Johnson, through her attorney Sue Kessler, agreed to surrender ownership of the animals, which have been seized in place, on her White Oak Road property in DeWitt until suitable locations for them to be placed are found.

Kessler told Judge John Dodson that her client didn’t “feel comfortable” with the one part of the agreement dictating that she must repay the county for the cost of caring for the animals until they are moved, specifically that an exact dollar figure was not listed in the agreement. However, Kessler and her client agreed to the drafted agreement.

Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Lisa Caruso said that as part of the agreement, Johnson acknowledges that the animals – 31 mare horses, 13 gelding horses, three stallion horses, seven male horses, two mare mini horses, two mare donkeys, one stallion donkey, one male mule, seven male dogs, five female dogs, 14 dogs of undetermined gender, six goats and two sheep – were not receiving adequate care.

As part of the agreement, Johnson will be allowed to care for the remaining animals on her property, but she waives her Fourth Amendment rights against search and seizure and will allow Dinwiddie County Animal Control officers, veterinarians and Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s deputies onto her property at any time to inspect the condition of the animals until they are moved.

Dinwiddie County Animal Control Chief Warden Deborah Broughton said that she’s pleased with the agreement. She added that the terms of the agreement necessitate Johnson’s assistance in caring for the animals due to the large number on the property.

“It’s very hard to control when you have to seize the animals in place,” Broughton said.

Caruso said she could not speculate on why Johnson was not caring for the animals, but said that it is clear that she wasn’t.

“That’s why we have this agreement,” Caruso said.

Cindy Smith, a founding member of the horse rescue group that Sara Johnson belonged to in 2010, Central Virginia Horse Rescue, said that she was shocked to learn of her friend’s situation. She said that she felt partly responsible for failing to intervene after Johnson sent her an email in January seeking support.

“She said she had too many horses and needed some help,” Smith said.

Smith receives three to five similar emails daily from around the region and across the state. Her return message asking for more information went unanswered.

“Sarah is a wonderful person, and I would have thought that she would have provided a better home for those horses,” she said. “She was one of the most well-meaning people I’ve ever met.”

Broughton said that the animals have been improving with the care they’ve been receiving since last Wednesday. Last week, Broughton said that some of the animals were extremely emaciated and scored the worst possible mark on a nine-point scale to gauge horse body condition and well being. The animals are being assessed daily and are being fed two to three times daily.

Johnson left court Monday afternoon in a white SUV with Virginia horse enthusiast license plates.

Caruso said that criminal charges haven’t been filed yet in the case, but didn’t rule out the possibility that they would be.

The case will return to General District Court for review on May 31.

- F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 3254 or fwiggins@progress-index.com. From www.progress-index.com

The horse’s owner Karen Sharpe says she can’t believe anyone would do something like this. Sharpe was boarding the horses at a relative’s house when the incident happened.

Sharpe’s little family of horses, Mary Jane, Roxy, and Rainey are all on the mend, stitches now covering their wounds.

“Someone took a knife and tried to slit the throats of the three horses,” said Major Ricky Gardner with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.

Some of their cuts are six to eight inches long and three to four inches deep.

The youngest horse, Rainey had the worse cut of the three horses. But the owner says all of the horses are expected to make a full recovery.

Relatives say some of the horses have become skittish and shy to come near the gate, but time is healing those wounds as well.

“Obviously whoever did this is a very mean spirited person that would do that to an animal,” said Major Gardner.

Investigators say they believe this is an isolated incident.

If you know anything about this crime, call the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900.

From www.wset.com

When you ride your horse down a well-groomed trail with level footing, no
low branches, sturdy bridges, and safe water crossings, do you stop to
think what it took to make that happen? Ask any Back Country Horsemen of
America member and they’ll tell you: long hours of hard work, lots of
sweat, and personal funds spent on fuel and supplies.

Maintaining trails for horse use is far from glamorous, but without it,
where will we ride? It may seem like a thankless job, but Back Country
Horsemen of America are happy to do it and organizations large and small
see the difference BCH folks are making.

Just Doing What They Do
All Back Country Horsemen believe in the value of volunteerism, so it’s no
wonder that many of their accolades center around trail work. On a rainy
day in September, seven members of Hoosier Back Country Horsemen of Indiana
volunteered their time and equipment to repair storm damage at Youngs Creek
Horse Camp in Hoosier National Forest.

