It's
tough enough to prepare a family of humans for hurricane season.
Horse lovers have to do some real planning.
Horse
owners have three basic options if a storm is bearing down on the
Tampa Bay area: Turn their animals loose in a fenced pasture,
secure them in stables, or load them in a trailer to evacuate.
The
third option nearly requires a crystal ball. Owners should be on
the road at least 72 hours before the storm is to hit -- that's
long before watches or warnings will be issued. But if you wait
until the forecasters say the storm is approaching, you run the
risk of having your loaded trailer blown off the road, or being
stuck in tremendous traffic or flash flooding.
As
for the other two options, disaster experts disagree on whether
horses should be turned out in large pastures or kept inside their
stalls during the storm. Some experts think horses are better
protected from dangerous flying debris if they remain in their
stalls. But there's always the chance that a stall will be blown
down or destroyed.
Other
experts say horses are safer left in the open, ideally in a large
pasture with no overhead power lines and with both high areas that
won't flood and low areas for water. Loose horses, however, cannot
dodge objects flying at a hundred miles an hour.
Many
horses that initially survived Hurricane Andrew in south Florida
were deprived of food and water for days, then died from kidney
failure from dehydration or were killed by downed power lines.
Horses that wandered through broken fences were hit and killed on
the roadways or died entangled in barbed wire fences.
No
matter which you choose, consider the following guidelines.
DISASTER PROOF
YOUR BARN:
Store
combustibles such as gas cans, cleaning supplies, aerosol cans and
oily rags in fire-resistant containers. Clear cobwebs from
rafters, walls and light fixtures. Grain, hay and bedding
materials are extremely combustible. Store them a safe distance
from the barn and cover with flame-retardant tarpaulin. Dry horse
manure is flammable. Dump it a safe distance from buildings. Keep
stable surroundings clear of dry brush, grass and litter. Ladders,
shovels, wheelbarrows, mowers and other equipment should be stored
away from the barn. Trailers and vehicles should be tied down away
from trees and buildings. Shut off main electrical breakers and
close gas and water valves. Unplug appliances and remove fans to a
safe area.
IDENTIFICATION:
Take
photographs of your horses from all angles, as well as photos of
the horses with family members. Paint horses' names and your names
and phone numbers in large letters on the horses' sides and hips
with all-weather, long-lasting, lead-free and nontoxic sticks used
for marking livestock (available at feed stores). Names and phone
numbers can also be painted on hooves with fingernail polish. Use
leather bridles and fly masks to protect eyes from wind-whipped
debris and shavings. Permanent identification methods include
freeze branding, standard branding and microchips. Horses should
be up-to-date on tetanus boosters and encephalitis shots. Store
copies of coggins tests, vaccinations, insurance papers and
information on scars, tattoos, microchips and other permanent
identification in a waterproof container.
WATER AND FEED:
Water
is the most urgent need for horses following a natural disaster.
Water deprivation leads to dehydration and serious digestive
problems. Stockpile at least 20 gallons of water per horse per
day. Store in troughs, large tanks or barrels throughout the
property and secure them against damage. Keep bottles of household
bleach to kill contaminants in the water (one ounce treats 20
gallons of water) or buy water-purification tablets. Install a
hand pump on your well. Stockpile two weeks' worth of feed and hay
and medications. After any disaster, it's difficult to predict how
long barns will be cut off from feed suppliers. Cover feed and hay
with flame-resistant tarps to protect from water, winds and flying
embers.
DISASTER KITS:
Kit
should include all the items normally used: salves, medications,
ointments, wraps, bandages, duct tape, fly spray, towels, halters
and leads. Store in waterproof containers. Take two plywood boards
and spray paint each with the message, "Have Animals, Need
Help" and "Have Animals, Okay For Now." Boards can
be placed by driveways near the road and in clear areas for planes
or helicopters assessing damage after the storm.
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