Flood & Hurricane Season Reminds
Horse Owners to Have a Plan
With hurricane season in full swing, here's a reminder to have an
evacuation plan set up for your horses - even if you board them.
If you live in an area that's prone to natural disasters, such as flood,
fire, tornado or hurricane, have a plan in place for what to do should
the call go out to evacuate. And remember to share it with family,
friends and the caretakers of your horses.The first step is to have
all of your paper work in order. Collect your horse's negative Coggins
(get one annually) his brand inspection, his passport, ownership papers
and microchip card in one place and always keep it there. If necessary,
purchase a fire-safe box for these items, or store them in a
safe-deposit box at the bank with the rest of your important personal
papers.
Take pictures and videos of your horses to make them easy to
identify. Store visual identification tools with your important papers.
Keep your horse trailer in working condition at all times. You won't
have time to change that flat tire or fix the door latch if you have to
evacuate. Also, teach your horses to load quickly and easily.
You may need to prioritize which animals you'll need to evacuate
first - of course that's a personal choice and a difficult one, but a
choice that needs to be made before you need to move your horses.
Plan in advance where you will take your animals. There are often
emergency facilities set up for evacuees, but a secondary location will
be necessary in case the official location is at capacity by the time
you get there.
In a worst-case scenario you may have to leave your horses behind.
Leave halters on and lead ropes nearby. Get nameplates engraved with
your name and cell phone number and attach them to the halters. If you
have to leave your horses behind report their location to the local
authorities.
Source: www.MyHorse.com |
