by Stargazer, age 12

I’ve always been aware that it’s good to be prepared, but had never really given the idea much thought, until now. Recently my area was hit with a winter storm that was the biggest natural disaster we’ve had for decades. Nearly everyone lost their power at some point. Luckily, our family had friends who were prepared for anything. They had a generator that could run almost their whole house. They let us stay there for the few days we were without power, and boy was I thankful. It made me really think about the importance of being prepared. Not just at home, but for your horses too.

Here I have a few ideas to prepare you and your horses for a disaster.

The first thing is to have a plan. Do you have access to a trailer if you need to evacuate? If you don’t, you need to have a plan for your horses to be safe if you have to pack up and leave and can’t bring your horses along. What preparations will need to be made? Knowing what you are going to do before disaster strikes could save you and your horses.

The next thing is to have copies of important papers, like veterinary papers, registry papers, proof of ownership, etc. You might need them, so keep copies of them in your trailer if you plan to evacuate. If you don’t have a trailer, keep some in your car or in a safe place at home. If your horse is found lost, it could help you prove ownership of your horse. It is also a good idea to have current photos of your horse. If your horse has any unique markings, write them down. You never know what you’ll need.

There are a few things you should do to help you find your horse if he is lost. Clip your phone number onto your horse’s neck. If someone finds your horse, then they’ll know how to contact the owner. Also, it’s a good idea to have your horse micro-chipped. This must be done by a professional, like your vet. If your horse is found, a vet can scan your horse to check for micro-chipping. A microchip holds information about the horse’s owner. If they find the microchip, then they will contact you. Having your horse micro-chipped before disaster strikes could be really helpful.

If you end up leaving your horse behind or staying home during a disaster, then you should take into consideration what you are going to do with your horse. Will you turn it loose or leave it in the barn? If you leave your horse in the barn, it will be sheltered. However, if you are dealing with a destructive disaster like a tornado or hurricane, then there is a chance that your barn could collapse on your horses, and they won’t be able to escape. If you leave your horse outside, there is a chance that they could be lost, but they can also have a chance at escaping danger. When deciding, take into consideration what you are dealing with. It’s a hard decision, but do the best you can.

Although you can’t always prevent things from happening, you can be ready for them. If you are prepared for a disaster, then it could save you or your horse’s life.