| Am I Prepared? |
June 2, 2008
by Bonnie Davis
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We had a fire about 50 miles from our barn. It burned about 3,000 acres; including houses, barns and corrals. Two-hundred horses had to be evacuated along with other critters. Fires seem to be more often now. With people spreading further and further into the 'wilderness' and the coming of drier weather fires are going to start being headline news on TV and in the newspaper. So the question we all have to ask ourselves is: Am I prepared?
Ideally the answer is "yes" but after closer inspection, I wasn't!!
The pasture grass is well-grazed so I don't have to worry about a fire across the pasture but around the barnyard, high grass had grown up around the horse trailers. Horses aren't turned loose into the barnyard to graze so the grass just sort of got matted down in traffic areas but grew 10-12 inches high around trailers. It's still green but will become dry soon. So we had to cut it down and remove.
Secondly, water. I hadn't filled a few extra containers with water and put 'em by the back of barn. A few extra containers can stop a spot fire in a flash, that way you don't have to drag a hose around, turn the water on -- just open the can and pour on the water. We also keep a shovel standing by the cans so it can be grabbed.
After chopping grass and filling water cans, things were in pretty good shape. But I'd like to pass on a few tips that I've found helpful........
Halters and Lead Ropes
All emergency halters and ropes are red for emergency. Each is hung on a stall door and everyone knows THAT THE RED HALTER is for emergency use only. There's even one for each pasture horse kept on the wall outside tack room. And the lead ropes are permanently attached to halters so they can't be taken off -- it's frustrating grabbing halters to move horses and can't find lead ropes!!
On each halter is a tag with horse's name, phone number and vet. The tag is one of those sealed luggage tags you see on suitcases. It's snapped into the ring on side of halter so it doesn't get in the way of putting a halter on -- quickly.
A couple of our older horses are on medications so with the tag, instructions on what medications the horse is taking. Inside the tack room on a clip by the door is a little sealed baggie stripped in red tape with each horse's name on it. The baggie is one of those industrial strength baggies and it's taped tightly shut so it can be grabbed and taken with the horse.
Also in the tack room, a can of yellow spray paint and a bright, glow-in-the-dark orange paint pen. If a horse has to be moved, spray paint a phone number on the side of the horse. Then write the same number on neck with paint pen. If on medications, add the words "RX REQ". Don't be shy -- spray the whole horse!! Paint won't wash off, but it will come off when the hair sheds. You'll always be able to find your glow-in-the-dark horse from a herd. Emergency personnel at a shelter may not be able to tell a bay from a sorrel but they will remember the horse painted with bright orange paint!!
I'm pretty good about emergency care and preparedness. After all, I live in California -- earthquake country!! So 'being prepared' is a way of life here. But if you're not prepared, take a day and GET PREPARED. For any emergency.
Stay safe.......
Bonnie
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| Wow, you are an inspiration!
Thanks for the great tips. I live in CA. too.
If you board horses I'd like to be at your place. |
| Posted by Liz |
| Sherry Krueger writes: I live in Arizona. We have MANY Wilde fires here. The fire dept told us to clear the property for 500 feet around each structure of dead brush etc as well as have evacuation plan in place. |
| Posted by Sherry Krueger |
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