When hurricane season approaches, horse owners need to have a plan of action in place to ensure the safety of their horses. Because it can be difficult to transport livestock, especially in emergency situations, horse owners should already know what they will do with their animals before the storm actually hits.
Emergency officials consistently advise against trying to evacuate livestock unless owners have at least three days notice before a hurricane arrives. Evacuation routes can be full of traffic jams, and people may find themselves trapped on the highway as the storm approaches. High winds can wreak havoc on a horse trailer, possibly injuring the horses inside.
Instead of evacuating, horse owners should take a thorough look at their own property, and if they find that it provides insufficient shelter, look for other areas of safety. If you cannot provide shelter from the rising flood waters and the high winds, you may want to look at moving your horse to a neighbor’s pasture or other facility. If you have found a safe place to board your animal, you will need to make sure that his vaccinations are up-to-date. If he takes any medicines on a regular basis, you should be sure and send enough medicine to last for several days.
Wherever you leave your horse, whether it is on your property or a neighbor’s land, you should look at several things. First, it is important that the property has both high and low areas of land. The high areas will provide a place for your horse to go if the lower areas are flooded. Low areas can offer a horse some protection from high winds. Shallow ponds can also offer horses some protection as long as there aren’t any power lines or other electrical sources in the area. Brood mares have been known to enter a pond to stop labor during a storm. It is thought that the pressure of the water counteracts any change in barometric pressure, stopping labor.
Unless you have built a building that is made out of hurricane reinforced concrete, you should not place your horse in a barn. Barns can quickly collapse, injuring or killing a horse trapped inside. Wood, siding, and aluminum roofing can also become dangerous hazards during fierce hurricane winds. Probably, the safest area for a horse is a large pasture that is free of power lines.
Debris can become dangerous projectiles, hurtling hundreds of yards at great speeds during hurricane winds. You should make sure that fence posts are strong, and any equipment is tied down or secured as firmly as possible. If you have small buildings, troughs, metal buckets, etc., it is important that you secure these as well.
The safest fencing for your horse is woven fencing. Barbed wire can shred a horse’s skin causing injury and even death. Woven fencing can also catch flying debris as it tumbles across the pasture, possibly protecting your animals. You should check all of your fencing, posts, and gates several times a year, but especially during hurricane season to provide the safest area for your livestock.
Finally, be sure that your horse has proper identification somewhere on his body. If he were to get loose, you have a better chance of having him returned to you if there is some type of identification that can be seen. Be sure you have gathered extra tack in case you have to go searching for your animal. If you are leaving your property and evacuating to another area, you should make sure your horse has access to at least seven days of food and water. If there is much damage done to your area, you may not be able to reach your property for several days.