Straight-line winds had hit the camp, blowing down large trees which
damaged the water trough, fence, and highline posts. The folks from Hoosier
BCH cleared debris, repaired the fence, and installed new highline posts.
They used a tractor to remove fallen trees and large branches. They also
performed general maintenance, such as trimming tall grass in the fenced
area.

Nancy Myers, Outdoor Recreation Planner of Region 9, Hoosier National
Forest, Tell City Ranger District, recently recognized Hoosier Back Country
Horsemen on the US Forest Service’s “Success Stories” web page for their
assistance in cleaning up Youngs Creek Horse Camp.

Nancy wrote, “The Hoosier Back Country Horsemen are a great partner and
very willing to volunteer for trailhead and trail projects. They even
agreed to help on another trail gravelling project on the German Ridge
Trail in November. The Tell City recreation staff is very appreciative of
the Hoosier Back Country Horsemen’s hard work and willingness to enhance
recreation opportunities for equestrians on the Hoosier National Forest.”

Making the Connection
Back Country Horsemen across the country go out of their way to nurture
good relationships with public land managers. Back Country Horsemen of
Middle and South Georgia have a strong working relationship with the folks
at A.H. Stephens State Historic Park. They volunteer throughout the year on
various projects, such as trail work days, special events, securing grants,
and hosting and assisting with several equestrian programs.

As a result, the equestrian facility is now more user friendly with higher
visitation rates, generates more revenue, and has receive positive feedback
from guests. Andre Mclendon, Park Manager at A.H. Stephens State Historic
Park, recently sent a letter of thanks to Back Country Horsemen of Middle
and South Georgia.

Andre ended his letter with this sentiment, “Words cannot express how much
we appreciate your support. Every day we take one step closer to achieving
our goal. It is to be the best equestrian facility that our Georgia State
Park system has to offer. With your support I am confident that we can
attain our goal. Thank you so much for your contributions. All of our
accomplishments from this past year are proof that we can make a
difference.”

National Recognition
Responsible recreation is a major tenet of Back Country Horsemen of America
and has been a focus of Back Country Horsemen of Washington since their
formation in 1976. BCHW’s current Leave No Trace educational program has
been in existence for 15 years, and is funded mostly from grants through
the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
Recreational Trails Program.

The Coalition for Recreational Trails, a federation of national and
regional trail-related organizations, gives seven achievement awards each
year to recognize outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program funds. In
2010, BCHW’s Leave No Trace Educational Program received the award in the
category of Environment and Wildlife Compatibility.

The entire BCHW Leave No Trace program is run by volunteers dedicated to
teaching others responsible recreation. This national award is a great
honor for all BCHW members who work and support this educational program
with their time and effort. Back Country Horsemen of Washington members
also made donations to cover the travel expenses of three BCHW officers to
accept the award in person in Washington, D.C.

Share the Trail
Back Country Horsemen of America believes in sharing trails amiably with
other users, and BCH Eagle Creek of Kentucky exemplifies that ideal with
their outstanding cooperation with the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association.
The two organizations recently worked together on a clean up work day on a
county-owned reservoir multi-use trail system.

Chris Lockard, President of the Bluegrass Chapter of the Kentucky Mountain
Bike Association, sent BCH Eagle Creek a warm letter of appreciation. He
wrote in part, “I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for extending
an invitation out to the KY Mountain Bike Association to participate in the
trail day sponsored by the Back Country Horsemen of Eagle Creek. You and
your group were great to work with. The local mountain biker community
found it rewarding to work with the equestrians on trail improvements at
the county reservoir property.”

Chris also pointed out the benefits of different trail user groups working
together toward a common goal, something well understood by Back Country
Horsemen of America. Interactions between user groups helps foster
understanding and positive relationships, as well as respect and value for
each other’s right to a quality trail experience.

About Back Country Horsemen of America
It’s clear that public land managers, other trail users, and national
organizations recognize the huge difference Back Country Horsemen are
making. Responsible recreation and protecting our right to ride isn’t just
a philosophy; it’s a responsibility that requires action in a variety of
forms. Back Country Horsemen of America is proud to live up to that and get
the job done.

