As a Florida horse owner, who has not evacuated for a hurricane yet, two of the most common questions I receive during the time leading up to a Hurricane are “what will you do with your horses” and “where will you put your horses”. The answer to the first question is easy as it involves preparing them to ride out the storm, the answer to the second question is more difficult as there are several factors that go into deciding where the horses should go. 

I hope that by sharing my hurricane plans with other equestrians I can assist them during their preparation for a severe weather event. Please note that this is just what I have learned after living in Florida for several years. It is not guaranteed to be the best solution for everyone, but more of an example of how I prepare my horses.

1. Have all vet records printed and accessible

Before a storm hits I make sure to have all my vet records in a binder. The binder is separated into sections for each horse but in it I make sure to include the most up to date Coggins, all vaccination records, microchip information, and all other documents relating to my horses. During the storm I keep the binder in a ziplock bag, in a location that is easily accessible.

2. Braid dog tags into manes

Each horse has their own dog tag that lists their name and several different contact numbers. The contact numbers include both in state and out of state contacts. All out of state contacts are notified that they are listed as an emergency contact for my horses and instructed on what to say in the event they are called. These tags are braided into their manes, the braids are then banded and neon duct tape is wrapped around the end of the braid to ensure they stay in the mane. I have also used luggage tags with success, but prefer the dog tags as they’re a little more weather resistant. 

3. Braid index cards into tails

Along the same line of thought as the dog tags I also braid neon colored index cards into their tails. The cards list emergency contacts, vet info, owner info, and the horses name along with a color description. They are wrapped with packing tape, hole punched then braided into the tails. As before I wrap the end of the braid with neon duct tape to help increase visibility. The index cards do seem to stay fairly waterproof and just serve to reassure me that I have done all I can to get contact info onto the horses. 

4. Livestock Paint

Now I have yet to locate a livestock paint that I love and that holds up extremely well but I do utilize it during a storm. I have used both the All Weather Paintstik Livestock Markers and the All-Weather Twist-Stik Livestock Marker with success. I would highly recommend utilizing the brighter colors such as yellow and orange over the darker colors. These will run and wear quickly on certain coat types, and certain colors will be difficult to wipe off but overall having the large contact info will be useful for people who are afraid to get close to the horse in the event it gets loose. 

5. Permanent marker on hooves

On the front hooves I’ll write two contact numbers. One for someone in Florida and one for someone outside of Florida. For dark hooves I use a silver sharpie and for light hooves I’ll use a black sharpie. Depending on the conditions your horse is standing in these markings might wear off. When Cupid was in a grass paddock her hoof markings were still visible the next morning, when she was out in a sand lot they wore off quickly. Despite the lack of reliability I still mark hooves as a bit of a mental reassurance that I am doing everything I can. 

6. Microchip

For the final form of identification we have my favorite item, the microchip. My horses are all microchipped because I know that it’s a permanent marking form that will help them get back to me. The price for microchipping is expensive but the piece of mind it provides is priceless. Make sure that your microchip information is up to date and that you include contacts both in Florida and outside of Florida. 

7) Feed, hay and water

In the event of a severe power loss I don’t want to be without feed, hay, or water. I make sure that I have 2-3 weeks of feed and hay, along with extra beet pulp and hay cubes to provide electrolyte mashes to the horses both before and after the storm. The hay is stored in several different places that I am sure will stay dry. For the grain I premix several days worth of meals into ziplock bags and label each bag with the horses name and AM or PM. By having premixed grain I can easily dash meals out to the horses and feed them during the cleanup period without wasting too much time mixing meals. The grain that is not mixed gets stored in a high and dry location to ensure rodents would not get into it and that it will not get wet. A very important thing to remember with grain is to ensure that it is stored in a location that the horses cannot access. The last thing you want is a horse colicing or foundering because they have broken into the grain storage during the storm.

For water I fill every available container with as much water as it will hold. All buckets in the stalls and fields are filled with as much water as they will hold, all the rain barrels and cleaned garbage cans are filled with water, and any other container that can hold water will get filled. If these water containers must be outside they’re weighted down as heavy as I can make them and the lids are completely secured.

