As today (June 1) marks the official start of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, the staff at TheHorse.com took a look through our archives to find some important horse care articles, downloads, and videos that can help you prepare yourself, your horse, and your farm for the storm season.
Click on the links below to view the articles in full.
Hurricane Preparation Tips for Horse Owners
With the hurricane season upon us, it is important that horse owners ready themselves in advance for evacuation and other recommended tasks related to hurricane preparedness. Here are some tips for horse owners living in hurricane-prone areas
Equine Hurricane Evacuation
Head for the hills! When hurricane winds blow along the Gulf and Eastern shores of the United States, horse owners must decide whether to "shelter in place" or load horses, gear, and pretty much everything but the kitchen sink and head inland, away from the greatest storm danger.
Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness for Horse Owners
The time to prepare for a hurricane is well before you need to move out of its path. When a hurricane threatens your area, the first priority is to save human lives. With proper preparation and planning we can also save our horses' lives.
Navigating Natural Disasters with Horses
No one wants to envision what might happen to their horses if suddenly faced with a flood, hurricane, tornado, wildfire, earthquake, or other disaster, but in certain parts of the country these devastating events can be a part of life, and horse owners must be ready for them.
Vets Watch for Hurricane-Related Illnesses
With water pooling in places that it normally doesn't and debris landing in pastures and barns, conditions left in hurricanes' wakes can cause an increase in diseases such as tetanus, equine encephalitis, botulism, and Potomac horse fever.
Tips on Caring for Livestock After Hurricanes
Storm surges and rainfall accumulation place livestock in danger of drowning during hurricanes, and flying debris or electric shock from downed power lines can cause serious injury. But the horse health risks don't end when the storm passes.
Preparing a Veterinary Practice for a Hurricane
Careful planning can help a veterinary practice, its patients, and the area's equestrian community ride through and recover from a hurricane. Dana N. Zimmel, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ABVP, clinical assistant professor in the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine, described steps for veterinarians in hurricane-prone areas to take long before a storm hits.
Download: Horse Identification Halter Tags
Keep your contact information on your horse at all times with these handy identification tags, which can be laminated and attached to a halter or catch collar.
Video: Hurricane Preparedness
Rebecca McConnico, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of Veterinary Medicine in Louisiana State University's Equine Health Studies Program, offers advice on planning for hurricane season.
Want more information on horses and disasters, both natural and man-made? Pick up a copy of the June issue of The Horse: Disaster Preparedness Special Issue.
Disclaimer: Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.