Emergency Preparedness for Horses: 9 Essential Tips

Emergency preparedness for horses starts with having a plan before disaster strikes. Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, severe storms and other emergencies can put horses at risk and leave owners with little time to react. By preparing an evacuation plan, organizing important records, stocking emergency supplies and arranging safe transportation, horse owners can be better prepared to protect their animals when conditions change.

First and foremost, your priority is you and your family. Do you have everything you need to be prepared?  If you yourself aren’t taken care of, how can you possibly take care of your animals?  After you get your personal emergency kit and your plan all settled, turn your focus to preparing your animals.

9 Key Concepts to Help You Prepare Your Horses for Emergencies

1. Have multiple forms of identification

There are plenty of options available that you can use to identify your horse and it’s best to use several in case one fails.

• Keep recent photographs of each horse from multiple angles, along with a written description of its color, markings and identifying features. Note any tattoos or brands on your horse which provide a quick way to help identify your horse.
• Make sure contact information on identification tags is current. Attach ID tags on halters, neck bands, and/or leg bands. These items will include your emergency contact information and are designed to stay on your horse.
• Consider permanant identification such as a microchip for your horse. A chip can’t be tampered with and can’t be misplaced in the chaos of an emergency.
• Store copies of all this information with your emergency records and in a secure digital location.

2. Have at least one halter & one lead rope available per horse

• Keep them close to the horse’s stall.
• In fire risk areas, make sure the halter is leather and the lead rope is cotton. A standard nylon halter could melt.
• Store extra halters and leads in the tack room, truck, or trailer. Just in case.

3. Keep your medical records & proof of ownership stored safely

These documents can help keep your horse safe while it is evacuated. What do they normally eat? Is your horse a stallion, or a pregnant mare? These pieces of information will help keep them be cared for after they’ve been removed from the immediate danger. You may also need to prove that your horse belongs to you, in the unfortunate situation that there are any disputes of ownership.

• Note if your horse is on any medication or has any allergies or medical conditions.
• Have physical copies stored in a water-tight bag, somewhere safe but convenient.
• Give copies out to friends and family.
• Keep digital copies accessible online in the cloud so you can find them whenever you need to.

4. Have a transportation plan for evacuation

If you have your own truck and trailer, make sure they are maintained and road-ready by conducting periodic checks.

• No trailer of your own? Make arrangements with a reliable neighbor or friend who has one. If you rely on someone else for transportation, confirm their availability and make a backup arrangement.
• Plan out multiple exit routes and have a prearranged evacuation site. Identify at least two potential evacuation destinations and more than one route to reach them. Contact each destination in advance to confirm whether horses can be accommodated and what requirements apply.

5. Practice loading and unloading your horses

• Your horse MUST get in the trailer. During an emergency, there will be added stress. Make it easier on your horse and on you, by practicing loading and unloading often.

6. Evacuate your horses early

• Don’t wait until the last minute.
• Roads can close, conditions can change. If you wait too long, you run the risk of being forced to leave your horses behind.

7. Have a multiple back-up plans

The safest plan for your horse depends on the type of emergency and the conditions at your property. Identify local risks and understand when evacuation or sheltering in place may be appropriate. Flooding, wildfires, severe storms and barn fires can each create different hazards. Prepare a response plan for the emergencies most likely to affect your area, and follow instructions from local emergency management officials.

• Include a last resort “shelter in place” plan and consider what you should do in case you can’t get your horses out.
• Find a place where your horses will they be safest on the property and make room to keep them there.

8. Communicate your emergency preparedness plan for your horse

Make sure a trusted backup caregiver knows how to access your emergency plan, how to contact your veterinarian and handle your horses if you cannot reach the property. Review the plan with everyone involved at least once a year.

• Post written instructions in a visible location at the barn, and include emergency contacts, feeding and medication instructions, transportation arrangements and the location of essential supplies.
• If you operate a facility, consider discussing your plan with the local fire department.

9. Have your emergency supply kits ready & stocked

Keep emergency supplies in an accessible, clearly marked location and check them regularly. Your horse emergency kit should include:

• Hay, appropriate feed and clean water for at least 72 hours; consider a longer supply when feasible.

• Feed and water buckets, plus hay nets.

• Halters and lead ropes for every horse.

• A basic equine first aid kit assembled with guidance from your veterinarian.

• Current medications and written care instructions.

• Flashlights, extra batteries, a portable radio and gloves.

• Wire cutters, a sturdy knife and other appropriate emergency tools.

• Copies of veterinary records, identification photos and emergency contact information.