Page 73 - Speedhorse May 2019

Make a Disaster Kit
Any disaster is going
to be stressful and possi-
bly traumatic, but prepar-
ing now will make it easier when something happens. You should prepare a disaster kit for each horse under your care, which should include the following:
• One week’s supply of each horse’s regular
food or special feed stored in an airtight and waterproof container. Replace this supply every three months to make sure it remains fresh.
• One week’s supply of water, which should be stored in a cool and dark location, such as a 50-gallon barrel.
• Feeding and water buckets.
• One week’s worth of dry shavings, to be
spread out in each horse’s stall.
• Two weeks’ worth of any medications taken
by each of your horses.
Got ID?
If your horse leaves the
property at any point dur-
ing a disaster, it could be
impossible to recover him or her unless there is proper identification. Consider using some sort of permanent identification on each horse, such as a microchip, a tattoo or freeze branding.
Before a disaster, other means of identifica- tion are recommended. Your options include:
• Writing your name, phone number, and
address on the body of each horse using a
livestock crayon.
• Shave your contact information (name,
phone number and address) into the coat of
each horse using a set of clippers.
• Fill out an ID tag with your contact infor- mation, and braid it into the horse’s mane.
If you plan on evacuating, write your tempo- rary location down on the ID tag or the body of each horse in any of the methods listed above.
Gather Your Records
You will need to prove
the horse belongs to you
if the two of you become
separated. You also need
to make sure you have access to the relevant medical information for each of your horses. Protect yourself, your horse, and your invest- ment by assembling the following information:
• A copy of the Bill of Sale, or any other docu-
mentation that proves ownership.
• Recent pictures of you with the horse.
• Medical records, including up-to-date vac-
cination records.
• A copy of your horse’s most recent Coggins
certificate.
Evacuation Readiness
Sometimes, you will
have the opportunity
to evacuate before severe weather hits. Remember, the larger the animal, the more complicated that transportation will be. Make sure you have the following ready for this situation.
• A horse trailer to accommodate your
horses, and a vehicle that can pull it safely. If you don’t have enough trailer space for all of your horses, make other arrangements now for transporting them: friends, rela- tives, neighbors, or even for-hire transpor- tation services. Make sure the floor of the trailer, the trailer hitch, the tires, and lights all are in good functioning order.
• Rope to tether your horse if you will not have access to a stable at your temporary location.
• A halter and lead rope. Avoid ropes made of nylon, which can melt in a fire.
• Pre-designated ‘safe places’ where you can evacuate with your horses, such as race- tracks, equine centers, or even fairgrounds.
• Practice loading each horse into the trailer, especially those who are unaccustomed to riding in a trailer.
• Use the ‘buddy system.’ Find another horse owner you trust. One of you can evacuate the animals owned by the other if someone happens to be out of town when a disaster strikes.
• Don’t procrastinate! If you wait to evacu- ate until the last minute, authorities and emergency officials may order you to leave without your horses . . . and if a situation is not safe for you, it’s not going to be safe for your horses either.
A Few Relief Organizations
Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team
Used as the basis for both the Louisiana State Animal Response Team and the Oklahoma Large Animal First Responders, this is considered to be the largest and most sophisticated veterinary emergency response team in the United States. The team supplies medical support for search-and-rescue teams following both natural and man-made disas- ters, providing triage and veterinary treatment for injured animals and working with animal shelters in the affected communities. The team supports Texas Task Force 1, which operates under FEMA, on all in-state deployments. Louisiana State Animal Response Team
Working in partnership with the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, this organiza- tion consists of various groups and individuals
who look to assure the well-being of animals following both natural and man-made disas- ters, such as hurricanes, oil spills, floods, and any other type of event where the health and safety of animals become threatened. Services provided include search and rescue, evacua- tion, and sheltering.
Oklahoma Large Animal First Responders
(www.olafr.org)
Founded in 2013, this non-profit organiza- tion works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state agri- cultural department in Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps to provide relief to horses and other large animals that are threatened due to tornadoes, wildfires, floods, or other man-made disasters. To learn more about their organization, send
a donation, or become a volunteer, email olafrteam@gmail.com
Here’s How You Can Help
Each of these organizations
fund disaster relief and recovery
efforts in the United States.
United States Equestrian Federation Equine Disaster Relief Fund (www.usef.org/donate)
Founded in 2005 after the devastation wreaked by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina,
this fund helps horses of all breeds who are in jeopardy in the wake of a disaster. Any money donated is held in an account until it is needed for disaster relief following events such as hur- ricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, fires, and floods. Donations are tax-deductible.
AAEP Equine Disaster Relief Fund (foundation.aaep.org)
Based in Kentucky, this fund directs dona- tions to credible programs and organizations such as the ones listed above, helping them in recovery and rebuilding efforts after disaster strikes. Make donations on the AAEP website (www.aaep.org) or mail a donation to: 4033 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511 National HBPA Foundation (nationalhbpa.com/donate)
This non-profit fund serves as a safety net for horse owners who encounter disasters that are not covered by their insurance or provides funds when other forms of assistance have been depleted or otherwise are unavailable. The organization sent more than $400,000 to those in need following Hurricane Katrina, as well as donating 160,000 tons of equine and human supplies. The NHBPAF also has pro- vided assistance in disease outbreaks, covering daily feed costs for 91 horses at Turfway Park in Kentucky following an outbreak of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) in 2005. Make donations at the above link.
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