The Certified Horsemanship Association compiled some common tips about wildfire evacuation with horses. By no means is this a comprehensive list, but a starting point to get you thinking ahead. When in doubt, evacuate early.
Things to Do Now
Use this time to do the following:
- Practice loading and unloading your horses
- Get your truck and trailer(s) serviced
- Make sure you have enough halters, hay bags, water buckets, ID tags, etc.
- Obtain current health records for all horses that will be riding on your trailers and store copies in trailer.
- Consult with Fire Authority
- When There is a Red Flag Warning
Use this as your cue to do the following:
- Check air pressure in the tires in your truck and trailer.
- Gas up your truck.
- Check lights on truck and trailer
- Check connections on truck & trailer
- Prepare hay bags
- Load clean water buckets, copies of health reports onto trailer
- Add ID to halters and place halters and lead ropes onto stall doors.
- Discuss plan of action, shifts, etc. with barn mates
- Contact at least 2 barns you can evacuate to
Evacuation Warning/Voluntary Evacuations
- Use this as your cue to do the following:
- Load your horses
- Call your evacuation destination
- Evacuate to your evacuation destination
- Send your advance team to the Evacuation destination to assist with unloading horses & getting them situated.