety, population control, grazing, fencing, branding, adoption, and removal of the animals of the Virginia Range. Dozens of horse advocates showed up to voice their concerns against the plan that puts the horses under private ownership, and doesn’t require the entity who will assume ownership to notify anyone if – and when – the horses are removed from the range.