Tips Concerning Horses and Livestock

Store photographs and copies of registration and brand papers for horses and livestock at a location away from your home. Evacuated horses cannot legally be returned without proof of ownership. Provide identification for horses and individual livestock. Keep halters available with nametags or telephone number marked on them. In emergency evacuation situations you can also use marked duct-tape collars or spray paint phone numbers on the sides of horses to provide identification. Maintain an emergency evacuation packet in your livestock area where emergency crews will clearly see it. Heavy sheet protectors or various brochure boxes are valuable in protecting and displaying this information. Provide the number of animals and description of each horse as well as any pertinent information regarding transportation, care, medications and special housing needs. If at all possible, have adequate trailer space for transporting all of your livestock. Make sure that all of your horses will easily load into trailers. If necessary, seek professional help in teaching horses to load quickly and safely. Failure to train horses to load easily risks the lives of horses, owners and emergency crews. Should emergency crews need to use your trailer to move your animals, it is essential that a hitch be readily available that fits that individual trailer. Avoid unnecessary lightning risk in pastures. Provide shelter for horses and fence off isolated trees where horses may congregate in storms. Prepare for severe blizzards. Colorado can experience blizzards that exceed 3 feet with blowing and drifting snow. You may be without power and water for several days. You should keep at least 10-14 days of feed on hand in the winter. A woodstove or camp stove can be used to melt ice and snow for water. Keep horse blankets and a first aid kit available. Make certain your personal winter gear is adequate for your family.