Supported by the Westpac Natural Disaster Fund, three workshops were presented in the South Australian Sampson Flat fire ground in early 2016. This PowerPoint was supported by presentations given by the SA State Emergency Service and Country Fire Service Community Education Unit

1. Supported by the Westpac Natural Disaster Recovery Fund
Thank you to contributions from SA SES, Ben Birbeck and Jen Kay
iStock
www.horsesa.asn.au
Horse SA

2. Imagine….
What would it take for YOU to
recover from a disaster?
What situations could you find
yourself in?
What state of mind
will you be in?
Who can help?
What human and practical
resources do you need to help
get you, your horses and
property back on track?
How long will it take?
Photo: Jan Dodds

3. Start planning for recovery!
Lets work backwards to help us plan for the future.
 What personal planning, knowledge and skills do I need to be self-reliant?
 How could I prepare my horse property?
 How can I work with neighbours and my community to rebuild?
 Which government agencies can help me recover? How do I find out more?
Photo: Kirsty Dudley

4. We have a well managed property, with pasture cover and a diverse range of trees and plants.
This will help us become more ‘resilient’, bouncing back more quickly after a natural disaster.
We were ready to consider options for the management of erosion, which can occur after fire
and flood

5. We’ve set the scene for
re-uniting quickly with our
lost animals
Permanent ID
Brands (not the easiest way to quickly link a
horse and owner)
Microchip
Upload current photos to Internet, phone
& print out
Horse ID form ready to upload, hard copy
Semi-permanent (seasonal) ID
Tags secured into the mane
Collars e.g. broodmare collar style
Temporary ID
Livestock marker or paint
Permanent marker (texta) on a hoof wall
Sign on property noting number of animals
staying or relocated + contact details
We might become
separated from our
animals

6. Reuniting animals
with owners……
 Who is likely to find a
lost animal?
 Is ID clearly visible
from a distance?
 Remember: A photo
taken with a mobile
phone can be shared
(will the ID show up?)
 Frightened animals
are unlikely to be
easily approached or
handled by strangers
(and to read small ID)
 Large animals may be
‘guided’ into a nearby
holding area/paddock
DO NOT LET ANIMALS
OUT ONTO THE ROADPhoto: SA CFS
What might have the conditions been like?

7. This is how we avoided
unplanned separation
 A few ‘buddies’ were identified
outside of my geographic region-
one in each direction
 A temporary agistment
agreement signed/arranged
 Horses practiced loading into the
float and visiting the venue
 Our planning avoided the need to
shift horses two or three times
during the disaster as horses were
relocated well outside of our
geographic area
Photo: Sam Davies

8. Note: Showgrounds etc. may be
unlocked and made available but
should be considered more of a last
resort if your buddy system fails.
Points to consider:
 Horses will need full supervision
 Infrastructure may be old or
unsuitable
 Horses still need to be identified
 Horses of different ages, handling
and disease status may be mixing
e.g. stallions, unhandled horses.
 Animals of other species may also
arrive, with the owners expecting
to also use available horse yards
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9. As an owner with a horse on agistment
- Emergency procedures were included as part of our Agistment agreement
- The emergency plan of the property was known and practiced
- We knew what options there were to move or manage on site horses
- We had alternate agistment options identified for short and long term stays if our own
property, or the agistment property, was affected by a disaster
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10. Horses & large animals that
stayed on the property
 Were put in steel fenced (fire/flood resistant)
yards and/ or a low fuel load paddock with sound
fences near main buildings
 Or were left in paddocks with internal gates tied
open (NO boundary or front gates open)
 Or, if a flood threat, the gates to high ground
opened (perhaps as pre-arranged with a neighbor)
 Horses could not return to stables or enclosed
sheds, as these gates were shut
 Had fly veils, rugs and halters removed
 Were left with filled troughs (and +/- feed)
 Had temporary ID checked, supporting permanent
ID options
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11. Arena and yards can
serve as containment
areas if fuel load is not
high nearby. Feed and
water point, with an
access road or driveway,
makes it easier to
manage horses after a
disaster.
Image: equiculture.com.au

