Shannon Litz/Nevada AppealBrandi McNally talks to Debbie Collins and Cathy Norcom, all of Hawthorne, on Friday in front of the Carson City Bureau of Land Management office.
Brandi McNally talks to Debbie Collins and Cathy Norcom, all of Hawthorne, on Friday in front of the Carson City Bureau of Land Management office.
Collins, who has lived in Hawthorne since 1967, said she was outraged to hear of the BLM's intention to round up the herd of wild horses that has roamed near Walker Lake as long as she can remember.
She said the horses are on federally managed land and don't compete with local ranchers for grazing.
"They harm no one."
About a half-dozen Hawthorne and Walker River Paiute Tribe Reservation residents joined with wild horse advocates to protest at the BLM office on Friday.
Protesters were hopeful they could work out an alternative solution with the land-management agency.
"I've watched these horses and my children have watched these horses," Collins said. "I have six grandchildren. I want them to see the horses, and, if I'm lucky, my great-grandchildren.
"I don't want to have to hold up a coin and say these are wild horses. They were good enough to put on a coin, but they weren't good enough to protect."