Whether you are responsible for a barn full of horses or one beloved companion, this summer’s harsh weather reminds us to be prepared when disaster strikes. Horse owners know that it is more complicated to evacuate a 1,500-pound Quarter Horse than a 15-pound Bichon Frise, but a little advance preparation will put your mind at ease and allow you to evacuate with your horses to safety if necessary. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) offers some guidelines to use in developing a plan that will meet your individual needs.

Know the potential hazards that might threaten your horses:

• Hurricanes are not likely to affect horse owners in the Midwest; however, those in the Gulf Coast region must monitor development of potential hurricanes.
• Brush fires are common in certain regions of the country. Is your area at risk?
• Do you live near a chemical plant or railroad track, which might have the potential for a hazardous material spill or release?
• Is your facility located in or near a flood plane?
• Are there fire hazards on your farm or in your barn that you can remedy (i.e., through hay storage, proper electrical wiring, and fire extinguisher placement)?

Maintain identification records for each of your horses:

• Consider permanent identification such as a tattoo, microchip, or brand, and document unusual markings or scars.
• Keep current photographs of yourself with each horse for ownership verification in the event you are separated from your animals.
• In the face of an evacuation, employ additional temporary identification tactics. Consider writing your cell phone number and a contact outside your immediate area on a luggage tag and braiding it into your horse’s mane or attaching it to his halter, or try using a livestock marking pen to write phone numbers and contacts directly on your horse.
• Have a halter and lead rope for each horse
• For safety reasons, many people do not leave a halter on a horse when in the stall or turned out. Ensure equipment is readily available in the event you need to move the horse out fast (e.g., during a barn fire).
• Work with your horse so he’s easy to catch and halter, and ensure he is properly trained to lead.
• Keep in mind that horses are known to seek safety in their stalls and might try to run back into a burning barn

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