BCHA is a non-profit corporation made up of state organizations,
affiliates, and at large members. Their efforts have brought about positive
changes regarding the use of horses and stock in the wilderness and public
lands.

If you want to know more about Back Country Horsemen of America or become a
member, visit their website: www.backcountryhorse.com; call 888-893-5161;
or write PO Box 1367, Graham, WA 98338-1367. The future of horse use on
public lands is in our hands!

A horse from southern Patrick County near Route 8 and the North Carolina state line has tested positive for rabies.

This is the first confirmed rabid animal in Patrick County this year, according to a Virginia Department of Health news release.

Additional details about the horse were not available Thursday night.

Rabies continues to be present throughout Virginia. In Patrick County, five animals tested positive for rabies in 2011 (two skunks, one each fox, raccoon and cat) and six animals tested positive for rabies in 2010 (three foxes, one each raccoon, bat and skunk), the release stated.

Since 2006, the number of confirmed animal rabies cases has ranged from 564 to 730 each year statewide.

“This is a reminder that rabies is a real threat in our area,” said Gordon Green, MD, director of the West Piedmont Health Districk. “Although raccoons, skunks and foxes are the animals that most frequently contract rabies, any mammal, including livestock, can be infected by the virus. Virginia law requires rabies vaccinations and boosters for dogs and cats 4 months old and older. Vaccines also are available for ferrets and livestock, so owners should check with their veterinarian for the most appropriate vaccine and vaccination schedule to protect their animals.”

Rabies is almost always fatal, the release stated. The rabies virus is present predominantly in the saliva and nervous tissue (brain and nerve cells of infected animals and is transmitted most often by a bite. It also can be transmitted when saliva or nervous tissue gets into open cuts or mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose and mouth. Rabies causes an inflammation of the brain and is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.

When a person or animal is exposed, timely treatment is effective in preventing the development of rabies. Contact your doctor or veterinarian immediately to discuss treatment, the release recommended. For animals, depending on their vaccination status and likelihood of exposure, strict isolation for up to six months may be required.

The best ways to prevent the spread of rabies are:

• Vaccinate all dogs, cats and ferrets by 4 months of age, by a licensed veterinarian, and keep vaccinations current;
• Enjoy wildlife at a distance;
• Secure your yard and home and eliminate possible sources of food, water and garbage that can attract wildlife and other animals;
• Do not allow your animals to roam free;
• Avoid contact with stray animals;
• If you are bitten or exposed to rabies, wash the wound thoroughly with lots of warm water and soap and seek medical attention immediately; and
• Vaccinate selected livestock, as recommended by your veterinarian.

For more information, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/DEE/Rabies or call the West Piedmont Health District at 638-2311.

From www.martinsvillebulletin.com

A thoroughbred gelding named Pastis was boarding at the Sunrise Stables near Lexington. When he didn’t return for lunch on New Years Day, workers knew something was wrong. That’s when they found him with an apparent gunshot wound to the leg. A veterinarian later determined the splintered bone was consistent with a gunshot wound.

Bob Caldwell says his show horse was worth $35,000 to $50,000, but was priceless to him.

“I learned how to ride on that horse,” he said. “And when I wasn’t riding him, VMI Cadets would take him and compete with him.”

Investigators plan to exhume the horse’s remains Friday afternoon in hopes of recovering a bullet to identify the kind of gun used.

Caldwell really wants to find the person who pulled the trigger.

“I can’t tell you how angry I am,” Caldwell said.

Gammon Nuckols manages the stable and calls the incident ‘devastating.’

“We love them all,” Nuckols said of her horses.

In the meantime, she isn’t taking any chances. All the show horses are locked up before the sun sets so what happened to Pastis won’t happen again.

If you have any information about this incident, please call the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s office at 540-463-7328.

Full story:http://www.wset.com/story/16456874/rockbridge-co-sheriffs-office-investigating-reported-horse-shooting

From: www.wset.com 

Grizzlies are high profile this year.

A lingering winter and late berry crop kept bears in proximity to humans longer than normal, perhaps contributing to a stream of headlines about grizzlies killing people and people killing grizzlies.

