A brief overview relating to horses and people. Key links below:
https://www.horsesa.asn.au/noticeboard
https://www.horsesa.asn.au/horses-emergencies
The event was run in partnership with Livestock SA
https://livestocksa.org.au/
https://www.myhorsedisasterplan.org.au/
2. Health – initial & ongoing
Land – initial & ongoing
People and horse/animal
welfare
Travel card for horse float
https://www.horsesa.asn.au/horses-emergencies
3. Horse health – initial
• Injuries (burns, fence injuries, smoke inhalation etc.)
• Colic (stress, dehydration etc.)
• Laminitis (stress, fire related, sudden diet changes etc.)
• Changed behaviours (depressed, hyper-sensitive)
Remove horses from burnt ground
Clean water supply & storage (tanks), feed off ground
Check horses daily very carefully as burns take some time to
come through
Group horses with social /friends in mind
Reduce introducing new stresses e.g. travel.
Share the load of nursing injured horses, it can take many
weeks of daily care.
https://www.slideshare.net/SAHorse/how-to-get-my-horse-
through-bushfire-injuries
https://www.slideshare.net/SAHorse/triage-of-
horses-pinery-fires-2016-dr-lidwien-verdegaal
https://www.slideshare.net/SAHorse/management-of-large-animals-through-bushfires
Presentation with
voice over
https://www.youtube
.com/watch?v=z7dcN
wXf-
eA&feature=youtu.be
4. Six months after Pinery Fire with Dr van den Boom
https://youtu.be/XZRB0vGc7m8
Horse health – ongoing
Discuss with your veterinarian as may or may not self-resolve:
Sand/ash accumulation in the gut and airways
Hooves (supplements, hoof trimming techniques)
Blood tests (kidneys etc.)
Dietary requirements (supplements, ration make-up etc.)
5.
6. Strategies talk includes idea for IBC use – Nick Stuart https://youtu.be/RZpxaseJsmo
Property Management The EPA SA website has info on handling
treated timber after fire. If you have any to
dispose of - register with your Recovery
Centre for pick up at a later date by EPA.
Environmental risks
The chemicals and heavy metals present in
the ash from burnt CCA treated timber
poses a risk to groundwater and surface
water quality, human and animal health,
and soil quality. CCA treated timber, when
wet, generates a leachate that contains
traces of heavy metal salts of copper
chromium and arsenic, which may impact
on soil and ground/ surface water quality in
some environments.
https://www.epa.sa.gov.au/environmental_i
nfo/waste_management/burn_damage
Contact for advice if available fact sheets
not sufficient or potential to develop new
fact sheets asap. E.g. Dam water quality
• Awareness about/ management of risks e.g. Asbestos, treated timber
• Future hazards –rainfall – ash –into dams, blocking drains or dust/high wind.
• Cleaning plan – water tanks, water collection areas e.g. stable roof
• Seek NRM advice and past experiences of fire affected horse property
managers about resting paddocks, regrowth (may be increased native
grasses in some spots until out-competed?).
• Soil: manage erosion- avoid a rush to spray out weeds without a plan to
replace with other pasture plants. Secure hay for 12 months supported with
yard use, or agist off-site.
7. https://www.equiculture.net/
Before and after horse property
success stories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
SlT6GzQhKmw&t=7s
Property design
Is there an opportunity to redesign the
property to one that is better for the land
and horses than the layout previously?
Equicentral may be one system to look at,
as saves on infrastructure $ and takes into
account the grazing behaviours of horses.
10. Buddy up, have a regular
cup of tea and check over
the horses
Refer a friend
Pass a note over to a red
cross person
Draw a picture to ask for
help
It’s OK not be OK
Check out the recovery centre resources
Online, hotlines
Horse-centred recovery focus option
Reminders to bring back routine e.g. check
list on fridge to feed animals
Take lots and lots of photos to help see
incremental progress