Equine Health & Welfare / Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness
When an emergency occurs, equines and equine owners are affected – horse owners and custodians are often left on their own to manage the horses in their care; the first priority of responders is humans. Experience has shown that a lack of equine emergency structure creates human and animal safety issues and has a negative impact on the response of first responders and municipal emergency coordinators to the actual emergency.
All municipalities in Alberta are required to have an Emergency Preparedness Plan in place. In 2017, we created and shared equine emergency guidelines and templates with all municipalities and communities in Alberta, to incorporate into their plans. Your municipality or community will have the resources to assist equine owners; we suggest you contact them for assistance with your plan(s).
Be Prepared - Over the past decade, we have seen an increase in natural disasters and the effect this can have not only on humans but on the herd as well. During the floods of 2013, we stepped up to help equine owners and livestock; during the horrific forest fires in 2016, we initiated fundraising efforts for hay, feed, and transportation of equines to new locations. During the pandemic, we raised funds to ensure equines in the province had the necessary feed and supplies that owners could not afford.
You can help by being prepared for emergencies. Create your plan(s) and review them each and every year!
2024 Alberta Wildfires
Wildfire season officially starts March 1 and runs until October 31 each year.
Wildfires can affect homes, farms, and communities in forested or grassland areas. If a fire is near, protect yourself, your loved ones and your animals by following directions from authorities and be prepared to evacuate.
Emergency preparedness for farm animals and livestock and resources to create your plan.
If you are interested in helping equines in need, please complete this form.
If you are in need of equine assistance, please view this directory.
*We will not be coordinating the transport of feed or horses, so it will be directly between those who need help and those who offered help to coordinate any interaction.
Directory Disclaimer: The Equine Emergency Help Directories created for equines in need is a neutral venue for horse owners and providers of horse-related services to find, communicate with, and interact with each other. The Alberta Equestrian Federation (“AEF”) does not screen horse owners or service providers in the emergency directory. Service providers are not under the direction or control of AEF and have the sole discretion on how to provide services requested by the horse owners. All transactions conducted using the emergency directories are between the horse owners and service providers. Horse owners and service providers are solely responsible for making decisions that are in the best interests of themselves and their horses and should exercise caution and independent judgment before engaging a service provider or providing services. AEF makes no representations or warranties about the quality of services provided by the service providers or about the horse owners’ interactions and dealings and AEF expressly disclaims liability for any actions or omissions, claims, injuries, loss, harm and/or damages arising from and/or in any way related to the interactions or dealings between horse owners and service providers.
Please consider a donation to our Equine Emergency Disaster Fund.
Additional resources:
Animal Health Emergency Management and Livestock Evacuation and Documentation Form