Tips to help keep your horse safe during extreme weather events

Tips to help keep your horse safe during extreme weather events 

Unless you live in the far north, a cyclone is definitely a new experience, and many are feeling anxious about this right now. There are a number of things you can do to prepare and help keep your horses safe. Considerations include; 

• Check all your fences and make sure there isn’t anything your horse can get tangled in. 

• Keep a pair of wire cutters and gloves handy in case you need to cut any fences after the storm has passed. 

• Keep plenty of feed/hay on hand, you may not be able to access any supplies for a few days. 

• Fill as many water buckets/troughs as possible. The water supply might be cut, or if you rely on pumps, electricity may be out for several days. 

• Have a good supply of any treatments or medication your horse may be on to last at least 72 hours.  

• Think about taking your horses rug off as these may get tangled or ripped during the storm and become dangerous. Try not to leave headcollars etc. on your horse, these may also become tangled 

• Remove or secure any loose items from your horse’s paddock that may get blown around in strong winds. 

• Have an emergency kit ready to treat any cuts or scrapes, plenty of White Healer for rain affected skin and insect spray/repellent for bugs, with all the water that will be laying around these are sure to be a problem.  

• If possible, try and pick a paddock that has as few trees as possible. In reality this isn’t always achievable, so even if you can have them in a paddock that they are familiar with to reduce panic.  

• Place some form of ID on your horse in case they do get out. Plaiting an ID label or tag into their mane is a clever idea, writing can wash off in wet weather were as a small tag will stay in place.  

• Have emergency numbers written down or handy if you do need help. Make sure your phone is fully charged. 

Extreme weather events can be daunting, especially when our animals are involved. Please stay safe, check in on each other and follow the directives of emergency personnel.