Meanwhile, a young lady on a big horse charged out of the pack of grizzly stories near Glacier National Park. In a cloud of dust, the 25-year-old wrangler likely saved a boy’s life while demonstrating that skill, quick-thinking and guts sometimes are the best weapons against a head-on charging grizzly.

On July 30, Erin Bolster of Swan Mountain Outfitters was guiding eight clients on a horse ride on the Flathead National Forest between West Glacier and Hungry Horse, Mont.

“It’s the shortest ride we offer,” she said Wednesday, recalling the incident. “We’d already led two trips that morning. It’s always been a very routine hour-long loop, until that day.”

The group included a family of six plus a vacationing northern California man, who’d booked the trip for his 8-year-old son’s first horse-riding experience.

The young boy was riding Scout, a steady obedient mount, following directly behind Bolster, who was leading the group on Tonk, a burly 10-year-old white horse of questionable lineage.

Tonk isn’t the typical trail mount. Best anyone knows, he’s the result of cross-breeding a quarter horse with a Percheron – a draft horse. Bolster is 5-foot-10, yet she relies on her athleticism to climb into the saddle aboard Tonk.

“He was one of the horses we lease from Wyoming and bring in every year,” Bolster said, noting that she’d picked him from the stable in May to be hers for the season.

“He’s a very large horse – 18 hands high. That intimidates a lot of riders. But I’ve always loved big horses. He’s kind of high-strung and spooky, the largest of our wrangling horses. I like a horse with a lot of spirit, and I was really glad to be on him that day.”

Bolster has accumulated a wealth of experience on and around horses of national and even world class. She started riding at 4 years old, became a pro trainer at 15, graduated from high school at 16 in Roanoke, Va., and ran a riding academy for several years.

Seeking a more laid-back lifestyle, she wrangled in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic before moving to Whitefish three years ago to guide tourists during the summer around Glacier National Park and ski through winter.

“It’s the country, the mountains and the idea of seeing lot of wildlife that appealed to me, ironically enough,” she said.

Bolster quickly racked bear experience, too, although until July 30, it was always at a distance.

“At the peak of the season, we were seeing bears daily,” she said. “The wranglers name them so we can let each other know where they are. Usually the bears just keep feeding in the distance or they run away when we come. Just seeing them is a treat for us and our guests.”

Because they guide around Glacier Park, bear awareness is part of the preparation wranglers get when hired by Swan Mountain Outfitters.

“We go over a lot of wildlife scenarios in our training,” Bolster said. “We learn to watch our horses for signals of possible trouble so we can steer clear.”

That’s the key, she said: Avoid trouble with a moose or a bear.

“We can’t use pepper spray when we’re riding because that could blind the horse,” she said. “And using a gun would spook the horses and probably produce more danger than safety.”

That’s how she went to work that day: a young but seasoned pro rider on a new, huge and spirited horse, unarmed in the wilderness with eight dudes.

“It was a pleasant ride until we came around a corner on the trail and my horse stopped firm and wouldn’t move,” Bolster said. “He never refuses to go, so that caught my attention quick.”

But not fast enough to avoid the spike white-tailed deer that burst out of the brush and glanced off Tonk’s left front shoulder.

As Tonk spun from the impact, Bolster saw a huge grizzly bear crashing through the forest right at the group in pursuit of the deer. Horses panicked and guests grabbed saddle horns for the ride of their lives.

“No amount of training could keep a horse from running from a 700-pound charging bear,” she said.

Seven of the horses sensed the danger, scrambled around and galloped back on the trail toward the barn.

But Scout bolted perpendicular to the trail into the timber packing the 8-year-old boy.

“The deer peeled off and joined the horses sprinting down the trail,” Bolster said. “So the bear just continued running right past me. I’m not sure the bear even knew the roles had changed, but now it was chasing a horse instead of a deer.”

The grizzly was zeroed in on Scout and the boy – the isolated prey in the woods.

Adding to the drama, the boy’s father, an experienced rider, could not convince his horse that it was a good plan to ride to his son’s rescue.

“The last thing he saw over his shoulder as his horse ran away was the grizzly chasing his boy,” Bolster said.

