In the wake of recent California wildfires, an animal rescue official reminds horse owners that planning is critical to helping their horses through natural disasters. “Whether it’s a threat of wildfires, floods, tornadoes or hurricanes, people in disaster-prone areas tend to become desensitized about the prospect of having to evacuate themselves and their animals,” says Terry Paik, DVM, veterinary response coordinator for San Diego County, Calif. “It’s important for people to have a plan.”

Paik says an effective disaster preparedness plan begins with the awareness that certain disasters can occur. After that, he recommends horse owners concentrate on the basics. “Most of the problems we see when we evacuate animals are injuries from horses kicking each other or from loading problems,” he says. “It’s critical that people train their horses to load into a trailer quietly, and get them used to being around other horses.”

In areas with large horse populations, Paik advises owners to talk with their neighbors to identify evacuation routes, post-evacuation assembly sites out of harm’s way, and locations where horses can be kept until the danger passes. He also recommends that neighbors pool an inventory of trailers and other transport vehicles, and that they keep those vehicles fueled and ready to go.

“The point is to have somewhere to go and a way to get their horses there,” he says