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January 2025

Bushfire Season: Are You and Your Horse Ready?

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Preparation is everything when it comes to bushfire season. If you’re scrambling to create a bushfire plan as a fire approaches, it may be too late to ensure the best possible outcome.

Taking the time to plan ahead could save precious minutes — or even hours — in an emergency, which might make all the difference between keeping your horse safe or putting them at risk.

That’s why we’ve compiled a complete bushfire preparation checklist to help you, your horse, and your property stay safe when it matters most.

Create your fire emergency plan

Start by staying informed about Fire Danger Ratings. You can download apps or regularly check the CFA website for real-time updates to ensure you’re aware of changing conditions.

Decide on your ‘leaving point’ – the moment when you’ll act and move yourself and your horse to safety. It’s critical to set this point in advance, as leaving too late can put you at unnecessary risk.

Think carefully about how you’ll move your horse if the situation worsens. If possible, relocate them the evening before a high-risk day.

Safer locations like racetracks, local showgrounds, or a neighbour’s well-prepared property can provide a secure temporary refuge. Ensure you have a prearranged agreement with these locations, so you’re not left scrambling at the last minute.

Prepare your property

Preparing your property for bushfire season is essential to keeping your horse safe. Begin by reducing vegetation around your home – Victoria Emergency recommends mowing regularly and clearing your gutters to minimise fuel for a fire.

On Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger days, ensure your horse is free of any gear, particularly rugs, which can become hazards. Rugs may get caught on fences, melt, or overheat, causing serious burns.

Identify a safe area on your property for your horses in case evacuation isn’t possible. This should be a large, open space with minimal vegetation and, ideally, an easily accessible dam. Keep water troughs and dams full, as they can provide relief from heat and flying embers. Additionally, remove any flammable materials such as hay, feed, or equipment from areas near the horse’s shelter to reduce fire risk.

Do not lock your horses in a stable, holding yard or similar environment. The horse may panic and hurt themselves if confined. The building may also catch fire.

Instead, ensure all internal gates are open so your horse can move freely but take precautions to prevent them from accessing the main road. Loose horses can pose a danger to themselves, emergency service workers and others on the road.

Prepare your horse

When danger approaches, a horse’s instinct is to flee, which can make them difficult to manage in a crisis. This is why it’s so important to ensure your horse is properly identified. Microchipping is the most reliable option, but if your horse isn’t microchipped, you can write your name and phone number on them using a grease crayon.

In the event of a bushfire, you’ll need to move your horse well before the fire begins. Once it starts, it’s often too dangerous to relocate them safely. Practice floating your horse on days with a high fire danger rating to make the process smoother if evacuation becomes necessary.

Preparation is about readiness and confidence – for both you and your horse. Make sure they’re comfortable wearing a halter and being led, as this will help reduce stress in an emergency. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency kit packed with essentials like a halter, lead rope, water, and a first aid kit for your horse.

After the fire has passed

Once the fire front has passed, act quickly to protect your horse from further harm. Begin by moving them off the hot ground as soon as it’s safe.

Next, thoroughly check your horse for injuries, including burns and swelling. Facial burns are common, and horses may suffer swollen eyelids that prevent them from opening their eyes.

Seek veterinary help if necessary and sponge any burns with cold water until help arrives. If your horse is in visible distress or has significant injuries, seek professional help immediately.

Smoke inhalation can also cause possible complications that can persist for days after the bushfires. Agriculture Victoria recommends limiting exercise while smoke is still visible and providing plenty of fresh water.

Inspect the paddock for hazards before returning your horse to it. Look for and remove any unstable or fallen tree limbs, which may still pose a risk. Avoid paddocks with fallen power lines or damaged power poles, as these are highly dangerous. Be cautious of burned tree roots, which can create hidden, extremely hot pits that could cause serious injuries if stepped in.

Bushfire preparation checklist summary

  • Stay informed about Fire Danger Ratings and set a clear evacuation plan with a designated ‘leaving point.
  • Reduce vegetation, clear gutters, and keep water troughs and dams full for fire and ember relief.
  • Identify a large, open safe area with minimal vegetation and remove flammable materials near shelters.
  • Ensure horses are microchipped or marked with contact details and remove rugs on high-risk days.
  • Pack an emergency kit with essentials like a halter, lead rope, water, and a first aid kit.
  • Inspect your horse post-fire for injuries like burns or swelling, sponge burns with cold water and seek veterinary care if needed.
  • Inspect the property post-fire for hazards like unstable tree limbs, burned roots, or fallen power lines.

If you're ready to begin your emergency and natural disaster prep, stock up on Petstock’s horse first aid essentials today.

You can also visit Agriculture Victoria for further information on preparing your bushfire preparation plan.

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