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Have A Plan To Protect Horses

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 27, 2008

Updated: 05/28/2008 07:22 pm

Farmers, ranchers and horse owners have to take precautions to safeguard large animals and property during storms.

How, where and under what circumstances should you evacuate horses?

If you are in a storm surge area, you should evacuate your family and your horses. You should know where you're going and leave 36 hours before the storm is projected to hit. Whenever you're leaving with large animals, you should be ahead of the crowd because you don't want to get stuck in traffic. You will also need to stop for fuel and to care for the horses.

How can people with horses that are not used to trailers get them to board in emergency evacuations?

All horses should be trained to board trailers, and you should practice loading the animal ahead of time. If you find out your animal can't or won't load, you should work out a backup plan.

If you aren't evacuating, should you leave your horses in the barn or the pasture?

In most cases, if you're not leaving, the horses will be safe in a pasture. There is always a chance of flying debris or a tree falling, but horses are more likely to suffer a serious injury in a barn than in a field. Make sure you have secure fencing and adequate water.

What should you do to identify your horses in case they get out of the pasture or if you are in an emergency and can't get to them?

Microchipping is best, but if you haven't done that, write on their hooves with a permanent marker. Also, take a picture of you with the horse, and attach it to the proof of vaccination papers.

What should you do to ensure your animals have drinking water?

Make sure you fill every container you have in advance. In a pasture, a covered canoe turned right-side-up can be a water holder. A garbage can that's cleaned out can hold water, and so can a kids' swimming pool.

Most livestock can't be evacuated. What are the challenges in keeping those operations going?

Electricity is a must. Most poultry houses and dairy farms depend on it for feeding and milking, so they must have generators and an adequate supply of fuel.

What can people do when flying tree limbs knock down fences in pastures where beef cattle and horses are kept?

Repair the fence and get the animals out of harm's way as quickly as possible. Help rounding up loose animals is available from the Sunshine State Horse Council and Florida Cattlemen's Association members. They will put the animals in the closest and most secure places available and collect information on where the animals were picked up. You must make certain you can identify your animals.

Source: Division of Animal Industry

ONLINE HELP

Go to www.sshc.org/evac to find names and places of horse farms across the state that will board nonlocal horses in emergencies, as well as other evacuation information from the Sunshine State Horse Council.

The Florida Department of Agriculture has compiled instruction sheets on how to prepare horses, livestock and pets for disasters. To download theses guides, go to www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/adc/adc_emerg_manag.shtml....

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