Page 33 - Speedhorse Canada Spring 2018

reunited in the event you are sepa- rated from them. Microchipping is the recommended method of iden- tification. Other options include attaching an ID tag to the halter
of each horse or placing a plastic band around the neck of each horse with your address and contact information engraved upon it. You can even paint your name, address and phone number on the side of each horse, or write that info on a luggage tag and braid it into the mane. Owners are also encour- aged to take multiple, detailed photographs of each of their horses, while noting the breed, color, distinguishing marks, and other significant features. Place these documents in a sealed plastic bag and make backups—either physical copies which are stored elsewhere or digital copies uploaded to a cloud server.
HaLTerS. Keep enough halters and lead ropes ready and handy
for each of your horses in the event you need to move or evacuate them in a hurry. Attach a luggage tag with the name of the horse and your contact information. These halters should be made of leather. Halters made of nylon or other synthetic materials are much more likely to break under stress, and can melt into the skin of your horse in the event of a fire.
ready To ride? Take time to examine your horse trailers. Are they well-maintained and ready
to roll? Check the tires, floor and hitch, while also ensuring the truck that hauls the trailer is road ready. Keep at least half a tank of gas in the vehicle at all times. Will all your horses fit on your trailer safely? If not, you need to plan accordingly. If you own horses, but do not have a horse trailer, make arrangements to borrow one quickly in the event of an emergency. Practice loading and unloading them in the trailer. This process will be more difficult in times of stress, so it is important to train them on loading and unload- ing now.
find SafeTy. Determine now where you can take your animals in the event of an emergency evacua- tion. Identify at least two different
STay Up To daTe. It is illegal to transport any horse across state lines without a current negative Coggins test. Many locations will not board a horse without this documentation. Make copies of these tests, other medical records, and vaccination records, and keep them in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box or safe.
SPEEDHORSE CANADA, Spring 2018 33