Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness for Horse Owners

**Compiled from several sites, including the N.C. State University Extension Horse Husbandry, N.C. Horse Council and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture Web sites.**

Transporting Horses * Riding Out The Storm * After The Storm

Transporting Horses

If you are under a mandatory evacuation order or live in an area that is prone to flooding, consider these tips when preparing to evacuate your horses. If practical, evacuate yourself and your horses well in advance of the storm to a safe holding area. Contact your REINS coordinating agent to identify approved sites within 48 hours prior to intense weather. It is extremely difficult to pull a horse trailer during gale-force winds! And remember, your normally docile mount may become upset and difficult to handle with the enviromental changes. Loading a horse during extreme weather may be impossible.

1. Documents - You will need a current negative Coggins on each horse you plan to move. (If you plan to take your horse to another state for shelter, you may be required to have a recent medical certificate. Check with the state in which you are planning to seek shelter.) You should also have a copy of each horse's medical history including your veterinarian's contact information, and a signed permission for emergency treatment that goes with the horse. You can set the maximum you are willing to pay without personal notification, but if you don't sign an approval for emergency treatment it could cost you your horse.
2. Medications - If you horse requires special medications or must be sedated for hauling, have these supplies on hand and send them with the horse.
    
3. Identification - Each horse must have either a microchip, tattoo or brand for identification. Of all of these the best means of identifying a specific horse and tracking the owner is the microchip. It is a low cost and highly effective means of identification. If there isn't time to microchip, tattoo or brand your horse, you can use clippers to clip your phone number on the horse's back or braid luggage tags with your contact information into the horse's mane.
    
4. Emergency Boarding - Make arrangements with boarding facilities in advance. Emergency boarding is usually available at the following facilities:
   • Pioneer's Harness Track (Southern Pines)
     Current negative Coggins required, Stalls available - owner to supply feed, bedding and water, Feed store located in town, Must sign release form. Call (910) 692-8640.
   • NCSU Veterinary Equine Research Center (VERC), (Southern Pines)
     Contact Dr. Jim Hamilton at (910) 692-8640. Current negative Coggins required, available use of stalls or paddocks - owner to supply feed, bedding and water. Feed store located in town. Must sign release form.
   • North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Raleigh
     Contact Wesley Watt, N.C. State Fair Manager or Sherri Bridges, Horse Complex Secretary, at (919) 821-7400 or (919) 733-2145. If not in use, there are 485 stalls available. Horse owners must supply feed, bedding and water. Current negative coggins required. MUST CALL IN RESERVATIONS TO CONFIRM STALL AVAILABILTY. $20 per horse
   • Sen. Bob Martin Ag Center, Williamston
     Contact Brian Dygert at (252) 792-5802, Current negative Coggins required. Stalls available - owner must supply feed, bedding and water, limited bedding available, Feed store located in town. MUST CALL FOR RESERVATIONS. If the facility is not in use, 296 stalls are available. Boarding fee is $10 per horse.
   • Western NC Ag. Center, Fletcher
     Will not be available from Sept. 10-19 due to the Mountain State Fair held on-site. Stalls available at $10 per horse. Call 828-687-1414 for information and reservations. Must have proof of neg. Coggins test.
5. Tack - All horses should be shipped with their own halter and lead ropes. (Halters can carry disease so make certain that the halter is clean and that it was not used on a sick animal.) Do not saddle horses prior to shipping.
6. Truck and Trailer - Check your truck and trailer to make certain they are ready to transport horses. Check the floor, tires, brakes, lights and hitch to be sure they are in working order. Make sure you have a full tank of gas. Plan to move your horses while the storm is at least 4 days away. Do not carry full gas cans in your horse trailer.
7. Commercial Haulers - If you plan to use a commercial hauler, arrange to have them pick the horse up well in advance of a mandatory evacuation.
8. Location - Ideally you should send your horse as far away from the affected area as possible.
9. Feed - Pack enough feed and hay to last each horse for at least one week and send it with them.
    
10. Prioritize - If you only have a trailer that does not have the capacity to transport all of your horses, decide NOW which horses you are going to transport first. Plan so that you have plenty of time to make necessary round trips long before mandatory evacuations are ordered.

Riding out the Storm

If mandatory evacuations are posted for your area and you cannot transport your horse to safer ground, DO NOT STAY BEHIND with your horses. Do the best you can for the animals and get out safely. DO NOT STAY IN THE BARN WITH YOUR HORSES.

