During the recent Oak Fire on the west side of Pagosa Springs, members of San Juan Back Country Horsemen (BCH) were called upon by the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office to assist with the possible evacuation of horses.
This request was made pursuant to a previous agreement as part of the sheriff’s comprehensive emergency response plan that includes Federal Emergency Support Function #11, which incorporates animal evacuation and sheltering.
While no horses were ultimately in need of evacuation by BCH (numerous horses had already been evacuated), the incident sparked a good discussion about educating the public regarding proper preparation for exigent evacuation of stock animals. This brief article is intended as a primer to stimulate everyone thinking about what they would do in a similar event.
The first learning point is to ensure your horse loads well.
If a horse is skittish about loading into a trailer under normal circumstances, it will most certainly be more difficult (and maybe impossible) to load in an emergency.
Even if you do not personally own a horse trailer, find someone willing to loan you their trailer for a week. Practice loading and unloading.
There are many techniques that might work, but one way that has proven effective with stubborn horses is to park the trailer (attached to a truck or properly anchored so it won’t move when a horse enters/exits) with the loading door pinned open. Limit the only access to any feed to that which you place inside the trailer. Your horse will likely learn quickly that the trailer is where he needs to go in order to eat. Once that method works, the next step is to continue practicing without feed as an incentive.
While still on the topic of loading your horse into a trailer, this should be practiced during both daylight and complete darkness. It is also advisable to practice loading your horse while wearing bulky clothing and wearing a helmet and goggles- apparel you or others might don as protective gear. If time permits during a fire emergency, hosing your horse down with water prior to loading is a good idea, so build this into your practice.
Another important lesson is to have a plan.
During a crisis is not the time to try and figure out your escape route or where you will take your stock. The horse community in general, and BCH members specifically, have a great existing network.
That said, do you know right now where you would take your horses and how you would get them to that location?
Many would elect to take their animals to a known/trusted friend’s place. What if that location were in the evacuation zone or inaccessible? A good backup plan is essential to have.
Archuleta County has previously designated the county fairgrounds/rodeo grounds as a place to house large animals.
In the event that you live west of a traffic control checkpoint that disallowed eastbound travel, you might have to consider heading west toward La Plata County.
What about equipment considerations for both you and your horse(s)?
Personal protective equipment during a fire should include pants and long-sleeved shirt, a head covering, goggles/eye protection, gloves and boots. Consider clothing material that is as flame resistant as possible. For example, cotton is better than nylon or polyester, and wool is even better. A flashlight or headlamp is also a good item to have. For your horse, an eye mask might be beneficial, but, again, practice putting it on and having your horse wear it for a short period. Another important piece of equipment is an equine first aid/trauma kit and any medication(s) your horse might need.
In a worst-case scenario, you might be forced to turn your horse free to fend for itself. If you do, consider weaving or zip-tying to the mane or tail an identifying tag with your contact information on it. Some authorities suggest spray-painting your phone number on both sides of the animal to assist in later reunification.
This article is not meant to be all-encompassing. If nothing else, hopefully it will stimulate a thought process and discussion to help prepare you for something we all hope never happens.
However, as the saying goes, “It is better to have something (a piece of equipment, or a skill) and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”
If you have questions, or would like to learn more about BCH, please visit www.sjbch.org.
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