Horses of the storm

In May 2008, Eclipse Press released Horses of the Storm, The Incredible Rescue of Katrina’s Horses by Ky Mortensen, director of advancement at LSU’s Equine Health Studies Program. The book chronicles the largest equine rescue ever and includes 40 color photos and an emergency preparedness guide. The publisher’s marketing manager Jennifer Haas says the company anticipates the first printing will be completely sold out by December. In fact, she says interest remains strong from equine enthusiasts everywhere. In Australia, the book was featured in Horsepoint magazine and, closer to home, the producers of the Ellen DeGeneres Show are considering filming a segment on the book after the show’s summer vacation.

However, since there seems to be no hiatus from hurricane season this year, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine offers the following preparation tips for horse owners.

• Be sure your horse is current regarding vaccinations for tetanus and the encephalitis viruses (Eastern, Western and West Nile).

• Get to know your neighbors, plan a meeting, talk through different scenarios and identify the local resources for dealing with disaster situations. Network a plan with the horse or farm animal-owning neighbors in your parish and be prepared to help one another.

• Be sure your horse has two forms of identification: (1) a microchip, tattoo or other permanent identification, and (2) a luggage-type tag secured to the tail and leather halter (for break-away purposes). Fetlock tags are useful and available online or from a local farm supply store. Be sure to legibly label the tags with your name, address and phone number and the phone number of an out-of-state contact in case of phone outage.

• Be sure to store the microchip number (i.e., Coggins form) in an accessible location. As an added precaution, leave a second copy of this information with family member or friend in a distant location, where the form will be easily accessible but safe.

• Have your evacuation route(s) and destination mapped out in advance. It is important to evacuate your horse a sufficient distance from the coast and preferably north of Interstate 10. January through March are good months to prepare and practice a plan.

• Arrange to leave a minimum of 72 hours before the arrival of the storm. Avoid getting stuck in traffic with a trailer full of horses and a hurricane approaching. Provide your neighbors with your evacuation contact information.

• Prepare a waterproof emergency animal care kit with all the items you normally use, including medications, salves or ointments, vetwrap, bandages, tape, etc. Place the kit in a safe place, so you can easily access it after a storm.

• Start early to clean up your property and remove all debris that may be tossed around by storm and hurricane force winds. Be careful of downed power lines, which can be live and represent a danger to people and animals.

While evacuation is recommended, Louisiana Equine Council Secretary Howard Cormier says it’s not always practical. “After the storm pushes through,” he says, “cattlemen (particularly in the western parishes) need to be able to begin salvage operations out in the marsh. If horses are kept in a barn and it’s damaged, there’s the risk of the horses being trapped or injured by nails, splintered wood or falling debris. Many people have found it’s best to turn the horses loose. They will find shelter under an oak tree or behind a building. In that situation, the biggest threat is trees that might fall on a fenceline.”

If you plan to shelter your horse in place (which is strongly discouraged), there are some general guidelines to follow:

• The decision of whether to keep your horse in a barn or an open field can be a difficult one. Use common sense: Take into consideration barn structure, trees, power lines, condition of surrounding properties and the likelihood of flooding the property and structure. Farms subject to storm surge or flash flooding should turn their horses out, so the horses are not trapped and likely to drown.

• Remove all items from the barn aisle and walls and store them in a safe place.

• Have at least a two- to three-week supply of hay wrapped in plastic or waterproof tarp and feed stored in plastic water-tight containers.

• Place these supplies in the highest and driest areas, out of the reach of flood waters.

• Fill clean plastic garbage cans with water, secure the tops and place them in the barn for use after the storm.

• Have an emergency barn kit containing a chain saw, fuel, hammers, saw, nails, screws and fencing materials. Place this kit in a secure area before the storm hits, so it’s easily accessible after the storm.

• Be sure to have an ample supply of flashlights and batteries and other non-perishable items.

• Listen to local radio stations. If Internet access is available, visit state-run websites that contain accurate status information (i.e., state police, state university, Department of Agriculture) and take all cautions/warning serious and act accordingly.

• Visit equine.vetmed.lsu.edu for more details on horse hurricane preparations and other emergency and health-related information.

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Besides her 20 years of experience as an editor and writer, Adrian E. Hirsch is a charter board member of Spay Baton Rouge, a nonprofit that spays/neuters feral cats and the pets of low-income residents to stem overpopulation; the Baton Rouge coordinator of Gulf South Golden Retriever Rescue, a nonprofit that rescues golden retrievers from shelters and owners, fosters and finds permanent homes for the dogs; and (along with her twin daughters) a member of Tiger HATS, an LSU Veterinary School service organization that offers animal-assisted therapy.