Preparing horses or other large animals for a wildfire evacuation requires an extra level of planning, preparedness, and practice. Building an evacuation kit (PDF, 8 MB) for each horse, and having a plan for them that’s been practiced, increases the potential your horse(s) will be able to leave when you do. If the wildfire’s proximity does not permit the time needed to load horses, it’s best to turn them loose and not leave them confined in a barn or pasture. Close the doors and gates so they can’t re-enter the area.
Learn more at the Fire Safe Marin Large Animal Evacuation page.
(Small animals need advance preparation too! – learn about pet evacuation here)
Marin Horse Council
The Marin Horse Council’s Equine Evacuation (EqEvac) fund is an existing fund that provides for emergency preparedness through our EqEvac program and resources when emergencies arise. Their EqEvac program has been assisting Marin County barns and horse owners in preparing for disasters since 2007, providing Marin County Equine Emergency Planning and Action Manuals to commercial barns and hosting disaster preparation meetings. The fund is also available to provide relief to local horse owners and equine businesses impacted by disasters, whether they suffered a loss or have taken in horses evacuated from other facilities. Donations can be made here online. You also have the option to mail a check. Please address mailed checks to: Marin Horse Council, Inc., PO Box 1723 San Anselmo, CA 94979 – and include “EqEvac” in the memo field.
The Marin Horse Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
