Come Hell or High Water

Are Your Horses Ready to Load?

By Patricia E. Skinner

July 13, 2021

The moment I heard that BC Wildfire Service barred locals from attacking the White Rock Lake wild fire the day that it started, I panicked. Even though the fire started only 10 acres in size and was about 40 km away, I instantly had a knowing that if it came down to evacuating my farm, I would logistically not be able to both relocate all my animals, and prepare my farm for the worst. I needed many hands on deck to get ready ASAP.

My list was a mile long and there was no way I could do it all alone. Everything else went on hold and six of the biggesthearted angel friends that a horsewoman/sheep farmer could have came from far and wide to help. I had taken a Farm/Ranch Firesmart Course (highly recommend!) after the 2017 Monte Lake fire scare and checked my notes for reminders.

We put in unbelievable hours day in and day out for weeks preparing for the worst: cutting out seemingly endless loads of cedar and juniper bushes (gasoline) from everywhere on the farm (including about 75 feet into the neighbouring forested property); weed eating every blade of grass and spreading gravel around the house, barns, arenas and round pens; cutting branches 6 feet up on all trees within 100 feet of buildings; moving flammables; covering hay and bedding; tuning up generators... on and on. We rigged up every spare irrigation pipe I could find and bought every sprinkler there was available to enhance the gravity-fed irrigation. We had water running everywhere possible; the curtain of humidity created within the core of the farm was very evident and, as history will tell, our preparation saved (my) Harmony Farm and all within.

“Need Help... Now!”

Two days after the fire started it was classed rank 4 “out of control” and had spread 14,500 ha towards Westwold and Falkland.

Dusk, July 16th, I got an emergency call from an old friend who lives on Douglas Lake Road. She was ordered to evacuate and had 3 horses that desperately needed a trailer ride out of there “now!” I quickly hooked up my 3-horse angle haul gooseneck trailer and headed out. It was dark when I got there and as she haltered her horses passing them to me with short worn lead lines, she mentioned that it had been years since two of them had been on a trailer and that was a stock trailer. One of them hadn't been off her property ever and... had never seen a trailer.

Even having extensive experience it took my more effective equipment and a couple hours for me to get her 3 horses loaded, but it wasn't relaxed or easy and the process beat me up pretty good. My friend thanked me profusely, stating that she herself could physically never have been able to get them loaded that night, especially feeling as scared and as desperate emotionally, with the fire so close.

“I Won't Leave Him Behind!”

August 2nd, I saw a post on the Falkland FB community page by a gal that had one horse, was in the line of fire and after having many horse people fail to load her horse, she was desperately reaching out for help, stating that she would never leave him behind if she got the order to evacuate. I heard her plea and carved out the time to help. Eleven years young, not started or handled much, her gelding had only been in a trailer as a weanling and besides having zero motivation to get on a trailer... was loved beyond the pale. I trailered over and took considerable time to work with her and her horse and, got him loaded. We loaded and backed him out of the trailer many times and I taught her the short version to load him herself so that if the time came to have to leave she'd know what to do.

Well, only 2 days later on August 4th, her evacuation order came. She got packed and had a friend come with a horse trailer. She tried and tried but this time, fear driven and with high emotion, she just couldn't get her horse loaded onto that dark cave on wheels, nor

Patricia Skinner

could her friend. Exasperated, at 1 AM she called me in desperation, accepting the risk to stay with him through the fire if she couldn't load him. Right away I rushed to help. By headlamp, I quickly got him in the trailer but... I can honestly say that even after 35 years of teaching professionally both traditional and natural horsemanship (including trailer loading/hauling/unloading) and having loaded many horses out of all kinds of emergency situations, I have never seen any horse so stressed as that night hauling that beloved horse to safety. He was terrified, claustrophobic beyond belief, tried his best to tear up my trailer and was totally soaked in lathered stress once we parked. So scared, he was frozen and unable to back up out of the trailer for over an hour. I was exhausted and felt so awful, wishing he had the preparation and trust in place, especially for such an urgent event.

