Flooding creates challenges for large animal rescue

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Monsoon storms can bring much-needed rain to the borderland, but for owners and large-animal rescues, heavy rainfall can create a different set of challenges.

At Horses Unlimited Rescue and Education Center Inc. in east El Paso, owner Victoria Davis says preparing for severe weather means thinking beyond shelter from the rain. When storms produce heavy runoff, standing water and muddy ground, and keeping the horses as well as the goats, burros, and chickens at the rescue, healthy and safe becomes more difficult.

For horses, their hooves can be especially vulnerable when they spend extended periods standing in wet or muddy conditions. Dirty or contaminated standing water and saturated ground can increase the risk of hoof problems, particularly when horses have prolonged exposure to those conditions, said Davis. Keeping hooves clean and dry when possible, while monitoring animals for signs of injury or infection, becomes an important part of storm preparation.

For a rescue caring for larger animals, flooding can also create logistical challenges. Heavy rain can make usually accessible areas difficult to navigate, potentially limiting access to feed, water, veterinary care and other supplies. Mud can also make it harder for horses and other large animals to move safely around their enclosures.

Davis says those challenges are part of the responsibility that comes with caring for animals during severe weather. As monsoon storms develop, horse owners and livestock caregivers may need to monitor drainage around barns and pens, identify areas where water tends to collect and make sure animals have access to higher, drier ground.

For both owners and rescue, the goal is not simply keeping horses out of the rain. It is making sure they remain safe and healthy before, during and after the storm. For Davis, that means watching the weather, and having a team of volunteers knowing where flooding could occur as well as being prepared to move animals if conditions become unsafe.

And after the rain stops, the work continues — with muddy and contaminated ground potentially creating additional concerns for the animals' hooves and overall health.