8) Medical Kit

The last bit of advice I can leave you with is to ensure that your medical kit is fully stocked, not expired, and in an easy to reach location. Any items you may need before or after the storm for an injury or colic should be included in your kit along with the contact information for your vet. If roads are closed, or the power is out then your vet might be delayed in reaching you so you must be prepared to handle things until someone can reach you.

Overall, the best thing you can do for your horse is to remain calm, be prepared, and not only take care of them but also take care of yourself. Don’t be afraid to confide in or ask for assistance from other horsemen in your area. In major events that can potentially be catastrophic we need to pull together and work to ensure that both two legged and four legged family members make it through events successfully.

Good luck Floridians and stay safe!

Punching yourself in the face when doing up your girth should not be a thing. But there I was last week, girthing up Cupid for a trail ride, and felt my hand slip right into my jaw. 

I don’t know who was more stunned. Cupid who was staring at me stunned that her person was such an idiot, or me standing there shocked that my jaw was suddenly in pain. 

It was that moment that told me something major needs to happen. Cupid needed to go back to a consistent workout schedule. 

I’ve been letting her get away with a lot lately. Between the constant, unyielding heat and the perfectly timed rain storms (right after I get to the barn from work) we have all become extremely lazy. 

My daily routine has consisted of thorough grooming, lots of ground work and stretching, with the occasional hand walk or short trail ride/training session. 

Well, clearly with how much muscle tone Cupid has lost, and how much chunk she has gained, we need a change. 

So it’s back to the fitness plan for all of us. Sorry Foxy, you’re getting sucked into this too. 

The plan is to start slowly and work our way back to a decent fitness level. I’ve noticed that if I set my goals too aggressive and too high then I tend to get overwhelmed and fail to achieve them. So our goals are small and hopefully our progress is large! 

Something is a bit wrong when the retired pony is fitter than the two working horses. 

After 3 years of prep I am proud to announce that my girls have finally come home. Cupid and Foxy officially moved to my parents private farm early last week!

This process has been a long one, from getting the barn built, to arranging the trailer. But I’m happy to report that the move day when extremely smoothly and the girls settled into their new home quickly!

The morning started by going out to the barn to make sure that my locker was completely cleared out, their supplements were packed, and the girls were fed and ready to go. Cupid quickly caught on that something was going on when I tried to remove her jolly balls (yes, she has two). When I grabbed the first one she was fine. But when I went to put the second one in my car she panicked. So that had to wait until we were officially ready to go.

The trailer showed up on time and was the perfect size and set up for my girls. Much to my surprise Cupid loaded like a champ. But once she realized that we were actually going somewhere and not practicing, she did start having one of her temper tantrums. The girl who was hauling them for me handled keeping an eye on her, while I grabbed Foxy, like a true professional.

Foxy on the other hand needed a bit of encouragement. She has always been a bit uneasy about ramps but with some clucking from the group she agreed that loading would be the right answer. I honestly feared how the girls would load and i couldn’t be any prouder with how they handled themselves. I was able to identify some items that need work but the girls far exceeded my expectations.

The drive was the longest 15 minutes of my life. I followed the trailer and was pleased to see that they behaved and acted like they did this everyday.

We arrived at my place and got ready to unload the girls. Cupid, naturally, had to remind everyone she’s the baby and acted like she had never backed off a trailer before. Foxy, on the other hand, unloaded like a champ and listened to my directions about backing up and then the step off.

As soon as they were released they both took off. Watching them run like that was heartwarming. They did not appear spooked or upset, just excited to check out their surroundings. Cupid let Foxy lead during their initial exploration but once she grew in confidence she took the lead and began exploring her new home.

By that evening both girls were acting like they had been at their new home their whole lives. They were calmly enjoying their hay, making a mess of the water, and determining the best napping spots. Watching them that first night was like a peaceful sunset breeze blowing across the yard, it felt like home.

So far it has been a bit over a week and I am already pleased with how the girls have settled in. They have both stopped cribbing, which is impressive since I never imagined that it would stop. Cupid has begun laying down, stretched out like a cat in from of a fireplace, for her afternoon nap. Foxy has become far bolder than I ever imagined possible, when the fence boards were in the yard waiting to be installed she would trot over them, jumping just for the fun of jumping.

I can’t wait to see how much further they’ll progress now that they’re at their new home. It warms my heart knowing that I made the right choice for them, they’re officially part of the family now.