Horse owner info

This page contains info pertaining to all Equine Owners.

IN CASE IF FIRE EVACUATION

During an emergency, such as fire or weather emergencies, the time you have to evacuate your horse or horses will be limited. With an effective personal emergency plan coupled with predetermined holding facilities, you may have enough time to move your horses to safety. If you are unprepared or wait until the last minute to evacuate, emergency management officials may tell you that you must leave your horses behind. Once you leave your property, you have no way of knowing how long you will be kept out of the area. To avoid this sitaution, the following information and suggestions are offered to help you plan for emergencies.
Do not count on others to rescue your animals. Being prepared for an emergenciy evacuation is important for all animals, but it takes extra consideration for horses because of their size and transportation needs. Horses may panic when they smell smoke. If you delay evacuation until danger is imminent, you may not be able to control and load your horses.

HOW TO PREPARE:

1. Plan an escape route(s) for taking your equines to safety.
2. Make arrangements in advance to have your horses trailered in case of emergency.
3. IF you do not have a trailer or one large enough for all horses to be evacuated, arrange in advance for help. Develop a community plan with call lists for assistance.
5. Inform neighbors and friends of your evac plans. Post detailed instructions in several places-including the barn entrance-to ensure they are accessible to emergency workers in case you are not able to evacuate your own animals.
6. Place your horses' papers in a watertight envelope or container and be ready to take it with you . It is suggested you include veterinary papers, ID photos, vital info, medical history, allergies, feed type, veterinarian, and family members with phone numbers.
7. Keep halters ready for your horse. Attach info directly to the halter. (plastic bag taped around halter strap) The top of the halter is a good place. Use strapping tape, not scotch tape. Info inside bag should include: Horse's name, Your name, contact info, ( cell or other numbers) vet's name and number, other phone numbers where someone can be reached, and any feed or medication instructions.
8. Have a travel bag ready at the barn which can include water, hay, feed, and meds for several days for each horse. ( a jar of Vic's Vapor Rub to put on nostrils can help if the horse is smelling smoke.)
and a small first aid kit
9. It is important that your horses are comfortable being loaded into a trailer. If yor horses are unaccustomed to being loaded into a trailer, pratice the procedure so they become used to it. Rescuers may not be able to take the time to load an unwilling horse. Leave loading instructions, ( such as if one horse loads first. others will follow) if possible.
10. IF you must leave your horses when you evauate your property, make sure they are wearing halters with ID and turn them loose.
Consultant: Eldon Reyer- Northern New Mexico Horseman's Association. (505) 466-6280

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Long Range Disaster Planning

1. Familiarize yourself with the types of disasters/emergenicies that could occur in your area. Develop a wriiten plan of action for each. Review your plan regulary with everyone involved, including friends and neighbors. Post emergency numbers in a visable locationin in your stable or barn.

2. Survey your property for the best location for animal confinement for each type of disaster. Indentify food and water sources that do not reley on electricity.

3. Photograph left/right sides of each equine as well as face, medial, and lower legs. Have a photo of your animal with you in the picture to help identify the animal as yours when picking it up from an evacuation area.

4. Record its breed, sex and color and keep with important papers. You can permanently ID your equine by tattoo, brand, or microchip. Temp ID by tags on the fetlocks and halters, painted on hooves, or greasemarks/paint on hide.

5. Keep your horses's vaccinations up to date, dosages and types of medications the animal receives and any dietary requirements. Keep copies of this with your important papers and with your Emergency Plan.

6. Kepp your horse trailer and towing vehicle insured, in good condition, and checked for safety. Keep your towing vehicle's gas tank at least 1/2 full.

7. Make sure your equine will load! Your trailer/ someone's elses is useless if you cannot ger the horse to load.

8. Keep hay and supplemental feed on hand. Consider keeping a tranquilizer on hand should a horse become panicked during a crisis. Ask your Vet what is available and what you can administer.

9.Have an halter/ lead rope ready for each horse. Hand it outside the barn or stall.

10. Keep extra feed and buckets ready to go,

11. Have a Disaster Preparedness Kit ready, Talk with your vet about what to include in this.

12. Transport or prepare to transport your horse to a safe evac site. It is best to do this before an emergency, even several days in advance-if possible. Do not wait to the last minute.

13. If unable to move your equines, make sure all preparations to keep them on the property are in place and secure.

14. If you must leave your horses when you evacuate, make sure they are wearing halters with ID and temp markings before turning loose.

15. In developing a personal emergency plan, the following info and suggestions are offered

A) Do not count on others to rescue your animals. B.) Have a pre-arranged palce to take your horses.
C.) Plan alternate escape routes. D.) Fires driven by strong winds can jump roads. E.) Inform friends and neighbors of your evac plans.

16. Have a "travel bag" ready at the barn door. Items could.should be, jacket, gloves, important papers,
knife, wire cutters, first aid kit, flashlight, vick's Vapor Rub, and two way radio.