Horse Owners: Be Prepared for Natural Disasters

Consider these tips for protecting equine companions in the event of a disaster.
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Natural disasters can strike anywhere at any time, and pet owners have the added responsibility of including their animals in their emergency plans. When your pet is a horse, planning requires even more consideration, so consider these tips for protecting equine companions in the event of a disaster.

Cindy Gendron, coordinator for The Homes for Horses Coalition, said, “Different types of disasters call for different responses, from evacuating your horses to keeping them safe in a barn or in a field. Once you understand your options, the next steps are developing a plan, organizing your resources and practicing and training for possible scenarios. If a disaster does strike, you’ll be ready to protect yourself and your horse.”

Planning for a Disaster

  • Permanently identify each horse by tattoo, microchip, or brand. In your records, include the horse’s age, sex, breed, and color. Keep this information with your important papers.
  • Keep halters ready for your horses. On each halter attach a luggage tag with the following information: the horse’s name, your name, email address, your telephone number, and another emergency telephone number where someone can be reached. At the time of evacuation, consider additional temporary identification such as a leg band.
  • Place your horses’ Coggins tests, veterinary records, identification photographs, and vital information—such as medical history, allergies, and emergency telephone numbers (veterinarian, family members, etc.)—in a watertight envelope. Store the envelope with your other important papers in a safe place that will be easy for you to access, so you can take them with you when you and your horses evacuate.
  • Prepare a basic first-aid kit that is portable and easily accessible.
  • Be sure to have enough water, hay, feed, and medications on hand and easily transportable for several days for each horse.
  • Make arrangements in advance to have your horse transported in case of an emergency. If you don’t have your own trailer or don’t have enough room in your trailer for horses, be sure you have several people on standby to help evacuate your horses

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