12. “With warnings of a disaster,
undertaking as many of the
animal job as possible the night
before and early in the morning
meant that I was free to care for
my family and see to job list for
preparing the house. I touched
base with agistees and
neighbours as part of our plans.”
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13. If the
emergency
services have
an
opportunity
to visit:
I can be
easily found
with clear
property ID
&
I know they
can fit in the
front gate
and turn
around

14. … And was of course careful never to enter any flood waters

15.  Check on all people
 Listen to emergency warnings and recovery advice
 Connect batteries and back up options (incl. communication), as power may be out
 Register with the evacuation centre if established, as there may be worried family or friends
Photo: Lucy Williams
We were prepared to check our property and drop in
on neighbours immediately after the disaster

16. After the event..
 Was aware that officials may visit to
check on humans, animals, assess
asset damage and check for hazards
e.g. asbestos
 Checked out driveways, lanes and
paddocks before returning stock
(broken fences, wash-away holes,
burning stumps)
 Clean and refilled troughs and
checked buildings
 Took photos for insurance, recovery
 Reported missing animals
 Organised veterinary attendance
 Buried carcasses (e.g. birds, native
animals) or arranged for burial or
removal of larger animals
Photo: Lucy Williams

17.  Knew ground could be ‘hot’ or boggy for weeks, horses were not left on unstable ground
 Inspected paddocks for roots and logs, which can burn for weeks (Contact CFS to put out)
 Where possible, we left fallen logs can be left in situ, to attract lizards, birds and wildlife for
the future health of the property overall
 Trees which were assessed as safe are left in situ may shoot again from the base, however
it may be a year before we will know if regrowth will occur
NRM AMLR

18. When checking over the animals
 Looked for signs of exhaustion if animals have have had to swim, deal with intense
smoke, flames or strong winds
 Kept an eye out for shock and hypothermia, even in summer
 Prepared myself for the fact that humane destruction may be required
I had prepared myself with knowledge on what sort of animal health issues to look out for
after different types of disasters e.g. after a storm
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19. “I also helped
neighbours check
for any animals or
wildlife which had
become injured,
trapped in dams or
got loose.”
Photo: SA SES
 There were plans in place for preferred temporary agistment for a month or more if animals
could not go back onto paddocks due to water logging, broken fences, residual heat or work
that needed to be done to restore pastures.

20. Recovery starts immediately,
at the same time as preparation for the next
disaster
Photo: Clare Chandler

21. Photo: Lucy Williams
We checked over damage to feed
Fortunately, most ‘concentrate ’ feed
first aid and grooming kits were in
rodent proof containers which also
provides some protection from
floodwater, fire or losing a roof in a
storm
Feed that had became damp or wet
was thrown out, as it grows mould
quickly and is dangerous, even toxic,
to feed out
All buckets, feed containers and
troughs were thoroughly cleaned out
after the disaster
Checked all water sources for
anything that could taint the flavour
leading to stock will refusing to drink

22. I knew where to find help
 Under the State Emergency Management
Plan is a group “Agriculture and Animal
Services” which includes PIRSA, RSPCA and
South Australian Veterinary Emergency
Management (SAVEM)
 I knew they could help with jobs which
include emergency animal response,
assisting to assess injured stock and if
required to arrange humane destruction
 I had a Property Identification Code (PIC),
which is required for some services
PIRSA Announced in media releases
RSPCA 1300 4 777 22
SAVEM 0477 055 233
NRM AMLR Natural Resources Adelaide &
Mount Lofty Ranges 8293 9100
PIC info:
http://pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/animal_health/property_identificati
on_code_pic
Photos: South Australian Veterinary
Emergency Management

23. It was good to know that at any time
emergency services can access the RED
BOX by my front gate
Inside are instructions for:
 Location of meter box (power)
 Location of water meter
 Location of fire extinguishers
 Instructions for operating the fire
pumps (also same info by the pumps)
 Listed other points on the property
the CFS or farm fire fighting units
could refill
 + ?
The box was also the designated
emergency evacuation meeting point for
the property.
Photo: Sarah Houstoun
http://ruralsafetysigns.co.uk/