1. Emergency Fencing - Purchase several rolls of orange plastic wind/construction fencing. If your horses are used to being fenced, this fencing will contain them until any damaged fencing can be repaired. It can be put in place with a staple gun and trees or wooden fence posts.
2. Barn/Stable Preparation - Store all lose items, jump standards, jump cups, cross rails, arena letters, bleachers, furniture, etc. inside a barn or storage area so they do not become dangerous projectiles in high winds. Secure any loose roofing materials and all gates. Clear items not permanently and securely attached from all aisle ways and barn walls and store them in a safe places.
3. Signs - Make signs using a 4'X 8' sheet of wood or a king size flat sheet. Using large letters and dark paint, spray paint "HAVE INJURED ANIMALS, NEED HELP." On the other side, paint"HAVE ANIMALS, AM OK FOR NOW." Store the signs in a safe place until after the storm.
    
4. Horses that remain in place - If you cannot move your horse, but are in an area prone to flooding or severe wind damage, leave your horses in a covered area but DO NOT close the doors or gates. If water begins to rise and the horses are trapped in their stalls, they will drown. They must be able to get out and move to higher ground. If you must bar their exit, use bailing twine or something else that will break easily or that the horse can move out of his way without being injured. Make sure that the horses have access to plenty of safe water and food as it may take up to a week or more for you to get back to them. If you leave horses outside, move them to a location free of powerlines and other potentially hazardous conditions.
5. Emergency Horse supplies - Your first aid kit should include:
   • Knife
   • Adhesive Tape
   • Scissors
   • Duck Tape
   • Nylon/Cotton Rope
   • Extra Halters
   • Clean Towels
   • Antiseptic, Soap
   • Leg Wraps
   • Topical Antibiotic Ointments
   • Soap
   • Tranquilizers
   • Pain Relievers
   • Bandages
   • Bee Sting Kit
   • Insect Repellent
   • Flash Light & Batteries
     
      
6. Emergency Barn Kit - Put together a kit of emergency tools - chain saw and fuel, hammers, saw, nails, screws, and fencing materials. Place this kit in a secure area before the storm hits.
    
7. Secure all vehicles, trailers and maintenance equipment with camper tie downs.
    
8. Fire Prevention - Turn off circuit breakers to the barn before leaving. A power surge could cause sparks and fire.
    
9. Water - Store drinking water (if possible a seven (7) day supply). Note: This is one of the most difficult dilemmas to overcome during the clean up period when water sources tend to be contaminated. Allow for twenty (20) gallons of water/horse/day. Line garbage cans with plastic bags and fill with water.
10. Feed - Order and store a seven (7) day supply of feed and hay. Place water repellent tarps over feed bags and place on pallets to reduce the likelihood of water damage.
11. Stalls - Bed all stalls including aisle ways for pastured horses to be tied during the storm. Store additional bedding in plastic bags indoors.
12. Power - Secure a generator (4 horsepower or greater) for use as an electrical reserve unit. Make certain the generator is large enough to run your water pump while providing electrical outlets for a refrigerator and lights. Store a large supply of gasoline.
13. Place fly masks on pastured horses to reduce the incidence of eye injuries from flying debris.
14. Film - Obtain film for your camera and camcorder to document storm damage. If time permits, take pictures of your structures prior to the storm. Review your insurance policy to determine storm coverage then document damage accordingly.

After the storm

In many cases, wind and rainfall from the storm does not create as many problems as the after affect of the storm. Prolonged power interruptions, blocked roadways, downed trees (often across fencing and structures), increased populations of biting insects are all challenges facing the horse owner. The following recommendations will help reduce the affects of a storm help to protect your horse's health.

1. After the storm has subsided, immediately check your horse's welfare.
2. Take pictures of storm damage to facilties, fences and roadways.
3. Due to the damage to trees, be aware of the possibility of Cyanide Poisoning due to the ingestion of wilted wild cherry (Prunus species) leaves, twigs, bark or seeds and/or red maple leaves (Acer rubrum). Symptoms include: weakness, excitability, grasping for breath, incoordination, collapse, convulsions, constipation or diarrhea, bloody urine, and death. Symptoms may result from as little as 1-2 cups of leaves on an empty stomach.
4. If your power is out, persistantly notify the power company. Advise them of the number of horses on your farm and importance of electricity to their well being. If possible, a personal visit is recommended.
5. Contact the local fire department and request water delivery. Most fire departments will accomodate, if you have a large number of horses and you are experiencing a prolonged power outage. Make certain you have several tubs available to hold the water.
6. Check your horse's vaccination schedule against diseases caused by biting insects. Horses should be vaccinated annually for Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE). The increased mosquito population that occurs immediately after a storm has typically resulted in an increased incidence of encephalomyelitis. Horses located in areas with high mosquito populations should be vaccinated twice per year, six months apart.
7. Contact your county extension agent for information concerning storm-related agricultural assistance programs for livestock/horse owners.
8. Emergency situations may force horse owners to make the difficult, but practical decision of putting human life above that of your horse. Animal owners are encouraged to care for themselves first and their animals second. The horse has demonstrated a remarkable survival ability in the face of natural disaster which far exceeds those of humans.