Despite high winds and heavy flooding, horses in Louisiana weathered Hurricane Ike’s assault on the Gulf Coast with relative ease thanks to evacuation plans executed just weeks ago in advance of Hurricane Gustav.

“About 50 horses had to be moved to higher ground over the weekend because of flooding,” said Rebecca McConnico, DVM, PhD, Dipl ACVIM, Equine Branch director for the Louisiana State Animal Response Team. “But most horses that were removed before Hurricane Gustav were still out of harm’s way.”

That was the case for Sandra Young, whose 20 Quarter Horses were already on higher ground last Friday when Hurricane Ike’s storm surges inundated the Vermilion Parish, La., farm where they had been in training.

Cows seek higher ground after Hurricane Ike sideswipes Louisiana.

Even when they do, evacuated horses still might not return to their homes immediately.

“Many farms suffered excessive wind damage to barns and fences,” said McConnico. “It’s going to take a while get repairs done before some of these horses can come home.”

In the meantime, Young is making arrangements to get her horses out of Louisiana altogether.

“My husband is in Louisiana now, and we’re hoping to start getting our horses back here to Florida this week,” she said. “Then we’ll take some time to regroup.”