_edited.png)
Virginia Equine Seizures
Below is a curated list of press releases involving Animal Control equine seizures and other law enforcement activity involving equine welfare in Virginia.
This is not a comprehensive list and is not meant to unduly incriminate any individual. The intention of this list is to serve as an overview of events regarding equine welfare in our state.
We do not provide any information on where these horses went or what their current status is because of privacy issues. However, at the time of seizure or surrender, many animals that Animal Control takes custody of in Virginia end up going to a local rescue or sanctuary during litigation and potentially get to stay there or be adopted, depending on legal proceedings.
At the bottom of the page is more information and a contact form if you would like to provide feedback or share ideas on how we can all work together to keep horses safe in our state.
Shenandoah County
Scott Lane Showalter
Shenandoah County
Date of Seizure: 04/23/26
84 Horses
Continued
Photo courtesy of Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office
Suffolk County
Janet Aston & William Shelton
Suffolk County
Date of Seizure: 01/27/25
22 Horses (additional horses surrendered after initial seizure)
96 Indictments Each
Photo courtesy of WTKR News 3
Hidden Creek Farm
Kandi and Tammy Sterling
Greene County
Date of Seizure: 11/03/24
6 Horses
Confirmation of Seizure: 08/06/25
Photo courtesy of Greene County Sheriff's Department
Shenandoah County
Roseann Harper-Howell
Shenandoah County
Date of Seizure: 06/15/23
100+ Horses
Photo courtesy of Maya Proulx
Byrd's Nest Retirement
Byrd Rareshide
Goochland County
Initial Complaint Made: 02/03/23
13 Horses
Sentenced: 05/24/2024
Photo courtesy of Amanda Myers
Shenandoah County
Roseann Harper-Howell
Shenandoah County
Date of Seizure: 02/26/20
14+ Horses
FOIA Release:
Stock Photo
Shenandoah County
Roseann Harper-Howell
Shenandoah County
Date of Seizure: 02/04/20
14 Horses
Photo courtesy of Hope's Legacy Equine Rescue
New Beginnings Horse Rescue
Cassy Newell Reed
King William County
Date of Seizure: 06/08/16
42 Horses
Court Ordered Return of Horses: 07/14/2016
Stock Photo
Peaceable Farms (501c3)
Anne Goland/Anne Schumate Williams
Orange County
Date of Seizure: 10/20/15
81 Horses
Photo Courtesy of Hope's Legacy Equine Rescue
Middleburg
Dennis Danley, Donald Cutshaw, Pablo Cosme
Loudon County
Date of Seizure: 01/22/08
48 Horses
Stock Photo
By the Numbers
From branding and tagging to advanced microchipping, tracking livestock has always required creative solutions. To begin understanding the scale and reality of at-risk equines in Virginia, we looked to the online reporting system at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). This database tracks animals being brought into public and private custody by municipal animal shelters and private organizations across the state.
The data below reflects the reported numbers of equines coming into publicly-funded, open-admission municipal animal shelters across Virginia.
.png)
Seized (Compulsory Removal) vs
Other Intake Types (Voluntary Owner Surrenders & Stray/Unclaimed)
Equines taken into custody by law enforcement each year in Virginia
.png)
Number of Equines
Seized Equines Coming into Custody as Reported by VDACS 2021-25
.png)
*In theory, these numbers should match as equines are not held by public agencies for longer than necessary. However, there are a lot of equines transferred between agencies, unlisted types of intake and outcome, and other factors that contribute to the imbalance seen here. If you want to know more, please reach out using the contact form.