With the bear on Scout’s heels, Tonk’s instinct was to flee with the group of horses. But Tonk responded to Bolster’s heels in his ribs as she spun the big fella around. They wheeled out of a 360 and bolted into the trees to wedge between the predator and the prey.

“The boy was bent over, feet out of the stirrups, clutching the saddle horn and the horse’s neck,” she said. “That kept him from hitting a tree limb.

“But all I could think about was the boy falling off in the path of that grizzly.

“I bent down, screamed and yelled, but the bear was growling and snarling and staying very focused on Scout.

“As it tried to circle back toward Scout, I realized I had to get Tonk to square off and face the bear. We had to get the bear to acknowledge us.

“We did. We got its attention – and the bear charged.

“So I charged at the bear.”

Did she think twice about that?

“I had no hesitation, honestly,” Bolster said. “Nothing in my body was going to let that little boy get hurt by that bear. That wasn’t an option.”

Tonk was on the same page.

With a ton of horse, boulder-size hooves and a fire-breathing blonde thundering at it, the bear came within about 10 feet before skittering off to the side.

But it quickly angled to make yet another stab at getting to Scout and the boy – who had just fallen to the ground.

“Tonk and I had to go at the bear a third time before we finally hazed him away,” she said.

“The boy had landed in some beargrass and was OK. Scout was standing nearby.”

Bolster gathered the boy up with her on Tonk, grabbed Scout’s lead and trotted down the trail.

“The boy was in shock,” she said. “I looked back and could see the bear had continued to go away through he woods, but I had another five or 10 minutes of riding before I got back with the group.”

Not until she reunited with her riders – all OK and standing in various stages of confusion with their horses – did she start to shake.

“I looked at Tonk, and he was wet with sweat and shaking, too,” she said.

She was especially concerned for the boy’s father, who probably suffered the most terror in the ordeal.

“He was fine, and I got my biggest tip of the season,” Bolster said. “My biggest hope is that the boy isn’t discouraged from riding. This was a one-in-a-million event.”

For the next few days, the outfitter shut down the trail rides and Bolster joined other wranglers and a federal grizzly bear expert to ride horses through the area looking for the bear.

“They tracked it for a long way and concluded that it kept going out of the area,” she said. “Judging from the tracks and my description of how high the bear came up on Tonk, the grizzly expert estimated it weighed 700-750 pounds.

“This was a case of us being in the wrong place as a bear was already in the act of chasing its natural prey. He was probably more persistent because he was really hungry.”

Bolster and the other wranglers vowed to have bear spray on their belts to make sure they can defend their guests during breaks on the ground.

“But when you’re riding, the horse is your best protection, if you can stay on,” she said.

“Some of the horses I’ve ridden would have absolutely refused to do what Tonk did; others would have thrown me off in the process. Some horses can never overcome their flight-animal instinct to run away.”

In those minutes of crisis, the big lug of mongrel mount proved his mettle in a test few trail horses will face in their careers.

Tonk’s grit moved Bolster. She wasn’t about to send him back to Wyoming with the other leased horses.

“Two weeks ago, I closed the deal and bought him,” Bolster said as she was wrapping up her 2011 wrangling season.

“After what he did that day, he had to be mine.”

There is a fund for Tonk set up through Swan Mountain Outfitters, www.SwanMountainOutfitters.com   Erin Bolster, c/o Swan Mountain Outfitters, P. O. Box 130278, Coram, MT  59913.

From www.Spokesman.com by Rich Landers

The following is a partial list of upcoming seasons for the more popular species. For a complete list and regulations consult the 2011-12 Hunting & Trapping Regulations and Information found on the DGIF website http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/ 

Archery

•Bear: Oct. 1 – Nov. 18.

•Bobcat: Oct. 1 – Oct. 31.

•Deer, Early Archery: Oct. 1 – Nov. 18.

