The bond between horses and their human owners is strong. Horse owners in hurricane prone areas have a large responsibility to be sure that their animals are provided for in the event a hurricane threatens their area. As in many areas of our lives, planning well in advance pays off. It’s best to have a plan in place to help protect and ensure the safety of your animals well before hurricane season begins on June 1.

In a Category 1 or Category 2 storm, horses will be safer in a strong, secure barn or stable.

In a Category 3 or Category 4 storm, they may be safer outside with adequate space and safe environment. Hurricane warnings indicate that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified area. Hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph), the hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds to allow for important preparation.

Once a hurricane warning has been issued, a horse storage site will open for horses pre-registered and approved for the Town of Davie Horse Release Program. The storage site will reopen to retrieve your horses when the winds have subsided to a minimum of 40 mph, or when it is deemed safe by emergency personnel. Town staff will contact you as soon as we are able to reopen and arrange the safe release of your horse.
Broward County has enacted the “Large Animal Disaster Plan” which identifies all post hurricane needs for horses. The Large Animal Disaster Plan addresses such as horse injuries, facilities to hold horses post storm, and guidelines for horse recovery. For more information visit their website at http://www.broward.org/Hurricane/AtoZ/Pages/LargeAnimalsBeforeEvent.aspx or contact the Broward Emergency Management Division at (954) 831-3900 .
You are encouraged to visit the site for yourself before completing your registration form to determine whether you feel it is safer than your current situation. If you have any questions, please contact Taylor Williams at (954)797-1181 or [email protected]. In order to reserve a space for your horse, please complete the questions when you register and email all required documents to [email protected].

Horse Release Program Information
Payment Procedure
A registration fee of $20.00 (January 1st to May 31st) and $40.00 (June 1st to November 30th) per horse will be required via check or credit card at time of registration.

Registration
Registration is required prior to bringing your horse to the site. On-site registration is not permitted.
1. Complete and sign Registration Form and General Release Agreement.
2. Proof of Davie residency including photo ID and current utility bill.
3. All horses must have an official report of a negative Equine Infectious Anemia test (EIA or Coggins test) dated within 12 months of the blood sample being taken.
a) Foals under 6 months of age, accompanied by their dam who has proof of an official, negative EIA test are exempted from test requirements.
6. Horse profile information including the following:
a) Horse photo b) Horse name c) Owner name d) Address e) Emergency contact numbers
Stallions will not be permitted. The Town will provide feed and water, please do not bring hay or feed. Transportation to and from the site is the responsibility of owner. Horse trailers are not permitted to stay at the park. Please make sure all medicines have been administered prior to release. Re-entry will not be permitted once horse released until storm has concluded.

Identification
Positive identification for each horse must be confirmed before removing your animal(s) from the site:
1. Spray paint your telephone number, including area code, on the side of your animal(s) with a contrasting shade of acrylic paint; or
2. Braid luggage tags into the mane and/or tail of your horse(s) with your name, address, telephone number. Be sure the information is written in waterproof ink, and take steps to waterproof the tags themselves; or
3. Fetlock or mare bands with the appropriate information in waterproof ink; or
4. Include your Equine’s micro-chip Identification number on your application.