What Is It Like to Live Near the Wild Horses in the Carson Valley?

Living near the wild horses is one of the things that makes the Carson Valley different from anywhere else. Some homes on the Gardnerville side, around Fish Springs and the foothills of the Pine Nut Mountains, see horses pass through on a regular basis.

I'm Angela Roberts, and I help buyers and sellers across the Carson Valley. Here's what living near the horses is like, what I tell buyers before they buy in these areas, and the few things worth planning for.

It can be wonderful to have a certain horse that regularly visits your property. I had a seller once who had a particular horse that would show up pretty regularly to visit and graze on the grass. He wasn't a problem, and it was something they loved about living there.

That's the side of it people picture when they think about moving here, and it's real. It also helps to know the other side before you buy, so the horses stay something you enjoy.

The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the wild horses in the Pine Nut Mountains east of the valley. The BLM's Pine Nut herd management area covers about 104,000 acres across Douglas, Lyon and Carson City counties, and the BLM's target for that area is 118 to 179 horses. The BLM also calls the Fish Springs horses federal wild horses, even though Fish Springs sits outside that herd area.

If you have a question about the horses, or one is hurt, the BLM's Carson City office is the contact: (775) 885-6000. If a horse is on the road and it's a danger to drivers, call 911.

Wild horses can do a lot of damage to a yard that isn't fenced. They can come through and eat all of your grass and everything else that's growing. Good fencing is the best way to protect your property, and a gate that stays closed matters as much as the fence itself.

Here's what surprised me most about the horses. Horses can jump, but in my experience the wild horses don't jump fences. A good fence usually does its job.

Nevada is an open range state, which means it's generally up to the landowner to fence animals out. When land next to open range is sold, Nevada law requires the seller to give the buyer a written notice about it. I'll make sure you understand what that means for the specific property, and when a question goes beyond general information, check it with the county or a qualified professional.

If horses pass through your area, plan your landscaping around them. A lawn or garden outside the fence is likely to become a meal. Keep the plants you care about inside a fenced area, and think about what's growing along the fence line where a horse can reach over.

Please don't feed or water the horses. Horses that learn to expect food come closer to homes and roads, and that's harder on everyone, including the horses.

Be careful when you drive at night around Fish Springs and the Pine Nut Mountains. Horses cross the roads, and a dark horse on a dark road is hard to see. Slow down, especially on roads you don't know well yet.

Before you buy, it's worth driving the roads around a home both during the day and after dark, so you know what your drive home will be like.

Some people love the wild horses, and some people don't. It's a very controversial topic in the valley. I try not to have an opinion on it one way or another, because I can understand both sides.

My job is to make sure you know what living near the horses involves before you buy, so you can decide for yourself whether it's a home you'll love.

If you're looking at homes near Fish Springs or the Pine Nut foothills, read more about buying a home in the Carson Valley and the Carson Valley real estate page, which covers the land, the water and living next to public land. If you'd like to keep horses of your own, see buying horse property in the Carson Valley. You can also start with the Carson Valley Buyer Guide or read about Gardnerville.

When you're ready, tell me what you're looking for, or call or text me at 530-208-7081. You can also read more about me.

This post is general information. It isn't legal advice. Fencing, open range and property questions depend on the specific property, so verify the details with the county or a qualified professional.

Angela Roberts of Tahoe Homes by Angela (Mountain Luxury Properties) is a real estate agent serving the Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe, helping buyers and sellers in Gardnerville, Minden and Genoa understand the land, the fencing and the wild horses before they buy. 530-208-7081. tahoehomesbyangela.com. CA 01950736. NV S.0179450.