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Emergency Management Planning

Emergency Preparedness

Planning for emergencies such as earthquakes, fires, floods or other natural disasters or unexpected events which may interrupt your day-to-day caring for your horses is essential to ensure their survival and safety. Generally, where it isn’t safe for you, it isn’t safe for your horses, however, the need to evacuate horses should be carefully considered and the safety of all humans is paramount. Complete the NZTR Emergency Management Plan, linked below and review annually to ensure it's up to date.

Download Template

Complete an Emergency Plan

In an emergency, being well-prepared is essential.

  • Complete the NZTR Emergency Management Plan Here and keep it updated annually.
  • Consider all scenarios regularly and think of your responses, be familiar with each plan and how that might impact your decisions during an emergency scenario.
  • Call for help early.

 

Plan: It is essential to pack and be ready with both a home survival kit and a portable escape kit (examples below)

Feed: sufficient quantity and quality, that is easily accessible to allow all my horses to go untended for up to 5 days

  • Dry roughage
  • Grazing
  • Pelleted feed stored in a dry place

Water: access to sufficient quality drinking water for up to 5 days per horse, especially where the water supply may be interrupted or access to drinking water hampered in natural disasters

  • Water cans/ bins of water replaced every 4-6 months with fresh water

Identification: I can easily identify my horses and others will know who they belong to

  • Microchip details and horse records
  • Halters with ID tags/Neck ID tags
  • Hoof markers or pastern ID tags
  • Livestock markers or spray paint

First Aid: Minor injuries and illnesses can be managed without access to veterinary care.

  • Access to First Aid kit and supply of current medications prescribed
  • Spare halters and lead ropes
  • Blanket/ rugs
  • Farriers tools to remove horseshoes if required

Emergency contacts: I have emergency contacts for veterinarians and people who can help on hand and displayed. I have all horses’ veterinary records and ownership details accessible.

Emergency equipment: I have good tools and equipment ready to assist me and others helping me with emergency conditions i.e., trees down, broken fences, poor light or absent electricity, rubble or other hazards

  • Chain saw/ hand saws and fuel
  • Fencing materials, nails, hammer, other tools, safety gloves
  • Torches/ head lamps and spare batteries
  • Knife, heavy duty tape, baling twine, zip ties, shovel

 

 

Have I got a plan to deal with an emergency on my own property?

 

If an emergency occurred on your own property, are you prepared.

Your horses are your responsibility, so you need to consider them when planning for an emergency.

In an event of an emergency – Phone 111

Consider the following:

  • Keeping people safe must be your first priority
  • Can emergency services easily find your property
  • Do emergency services have quick and easy access to buildings and a water source, should they need it
  • Stable fire – what is your emergency plan, how are you going to get your horses out of danger
  • Fire, flood, earthquake – where can you move your horses to in urgency on your property
  • Other natural disaster – do you have an emergency plan to keep your horses as safe as possible.

 

 

Will my horses STAY at my property, or will they need to be evacuated?

 

When you may be required to evacuate your property, you will decide whether you are able to safely evacuate the horses or whether you will leave them behind.

The following points to consider:

  • Urgency and the safety of all people on the property
  • Local evacuation orders
  • Time and resources available to you
  • Where can you evacuate horses to? Neighbours / agistment/ racecourses etc.
  • How will you transport horses? Are all horses able to be easily transported?
  • Who will help?
  • Evacuation routes: have more than one in case your primary route is closed off

Will my horses which remain be stabled or turned out? Can I move them somewhere safer on my own property?


Depending on the emergency scenario, horses may need to be moved to a safer area on the property.

Consider the following:

  • Fencing and access to major roads or other hazards locally
  • Proximity of large tress or overhead power lines
  • Structural stability of sheds or stables
  • Ability of horses to get to higher ground unimpeded
  • Shelter from elements
  • Horse numbers, overcrowding, stress and risk of injury
  • Other hazards in leaving the property or getting to the property after an emergency evacuation and on-going risks to their care
  • If you can stay on your property, check that all the horses are contained and that fences have not been taken out by power cuts, fire, land slips, or flooding.
  • Consider opening gates within your property to allow your horses easy access to safe ground.
  • Do not open gates onto roadways or cut roadside fences.
  • Make sure your horses have access to clean feed and water in their new contained space until they can be moved back to their usual paddock/stable.

Things to consider

  • I have assessed the risks on my property and have considered when I will evacuate the horses and when I need to leave the horses behind
  • I have planned/ considered an evacuation site for my horses and a transport plan
  • I have planned the best place on my property to leave my horses, if needed
  • I have a site plan and everyone knows how to switch off the electricity and gas mains in an evacuation

Some items to consider including: 

  • Wound flush/ saline
  • Antiseptic solution, ie. chlorhexidine/ iodine
  • Cotton wool rolls x4
  • Sterile swabs 
  • Bandages 
  • Self-adhesive bandages, ie. Elastoplast
  • Disposable nappies (absorbent wound or hoof dressing)
  • Wound ointment or spray
  • Scissors
  • Thermometer
  • Towels and/or paper towel rolls

To consider:

  • Contains everything you and your horses may need to stay at home safely for up to 3 days (food, water, first aid care, rugs etc). 

To consider: 

  • I have a ready-to-go horse kit prepared which is easy to grab quickly in an emergency
  • I have horse equipment - blankets, buckets, halters and lead-ropes, temporary fencing and other transport safety equipment that is easily accessible 
  • I have a travel First Aid Kit
  • I have all horses' veterinary records and ownership details accessible
  • I have a plan to notify relevant people and family that I am evacuating and where I am taking the horses. 

Fire and Emergency Service – Dial 111

Police – Dial 111

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing – +64 4 576 6240

 

For general advice and assistance, contact your local Civil Defence Centre.
 

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) – www.civildefence.govt.nz

For general information about road access and telecommunications, contact your local Council’s civil defence team.

For animal welfare advice or assistance contact Ministry for Primary Industries (Animal Welfare)

Phone 0800 00 83 33.

Protecting animals in an emergancy:  https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/18830-Protect-your-Animals-in-an-Emergency-Livestock-and-Horses

Preparing for an emergency (MPI): https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/45328-Animals-in-Emergencies-Horses-Fact-sheet

Animal Evacuation Resources: https://www.animalevac.nz/resources/