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Preparing your horses for hurricanes

By Stephanie Conner UF/IFAS 4-H Youth Development Agent
Posted 9/26/18

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Around this time last year, our community was dealing with the impact of hurricane Irma. As I reflect on the lessons learned from my family’s experience, and the calls I …

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Preparing your horses for hurricanes


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Around this time last year, our community was dealing with the impact of hurricane Irma. As I reflect on the lessons learned from my family’s experience, and the calls I received at the Extension Office, I wanted to share how to prepare our horses for the next hurricane.

Florida is ranked 5th nationally for horse ownership with over 121,000 horses and ponies. In Clay County, there is a large population of horses who are mainly used for showing and recreation. Because of this, I typically receive frantic calls from horse owners asking how to prepare before a big storm is headed to our area.

When preparing your horses for a hurricane there are two options for you to consider: sheltering in place and/or relocating your horses. Regardless of the option you select, getting your contact information on each of the horses is critical.

There are several ways to do this. Non-toxic paint or permanent marker can be used to write your contact info on the horses’ hind quarter. You can also use livestock tags, neck collars, or heavy-duty plastic identification tags that can placed around the horse’s neck or be braided into the horse’s mane or tail. Another option is to halter your horses and attach an identification tag to the halter. I have found that metal identification tags, much like you would use for your dog and cat, work really well.

To my knowledge, there are no public or government facilities in Northeast Florida that will shelter horses during a storm. The reason is there are very few reinforced structures or barns that have been built to withstand hurricane force winds in the area. Individuals who contact me seeking horse shelters often have older or unstable barns that they do not feel comfortable leaving their horses in during a hurricane.

If you find yourself in this situation, and you’re unable to transport your horses elsewhere, you should consider turning your horses out to pasture during the storm. Livestock, in general, are resilient and will make it through a storm, but we can do a few things to help protect them.

First, take inventory of your premises and identify any objects that could become flying projectiles because of the wind speed. Secure movable objects so your horses are not dodging them during the storm. Make sure to provide water and a covered area for hay and/or feed so the horse doesn’t go searching for it elsewhere.

If you plan to relocate your horses within Florida, there are a few pieces of information and supplies you will need to bring with you. These include copies of your animal’s vaccination and medical records and proof of ownership. Also, be sure to pack plenty of extra feed and water for transport. Traffic is likely to be an issue when evacuating.

Individuals leaving Florida with their horses, in most cases, will be required to have a current health certificate to cross state lines. Additionally, all horses are required to have a negative Coggins test, within the last 12 months, for interstate transport. These documents will need to be presented when you stop at agricultural inspection stations.

One of the biggest lessons learned from Irma was to be prepared well in advance of the storm. We also learned that evacuation is the best option if you live in a flood plain. The best place for local information regarding evacuation zones and hurricane preparedness info is ALERT.claycountygov.com.

I hope you consider the abovementioned advice the next time a storm is headed to our area. If you would like to learn more about preparing your horses for a hurricane, contact Stephanie Conner at the Clay County Extension Office at (904) 284-6355 or sconner04@ufl.edu.