Equestrian Hurricane Info

Hurricane season is upon us, so horse owners must prepare themselves, their barns, and horses in advance for evacuation and other recommended tasks related to hurricane preparedness. This page contains general information to help the Town of Loxahatchee Groves equestrian residents stay storm ready. 

Before the Storm


Horses

  • Vaccination: All horses should have a tetanus toxoid vaccine within the last year. Due to the significant increase in mosquitoes after massive rainfall, all horses should receive West Nile virus and Eastern/Western Encephalitis vaccinations at the beginning of hurricane season. If your horse has not been vaccinated in 4-6 months, they should receive a booster now.
  • Coggins test: A negative Coggins test is necessary if the horse needs to be evacuated to a community shelter or cross the state line.
  • Health Certificate: A health certificate is required to cross the state line. This may be necessary for the evacuation of coastal areas.
  • Identification: Each horse should be identified with at least one if not all of the following:
  • A leather halter with name/farm information in a sealed plastic bag secured to the halter with duct tape.
  • A luggage tag with the horse/farm name and phone number braided into the tail. Make sure this is waterproof.
  • Photos of each horse as proof of ownership highlighting obvious identifying marks.
  • Evacuation: Evacuation of flood plains and coastal areas is recommended. Evacuation must occur 48 hours before hurricane-force winds occur in the area. Transportation of horses when wind gusts exceed 40 mph is dangerous.
  • Should horses be left in the pasture or placed in the barn? If the pasture has good fencing and limited trees, it is probably best to leave the horses outside. Well-constructed pole barns or concrete block barns may provide safety from flying debris, but the horses may become trapped if the wind collapses the building.
  • Electrical lines: Keep horses out of pastures with power lines.
  • Trees: Trees with shallow roots will fall easily under hurricane-force winds and can injure the horse or destroy the fencing.
  • Fencing: Do not keep horses in barbed wire or electric fencing during a storm.
  • Fire ants and snakes will search for high ground during flooding. Carefully look over the premises and feed for these potential dangers.


Farm

  • Water
    • Each horse should have 12-20 gallons per day stored.
    • Fill garbage cans with plastic liners and fill all water troughs.
    • Have a generator to run the well if you have large numbers of horses.
    • Keep chlorine bleach on hand to add to contaminated water if necessary. To purify water add two drops of chlorine bleach per quart of water and let stand for 30 minutes.
  • Feed storage
    • Store a minimum of 72 hours of feed and hay (seven days is best). It is very possible that roads will be closed because of down power lines and trees, limiting access to feed stores. Cover hay with waterproof tarps and place it on palates. Keep grain in watertight containers.
  • Secure all movable objects
    • Remove all items from the hallways.
    • Jumps and lawn furniture should be secured in a safe place.
    • Place large vehicles/tractors/trailers in an open field where trees cannot fall on them.
  • Turn off the electrical power to the barn
  • Emergency first aid kit
    • Bandages (leg wraps and quilts)
    • Antiseptics
    • Scissors/knife
    • Topical antibiotic ointments
    • Tranquilizers
    • Pain relievers (phenylbutazone or Banamine®)
    • Flashlight and extra batteries
    • Extra halters/lead ropes
    • Clean towels
    • Fly spray
  • Emergency tools
    • Chainsaw/fuel
    • Hammer/nails
    • Fence repair materials
    • Wire cutters/toolbox/pry bar
    • Fire extinguisher
    • Duct tape


After the Storm


Carefully inspect each horse for injury to the eyes and limbs.

  • Walk the pasture to remove debris. Make sure that no Red Maple tree branches fell in the pasture. Just a few wilted leaves are very toxic to horses. Clinical signs of Red Maple toxicity are dark chocolate-colored gums, anorexia, and red urine.
  • Inspect the property for down power lines.
  • Take pictures of storm damage.
  • If your horse is missing, contact the local animal control or disaster response team.
  • Visit Florida’s Division of Emergency Management’s website for more information regarding general emergency management. 


Resources and Assistance