24. Return to home
 When it was safe to return home the ID
that proved I was a local resident gave
me earlier access through police
roadblocks
 Proving I owned my horses, getting
straight on the phone to order
replacement feed by credit card and
other urgent jobs was made easier by
having copies of all my important
documents
The ‘list’
(hard copy off site and e-copy on smartphone
via ‘the cloud’) For example: Will, insurance
policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds,
passports, social security cards, immunisation
records, bank account numbers, credit card
account numbers and companies, horse and
livestock data.

25. I felt prepared as
 My human first aid was up to date
(which helps with animal first aid)
 I knew basic large animal rescue skills
 I had emergency “grab and go” kits
ready for humans and animals

26.  Planned several ways to get out of
the area
 Have hard copy maps in the
vehicle
 Filled my vehicle’s fuel tank so its
ready to go
 Knew how long each route will
take, in the dark, with a full horse
float
 Made up a list of people to let
know essential information
 Reminded myself that if an
emergency centre is established,
to register.
I had also….

27. Horse Emergency Kit (stay or go) was ready in my
float
(example items)
 Download Alert SA app
 Protective clothing, boots, face scarf
 Battery back up for smartphones
 Battery powered radio
 Food and water for 7 days
 Proof of ownership/ID
 Current veterinary medications
 Halters, leads, spare rope, hoof pick,
 Rug/blanket
 Emergency contact list
 Laminated, written instructions for feed & care
 Water bucket
 Wire/ fence cutters
 Knife & baling twine, duct tape, large cable ties
 Maps of local area
 Rubbish bags
 Torch & batteries
 Fly repellent
 Small electric fence kit
 Water purification tablets
 Equine first aid kit
Emergency Plus Includes GPS location

28. Equine First Aid Kits
(example only)
 Bandages/gauze swabs
 Betadine
 Saline
 Ointment
 Eye rinse,
 Wound gels
 Scissors & tweezers
 Thermometer
 Towel
 Non-adherent dressings
 Disposable gloves
 Current medications
 List of veterinary
numbers and SAVEM
number
Secured in waterproof
container
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29.  I enjoy being a part of my community
fire safe or ‘communities planning for
recovery’ group as I get to meet
neighbours and it helps me to keep up
to date with information.
 Our community has a local Facebook
group which members post reminders
about property maintenance jobs, and
on occasions swap equipment and
resources. We’ll use the page in
emergencies too.
Bushfire Survival Planning for Horse
Owners Horse SA/CFS Owen, SA.

30. Links to help plan for recovery
Open Paddocks SA
Horse SA website
CFS Community Fire Safe Groups
SES Community Safety (Flood, earthquake,
heat, storms)
NRM AMLR (property management)
Set up a local ‘Communities Planning for
Recovery group’ e.g. Scott Creek
Add useful Apps & numbers to your phone
e.g. Alert SA Emergency Plus
SA SES: 132 500
Emergency animal diseases: 1800 675 888
Emergency plant pest: 1800 084 881
SAVEM: 0477 055 233
+ your own list, e.g. vets, agistment iStock

31. Other useful links:
SA Government: Emergencies & Safety
Bushfires SA Assistance
Statewide Community Assist Database
Register. Find. Reunite. (Red Cross)
Lost & found horses and ponies South
Australia
Road closures during emergencies
Thank you to Jen Kay, Ben Birbeck (SA SES),
Malcolm Hale (Communities Planning for
Recovery) and NRM AMLR for assisting with
the preparation of this presentation
Supported by the Westpac Disaster
Recovery Fund
iStock

32. Horse SA
www.horsesa.asn.au
E: horsesa@horsesa.asn.au
Thank you
Horse SA works with and for horse
owners on a wide range of issues &
topics including sustainable land
management, recreational trails and
emergency preparation.
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