Handling Barn Collapses

No horse owner or barn manager wants to deal with a barn collapse, but should one occur, it’s important to know how to deal with the situation to give the horses and other animals that might be trapped the best chance of survival. There are a few steps owners can take to “prepare” their horses for a scary situation such as a barn collapse. Rebecca Gimenez, PhD, president of and primary instructor
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In early February, a 15-year-old barn in Connecticut collapsed under the weight of snow and ice from a severe winter storm that blasted much of the eastern half of the nation, trapping 14 horses inside. Thanks to rescue crews' hard work, all of the horses were rescued from the rubble and did not sustain any serious injuries.

Just a few days prior, a Massachusetts indoor riding arena–which also housed several stalls–collapsed, trapping 15 horses. Again, all of the horses were rescued from the wreckage with no injuries reported.

No horse owner or barn manager wants to deal with a barn collapse, but should one occur, it's important to know how to deal with the situation to give the horses and other animals that might be trapped the best chance of survival

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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