Believe it when I say, the wrath of a wildfire and other sudden forces of nature do not wait for you to take hours to teach your horse to load! On that day, you barely have time to think, get your most important papers and cherished belongings packed, pets loaded, and run! There is no time to find someone to help, no time to cry, no time to worry. Panic serves no one and there certainly is no time for anyone or any horse to struggle, or anyone to be injured when a horse refuses to cooperate. It doesn't have to be that way!

Are You Ready?

Prior preparation really does prevent stress, desperation, panic, fear, trauma and even heart wrenching sorrow, for both horses and owners, every time. Living through such a devastating event is hard enough without the consideration of having to leave beloved animals behind.

During many personal rescues to evacuate horses from wildfires and natural disasters in Colorado, California, Idaho, Nevada, Florida and now BC, I have witnessed unnecessary horrors due to horses not being prepared to be trailered. I have seen horses force themselves through trailer windows, mangers and side access doors; throw themselves over backwards and over dividers; rear up through the roof and turn around in spaces far too small, breaking their neck and pelvis. I have seen people seriously injured by right-brained terrified horses, and I have watched people give up the fight and, in tears, turn their horses loose and pray for the best.

Horsemanship cannot pressure a horse into performance in the heat of the moment, and your horse's life versus certain death should never be a choice forced on you simply because your horse hasn't learned to trailer. Creating respectful leadership and effective communication principles that your horse can understand, trust and rely on for whatever purpose is a process; it takes desire, it takes a decision, it takes action and it takes some time, well before performance can be expected.

Please, for the love of your horses, and for your own emotional wellbeing, make time for the greatest service of all and prepare them for urgent calls to action whether that be from environmental threats like wildfires, flooding, mudslides, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, or even a sudden medical emergency that requires urgent trailering. Every horse should be able to get safely and calmly loaded, travel and then get out of any trailer, any time, for any reason, just because you ask. It should be a comfortable easy choice and happen calmly and safely without hesitation, force, fear or stress! You will be ever thankful for your preparation and your horses will be there, by your side, safe, sound and grateful.

Wake Up Call...

This past summer was a wake-up call for me. My friends and I saved my farm. The fire came literally 50 feet from my house and 10 feet from my irrigation line! Preparation saved precious animals, including 100 hair sheep breeding stock, 10 horses, dogs, cats, chickens and a guardian llama, as well as my lifelong investment and livelihood. All around my farm 32 homes burned to the ground. I cannot express my gratitude for getting prepared. Now... I feel compelled to offer help with a lifetime of professional horsemanship experience to any horse owner who is unsure whether they are prepared to load, haul and unload their horses at a moment's notice. I want to help you be sure... well before it's needed!

Don't Wait!

Winter is upon us and now is the time to get prepared for what the years ahead may have in store. Please, don't wait for an emergency to realize your horse doesn't load! Weather is unpredictable, emergencies do happen, and often life isn't fair, but you have the choice to be prepared in the best possible way to keep you and your horses safe. I would be honoured to help you and your horses confidently, safely and effectively accomplish that goal.

One on one and group workshops available. Rates upon request using my trailer or yours, your place or mine. Thank you for the opportunity! Call 250-682-8538.

Patricia was among the first to become a Certified CEF English Equestrian Coach in 1982. She taught English riding disciplines traditionally in the lower mainland until 1994, when she fell in love with Natural Horsemanship. Ever since, she has been a devoted NH Instructor/Clinician throughout the US and Canada. Passionately dedicated to empowering horse lovers to create the horse of their dreams, she offers beginner to advanced learning in a variety of workshops: Liberty, Trail, Bareback, Dressage, Jumping, Trailering, Problem Solving, Overcoming Fears and 'From The Hoof Up' Ground School. In her spare time she also trains dogs and operates a 'custom care' dog boarding kennel at her Monte Lake farm.

(See her farm listing in our Top Dog! section under PET CENTRAL)