The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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33 July 2015 THE HORSE TheHorse.com searching for people who might have been injured. She reminds horse owners that in any emergency situation, human safety takes precedence over animal injury. "The thing we hear over and over and over from people is that the first respond- ers don't spend a lot of time on their properties," Gimenez says. "Well, if they don't find a human injury, they are going to move on; even if you have a situation where a horse is under a barn, they are still going to move on because human beings always come first." Gimenez advises owners to refrain from attempting to move or treat an injured animal without professional assistance. "The point is that if you get your- self hurt, you do your horse no good," Gimenez says. "It's better to call the veter- inarian because first responders are likely to work with the veterinarian," if they're not consumed with rescuing humans. Searching for Survivors Often, the task of providing for surviv- ing horses and other animals falls to volunteers (for more on volunteering in disaster situations, see page 50), says Mc- Cook. Those volunteers generally go door to door checking for animals, and he says they use donated resources such as feed and hay to feed and care for the animals. "In one case the horses were okay, but they had gone without water," McCook recalls. "I asked the responders if they had water, and they pulled out pallets of bottled water and filled the horses' buckets." In cases where veterinarians like Mc- Cook do find an injured horse without any form of identification—which is fre- quently the case—the best thing owners with access to the disaster area can do is speak up for animals they know. McCook recalls one case involving an injured mare that he would have euthanized due to her injuries. But before he could, a close friend of the animal's owner begged him to give the horse a chance. "We got her out of there, and she was treated. She lost an eye, but she survived," McCook recalls. "That never would have happened if someone had not been on the scene to advocate for her." Records and Documentation Difficult as it might be, keeping calm in the aftermath of a disaster is critical for both human and animal welfare. Knowing just where to find or store vet- erinary and other crucial information can eliminate at least some of the stress horse and property owners experience when disaster strikes. Veterinary records Debi Metcalfe, founder of Stolen Horse International, recommends owners have their veteri- narians microchip every horse; the chips carry vital identification and medical in- formation that is especially helpful when horses are evacuated ahead of an impend- ing storm or other natural disaster. But owners can carry the same information by simply attaching it to their key chains. "You can download information about your name and contact information, as well as medical records including Cog- gins and other test results and specific medical information onto a thumb drive," Metcalfe says. "If you put the thumb drive on your key chain, you always have it with you." Insurance contacts Chris Hackett, director of personal lines policy for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, recommends property own- ers carry critical insurance information on these thumb drives, as well. "Thumb drives should include contact informa- tion for your insurance agent as well as policy numbers and the name and phone number of your insurer," he says. Disaster photos Finally, as smartphone cameras are always ready, Gimenez recommends property owners and others take and store pictures of the disaster's aftermath. "In fact, take several pictures so that others can learn from your experi- ence," she says. "A lot of people underesti- mate nature." Restoration Time Once they know that their families and horses are safe, owners generally turn their attention to mending fences and rebuilding lives. At this point in the recov- ery process, Gimenez urges people to use common sense. She says owners and their helpers risk injury when they tackle cleanup proj- ects on their own or without the proper equipment. She recommends that owners hire contractors instead to remove debris and clear storm-damaged sites before rebuilding. "You probably don't have the heavy equipment you need to begin cleaning PHOTOS COURTESY DR. SAM CROSBY The 2013 Moore, Oklahoma tornado leveled four barns and an indoor arena, destroyed a training track (above), and killed 68 horses at this one farm alone.