10 Tips to Create an Emergency Care Team for Your Horses

Last spring, I had two different events when I was suddenly unable to care for my horses.  First, the unexpected death of my father in England had me flying there that day with no idea how long I would be away.   About a month later, a horse jumped on my foot breaking my toe and causing severe soft tissue damage that prevented me from walking for several days.  Fortunately, I have a great Emergency Care Team which kicked into gear on both occasions to help look after the 12 horses on my farm.   

It doesn't have to be the death or illness of a loved one or your own illness or injury that causes the need for an Emergency Care Team.  An unexpected snow storm, transit delays or a car break down could delay or prevent you from getting home to feed your horses.  Whether it’s for a few hours, days or weeks, having an Emergency Care Team in place can give you one less thing to worry about in a difficult situation.

You need a plan in place that can be initiated by making one phone call in case of emergency.  Follow these 10 tips to create your own plan and Emergency Care Team for your horses and pets.

1. Ask 2 or 3 people to be your Emergency Care Team.  Have a contact chain so that you only have to contact one person and he or she will contact the others.  Have each of their contact information in your cell phone and make sure they each have the other’s information, as well. 
2. Spend some time showing each of your Emergency Care Contacts how the feeding and chores are done for your animals.  Make sure they are comfortable and competent handling your horses and pets to find out there are any problems. 
3. If you have house pets that will also need care in your absence, make sure your Emergency Team (or at least one member) has access to a house key.
4. Keep your Horse Care and Feeding Instructions posted or in a binder in your feed room and keep the information up to date.  Include feed, hay, supplements, medications and any special needs. Include phone numbers for your veterinarian and, if you board other people’s horses, the owners contact information.  I post a similar list for my house pets on the fridge in my kitchen.
5. Have a list with clear descriptions of each horse and pet (include photos if possible).  For the horses, include their paddock, stall and owner’s information.
6. Have one diagram of the farm lay-out showing where the paddocks are and which horses go where.  Have another diagram of the stalls in the barn.   Numbering the paddocks and stalls can help with this.  For example, Thunder goes in Stall #1 and is turned out in paddock #3 with Lightning. I have 4 bay mares that all share one paddock.  The oldest mare has to be separated from the other 3 because she gets different feed.  So it’s important that the helper is able to identify her
7. Make sure all horse and pet feed, supplements and medication are clearly marked.  I have 2 different pelleted feeds that look very much alike.  Don’t assume someone who is not familiar with your type of feed can tell them apart.  Give very detailed descriptions and locations.
8. Whenever you change the feed or turn out regimen for the horses be sure to update the instructions in your barn.  Getting the wrong feed or missing medication could have devastating consequences.
9. Prepare your instructions as if the person has never been to your home or farm before.  Break everything down to the smallest step and include reminders to check and fill water bowls, buckets and troughs at each feeding, lock gates, close stall and barn doors, turn off lights, which measure to use for feed and how many flakes of hay each horse gets at each feeding, timing of feedings, etc.  Be overly detailed.  In this case, too much information is better than not enough. 
10. Have a backup plan for horses or pets that are difficult to handle, are prone to colic or have other special needs.  Can the horses be left outside or in their stalls for a couple of days?  Can the dog be taken to a kennel or the home of someone they know well? I always tell my farm sitters that as long as the horses have hay and water, they’ll be fine for a few days.  It’s better to not feed grain than to give them the wrong feed.

Having an Emergency Care Team in place will ensure all the basic needs of your horses and pets will always be taken care of.  It will give you peace of mind when you are dealing with an already difficult and stressful situation.

In the comments below, share your experiences where you needed an Emergency Care Team for your horses or pets.


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Anne Gage Confident Horsemanship www.annegage.com www.facebook.com/ConfidentHorsemanshp www.twitter.com/AnneGage