It’s August in Colorado, and most summers that means there’s a haze on the horizon to the west, the late afternoon sun burns blood red, and the acrid smell of distant smoke blows on the summer breeze. Even when the fires are far away, the effects are acutely felt. Imagine how your horse feels.
Wildfire Safety
If you live in areas where wildfires are prevalent and evacuation is a possibility, make sure you have a plan in place. Sometimes it’s not the fire itself, but the smoke, that calls for evacuation.
Have an evacuation plan and route - all stable/household members should be informed and up-to-date on what to do, when, and where to go. Boarding barns should keep the evacuation plan posted in an easily visible place.
Wildfire prevention at home - keep 33 yards minimum defensible space around structures, and where possible, build barns and stables out of flame-resistant materials, such as metal.
Trailering - If you don’t have enough trailer space for all your animals, have a plan that includes friends or neighbors with trailers, the local animal emergency response team, or trailer for hire services who can help. Leading horses down the road or highway is NOT a safe way to evacuate.
Avoid synthetic materials - items such as nylon halters can melt in extreme heat and cause serious burn injuries to horses.
Evacuation with your horses - If evacuation becomes an imminent possibility, have your trailer hitched, packed, and ready.
Evacuation without your horses - If forced to evacuate without enough time to load horses, have a plan in place to help rescuers reunite you with your horses. Write your name, phone number, and address on the horse in a way that won’t get lost or detached (in sharpie on a hoof or on a tag attached to the mane or around the neck).
Shelter-in-Place - where evacuation is not an option, horses should be turned out in pastures or paddocks with vegetation removed, rather than inside a barn. This is still dangerous and should only be used when evacuation is NOT an option.
Wildfire Smoke
Smokey air can trigger a variety of health concerns for both horses and humans, from burning eyes, nose, and throat, to difficulty breathing. While we have the option to remain indoors, our horses often do not. Horses’ large lunges are not able to filter out smoke and the toxic byproducts of fire. Here are some tips to keep our horse safe, healthy, and comfortable during those smoky summer days - all of which are good for us to practice, ourselves, as well.
Limit exercise - inhaling smoke decreases airflow to the lungs, called bronchoconstriction (construction of the lungs’ airways), so if the smoke can be seen and smelled, try to keep movement and heart rate to a minimum in order to prevent any unnecessary smoke inhalation.
Drink plenty of water - water consumption keeps airways moist, which in turn keeps them free of smoke and ash particulates. Consider keeping your horse’s water close to their food (increases water intake) and even adding electrolytes to encourage them to drink more. If water is kept outside, such as in an open tank, empty and clean it regularly to prevent buildup of ash from the air, or try moving it indoors.
Air circulation - putting a fan in the stall or stable will help keep fresher air flowing, as well as keep your horse cool.
Mind your route - if trailering your horse, avoid roads and highways where the smoke is very dense, even with closed trailer windows. If trailering is necessary, find a route that doesn’t lead through smoke-heavy areas. Consider rescheduling outdoor riding events if smoke is present.
Observe - if your horse has a pre-existing health condition such as asthma (ROA), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, or other conditions related to the heart and lung, they may become more pronounced due to smoke inhalation. If a horse is having a heart time breathing, talk to your vet.
Even though we’re trying to stay indoors and out of the smoke ourselves, it’s important to keep our horses safe, healthy, and comfortable during wildfire season.