MOST HORSES KILLED IN HURRICANES ARE KILLED AS A RESULT OF BEING
STALLED OR STABLED. Roofs give way, they are pinned in a small area with no
escape from flying debries etc. They panic themselves silly (ever watch a
pastured horse vs. a stabled horse during a bad T-Storm?
A horse in a pasture during a storm will group with other horses, and turn
its hinny to the winds-usually the worst injuries are debrie injuries taken
in the fleshy hinny or rump-(sometimes in the chest or sides tho rare)
nothing that a few stitches wont cure and a lot better than being pinned
under a fallen roof or being a standing pincusion for flying sharp objects
while stalled! This is the time to put show horse mentality aside and let
your
horse take on mother nature with its instints-they arent helpless animals
unless we render them so by not giving them a chance.
So-advice step by step:
1. If you are going to trailer your horse out do it well before the
storm-trailers are high profile vehicles and dont trailer well even in 30mph
winds.
2. If you have to leave your horse-which most folks have to do:
a. make sure he is well labled with your contact info and info about him
(medical/vet info)
you can use breakaway halters with dog tags, horse collars (avail in tack
mag.), non toxic spray or paint on paint, nail polish on hooves (use as a
back up as it will wear off in a few days), duct tape around tails etc. Do
not turn out with standard non breakaway halters-many horses get caught in
stuff and can easily break their necks and die. Fly masks are a matter of
choice and might help keep some flying things out of the eyes.
b. turn him out in a large as pasture as you can find! Field or horse/hog
wire fencing is best as it keeps debrie out. But even a small pasture with
barb wire is safer than a barn!!!
Try to find pasture if possible that is not surrounded by human
habitat-flying cows :0 are safer to horses than flying gas station signs-and
yes horses do get along with cows so not to worry-the only problem in
putting
horses with cows is that cow feed and the cow protien blocks commonly fed
contain urea which is toxic to horses ONLY in large quantities-if your horse
eats EVERYTHING in sight or is on the thin/hungrey side than Id worry, but
if
turned
out in a 100 plus acre pasture then I wouldnt worry at all-as long as he has
grass.
Do not worry about a few skipped meals-he wont starve esp if he has pasture
and grass and water, if anything throw out a bale of hay with him to keep
him
busy. Some horses have a tendency to colic when weather changes, so by
keeping him off grain during the storm you may be doing him a favor!
c. try to make sure he is currant on all shots-esp. tetnus and have a
currant
coggins that you need to keep with youre impt papers.
e. have a currant photo of him with you in the picture as proof of markings
and ownership. also keep this with your impt. papers.
f. Have a first aid kit ready-include some penicillian shots (avail at feed
stores-given in neck or rump in the muscle) and batimine or bute(avail from
vet) or some kind of pain killer, bandages, topical ointments etc etc. As
much as you might want stay with your horse though-dont. Youll be better to
take care of him after the storm if you are safe.
g. DO NOT expect the humane society or the SPCA to help-they get so clogged
with ph calls that they just cant help and most dont deal with hooved
livestock.
h. if it is a monster storm (like Andrew) and your horse is not where you
left him when you return dont panic-a fence probably went down and he will
be
found and returned if labled properly. Thats why its VERY IMPT to have
proof
of ownership and a picture!!! Many people will come in right after a storm
to round up loose animals and return them to their owners and provide ER
care
if needed. Listen to your local authorities for where found large animals are being taken.
Here are a few tips for readying your horses:
I. INDENTIFICATION. Write in INK your horse's name, your name, address, phone
numbers and any other pertinent info such as the horse's age, medication
needs, etc. on a card or sturdy paper; slip into a plastic sandwich baggy.
Roll into a tube and BRAID tightly into the mane near the top of the neck.
ALSO Identify the horse's halter with indelible ink or with nameplate. Avoid
tying things to the tail; if your horse wears a tail bag, remove it.
2. LOOSE HORSES. Leave halters ON tight so that the horse can be caught if
the fences blow down. (Loosely fitting halters are a hazard.) Remove all
blankets and leg wraps; these become weights and can drag a horse down or
catch his legs in a swift moving flood current.
3. INSIDE OR OUT? Hurricane Andrew survivors say do NOT leave horses in
barns, as many horses were killed by collapsed stables and roofs. Secure all
gates with double ties and locks as well as any loose barnyard items like
shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows. Get your hay in a loft and off the floor. Leave
leadropes near horses' gates.
4. LEAVING HORSES BEHIND. You may have to LEAVE your horses and evacuate.
Leave enough hay and draw water for three days. Horses can go without grain
but not water and hay. Take your horse's papers and an identification
photograph with you so you can claim the horse should he become loose and
found by an SPCA or other rescue group. If your horse is on medication, give
them a SAFE dose just before you leave. Take some premeasured doses with you
and leave some behind in what you think might be a safe place. It's possible
you may be allowed back in for a short time and you want to be able to find
your horse and give the medicine without having to search for it.
5. If you can trailer out, make sure you can get thru on the emergency route
and plan an alternative route should that one be jammed. Take ID with you,
flashlight, lead ropes, lunge lines, feed tubs, buckets, water in jugs or
carriers, hay in haybags, a bridle and saddle in case you must park the
trailer and leave it, blankets for you and the horse. If you have painkiller,
tranquilizer, or antibiotic injectibles and know how to use them, take them
with you but be advised if you must evacuate to a shelter you may not be
allowed to take these items in with you; find a place to keep them with the
horses or with friends where they can be available for use on your horses
after the hurricane. Veterinarians may be stretched to the limit in caring
for seriously injured or sick animals; if your horses have minor cuts and
scrapes, you should be prepared for the necessity of caring for or medicating
them yourself.
Here are some links to find out more about preparation for disaster with
livestock or horses:
Helping Animals in a Hurricane
http://www.acmepet.com/content/news/hurricane_052698.html
TIPS
1.) Spray paint your stats on the horse. Many horses after Andrew ended up
in auction.
2.) It might be best to use a breakaway halter if any at all. This will
help if someone is trying to catch your animal, yet if the horse gets
caught on something it can hopefully break free.
3.) Keep your livestock outside....this is safest.
Braid a luggage tag into the horse's name which includes your name, address, phone number, and other vital information.