•Turkey: Oct. 1 – Nov. 12

Firearms

• Coyote: Sept. 1 – March 10 public lands, continuous open season on private lands.
• Crow: Aug. 20 – March 17 Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday on Private Lands.
• Crow: Sept. 1 – March 10 Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday on public lands.
• Dove: Sept. 3 – Oct. 10, Oct. 25 – Nov. 5, Dec. 26 – Jan. 14.
• Duck, Coot, Merganser, & Gallinule: Oct. 6 – Oct. 10, Nov. 19 – Dec. 3, Dec. 10 – Jan. 28.
• Groundhog: Sept. 1 – March 10 public lands, continuous open season on private lands.
• Grouse: Oct. 29 – Feb. 11. West of I-95, closed East of I-95.
• Opossum: Oct. 15 – March 10.
• Raccoon: Oct. 15 – March 10.
• Rail: Sept. 10 – Oct. 1, Oct. 3 – Nov. 19.
• Sea Duck: Oct. 6 – Jan. 31.
• Skunk, Striped: Sept. 1 – March 10 on public land, continuous open season on private land. Spotted Skunk closed.
• Snipe: Oct. 6 – Oct. 10, Oct. 22 – Jan. 31.
• Snow Goose: Oct. 6 – Feb. 4.
• Squirrel: Sept. 3 – Jan. 31.
• Turkey: Oct. 29 – Nov. 11, Nov. 24, see regulations for last segment.
• Woodcock: Oct. 29 – Nov. 12, Dec. 16 – Jan. 14.
• Youth Turkey Hunting Day: Oct. 15.
• Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day: Oct. 22.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) today announced 2011’s first positive case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a horse.  The horse was from Berryville/Clarke County. It had been vaccinated for WNV but was due for a booster in September.

A nasal swab and serum sample was submitted to VDACS’ Regional Animal Health Laboratory in Warrenton for suspicion of Equine Herpes Virus infection, but it tested positive for West Nile Virus. Onset of symptoms was August 30. The horse was treated for symptoms – low-grade fever, ataxia, hypermetria (lifting its feet excessively high) and intermittent central nervous system depression – for 24 hours and then euthanized on August 31.

Dr. Joe Garvin, head of VDACS’ Office of Laboratory Services, urges horse owners to check with their veterinarians about vaccinating their animals for WNV. “This is our first case of West Nile Virus in a Virginia horse this year,” Garvin said. He adds that, so far, Virginia has not had any cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). “Both WNV and EEE are mosquito-borne diseases,” he said, “and we generally start seeing our first cases in August and September. Since both diseases are preventable by vaccination, it may make sense for horse owners to go ahead and vaccinate now even though it’s late in the year. Mosquito season in Virginia can run through November.”

The WNV vaccine for equines initially requires two doses administered three to six weeks apart. The vaccine takes four to six weeks from the second dose for optimal effectiveness. Horse owners should consult with their veterinarians to choose a re-vaccination schedule to protect their horses effectively. Prevention methods besides vaccination include destroying standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, use of insect repellents and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually dusk to dawn.

The virus usually lives in wild birds of many different species.  Mosquitoes transmit it from bird to bird.  Occasionally a mosquito that has bitten an infected bird will then bite a human, horse or other mammal and transmit the virus to them. Transmission between horses and humans is extremely unlikely. Continuous, effective mosquito control can minimize the risk of exposure of both horses and humans to West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Currently, no drugs exist to treat WNV specifically in horses or humans. Treatment for an infected horse consists of supportive therapy to prevent the animal from injuring itself throughout the two to three weeks of the disease. A veterinarian can prescribe treatment tailored to the particular case.

WNV can cause a horse to go down and be unable to get up without help. Animal owners should consult their veterinarians if an animal exhibits any neurological symptoms such as a stumbling gait, facial paralysis, drooping or disinterest in their surroundings. Currently, there are live-animal tests for WNV in horses and chickens, but none for other animals, although testing can be done on any dead animal. Animal owners
should consult their veterinarians or the nearest VDACS Regional Animal Health Laboratory for advice or information should an animal exhibit symptoms of WNV.

The following Web sites provide more information on WNV and how to protect humans and horses:
Horses:
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/wnv.html
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/wnv/
Humans:
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DEE/Vectorborne/factsheets/westnilevirus.htm

This event will be sponsored by The Friends of C.F. Phelps WMA and The Battlefield Back Country Horsemen and conducted by the DGIF Management Staff. Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact the  Friends of C.F. Phelps at Friendsofcfphelpswma@gmail.com