Woman rescues miniature horses from flooding in Louisiana

Four miniature horses have found good homes after one woman rescued them from Louisiana flood waters.

Valerie Hicks has run Little Hooves Miniature Horse and Pony Rescue in South Dakota for 10 years. According to the Argus Leader, she received a call from a woman in Louisiana that could no longer care for her five miniature horses due to severe flooding and other life events. Hicks traveled over 2,500 miles with her husband to pick up the horses. Sadly, one passed before they could arrive, but the other four horses were successfully rescued.

Hicks was able to raise over $1,000 on GoFundMe to support and rehabilitate the miniature horses before arranging new homes for three out of the four of them to loving new owners.

So how do you keep a horse safe in tense situations such as severe weather? If you live in an area prone to severe weather such as thunder storms and flash flooding, there are a few steps you should take.

Brandon Dominguez, DVM, MS told The Horse the best way to keep your horses protected is to have a pasture with some trees or a lightning rod nearby. A three-sided shelter provides protection as well as gives the animal a chance to flee if necessary. Flood waters can spread toxic materials and weaken your horse's hooves, so be certain you regularly clean out their hooves with a hoof pick and apply hoof conditioner. Always have a severe weather plan mapped out beforehand.