Monday, November 26, 2018

Security Around the Horse Barn

As much as we would like to be able to just tie our horses to the trailer to watch a class at the horse show, leave the tack room open all day for ease of access for ourselves and clients, and not worry about the horses kept at the farm a couple of miles away, things can happen.  Equipment, tack, and horses can go missing due to theft.  Being careful and having a security plan in place can prevent the loss of valuable equipment and even the loss of a horse – otherwise known as rustling.

First the property.  Horse barn owners may want to consider placing some video cameras, or even trail cameras, to be able to observe who is coming and going around the barn.  Conspicuous camera systems are a good deterrent to theft, as long as they are placed where they are difficult to tamper with.  Camera can be on a wireless network, and images/videos can be stored for later review.  Cameras should have high resolution even at night in order to be able to identify who is coming and going.  They can be set to start recording when a motion sensor it tripped to save time in reviewing and storage space.

Alarm systems can be pretty simple, or can be very sophisticated.  They can consist of infrared beams or pressure sensors that will trigger an alarm when tripped.  However, around a barn there can be animals moving about that can cause false alarms, so set sensors so they aren’t tripped by raccoon, dogs, or cats that may be roaming around.  If there is no one close enough to hear an alarm, it is hard to investigate immediately, but the noise itself can be a deterrent.  Be aware that alarms can be tripped intentionally to get an idea of response.

Keep access gates and barn doors locked during hours when there should be no one present around the barn or paddocks.  If clients need to get to the barn during off-hours, they should have a contact number to gain access.  While a lock keeps honest people honest, they also provide a measure of deterrence to would-be thieves and helps keep valuable tack and equipment, not to mention horses, secure.

Perhaps the most important part of securing property is also the simplest – be observant about who is coming and going any given day.  Check references for a new farrier, feed dealer, or even new clients.  Ask friends and neighbors about anything unusual that may have happened, and enlist their help in being observant around the neighborhood.  Around a busy barn, it may be easy for a thief to grab some tack and load it into a truck or trailer, or just hitch up a trailer and just leave without people noticing until it is too late.  Again, be observant and ask everyone around the barn to also observe what is going on.

Now for the horses.  A lot of the things mentioned above will also protect horses.  Having good identification and good photos of each horse, including distinguishing features, is very useful and can be critical in recovering a horse that was stolen.  Many veterinarians and others recommend that horses be microchipped for identification and most veterinarians have microchip readers that aid in getting horses back to their owners. Freeze branding is an outward means of identifying horses and will deter theft is there is an obvious identifying mark that is registered to a farm or ranch. Several states record brands for identification purposes.

Horses have been stolen from horse shows and other places off the farm.  As was stated earlier, we should be able to tie a horse to the trailer for a short time while watching a class at a horse show without worrying about someone untying the lead rope and walking away with the horse, but this does happen.  Be security conscious when at horse shows, trail rides, or other equine events and take turns watching the classes while someone keeps an eye on the tack and the horses.  Being good neighbors while at an event helps keep everyone’s property safe and secure.

These are just a few things to consider in making sure that horses tack, and equipment stay where they are supposed to be.  Have conversations with family, friends, and neighbors and get other ideas to consider that won’t break the bank, yet will provide a measure of security around the farm and at events.  Implementing a few security measures is less expensive and less painful than replacing equipment or dealing with the loss of a favorite horse.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Hauling Safely and Your Driver's License


Eileen A. Coite
County Extension Director
Sampson County Cooperative Extension

 Having the right type of driver’s license and tags on your vehicle sounds simple enough, but is it? If you are hauling agricultural commodities and livestock, there are certainly rules and guidelines to be familiar with.  This is just one component to remember when driving on public roads, hauling ag commodities.  There are many guidelines to follow and be familiar with.  Today, let’s focus on the driver’s license.  

First, we need to think about what, who, where, and how something is being hauled. 
Is this a truck and trailer, a semi load of a crop or livestock, a tobacco trailer, etc.  There are so many different situations and scenarios, and it is difficult to address them all here, but hopefully we can scratch the surface. 

Let me mention two resources upfront that will help with questions.  First, the NC Highway Patrol is offering educational opportunities for NC drivers that haul livestock, horses, and other agricultural products.  Troopers in the commercial motor vehicle division are tasked with offering this education to us, and they are very thorough, knowledgeable, and willing to help us understand.  The second, very useful resource is a booklet created by NC Farm Bureau, titled “HAULIN’ AG:  A Guide to Transporting Farm Products and Equipment in NC” (Fourth Edition).  The booklet is a nice summary of federal highway laws that help us understand the many laws and regulations we must learn. 

A limited quantity of the Haulin’ Ag booklet is available at the Sampson County Extension Center and at the Sampson County Farm Bureau office, but also can be found on the Farm Bureau website:  www.ncfb.org under the public policy tab, or at www.HaulinAg.org .

There are actually six types of licenses available to drivers, three regular and three are commercial.  First, let’s review the rules for a regular driver’s license.  If you are exempt from requirements of a commercial driver’s license (CDL), this applies to you. 
Know the weight of your vehicle(s).  Every trailer (and truck) has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVRW) listed on the body of the vehicle.  Look for a metal plate on your trailer, which lists all specifications, including the GVRW.  For regular passenger vehicles, a class C regular license will suffice.  According to the DMV, a class C license allows you to “operate any combination of noncommercial motor vehicles that have a GVRW of more than 10,000 pounds and less than 26,001 pounds, as long as the driver is 18 years of age or older.”  

There are two other classes of “regular” licenses.  These are a Class A and Class B.  The only real difference between the two of these is that the Class A is for any vehicle towing a vehicle of 10,000 pounds or more and the Class B is for a vehicle that weighs 26,001 pounds or more. If the combined tow vehicle and trailer weigh 26,001 pounds or more, you will need a Class A license, but as stated earlier, if you tow vehicle alone weighs over 26,000 pounds, you will need a Class B license.  Another good place to find this explanation is simply on the back of your driver’s license.

Many drivers on the road today have a commercial driver’s license.  There are also Class A, B, and C types of CDLs.  The following drivers of vehicles are exempt from obtaining a CDL:

1.     Vehicles for personal use
2.     Military vehicles
3.     Emergency vehicles
4.     Farm vehicles (that meet all exemption requirements)
a.     Operated by the farmer or employees for the exclusive use of farm
b.     Used for the transport of agricultural products, supplies, or equipment to and from the farm
c.     Not use as for hire
d.     Used within 150 miles of the farmer’s farm

As you review these exemptions, please note that an exemption from a CDL does not include an exemption from the proper vehicle classification requirements.  

Please know that I am not an expert on these regulations, this is merely my research and interpretation of the law, and reviewing informational materials provided, such as the “Haulin’ Ag” booklet.  The real experts are the Division of Motor Vehicles and our NC State Highway Patrol force. Much of the information I have provided here can also be viewed at the NC Division of Motor Vehicles website, at www.ncdot.gov or directly from the General Statutes, found at www.ncleg.net . Another suggestion for specific questions is to call the NCHP Fayetteville office at 910-486-1058 and ask for a motor carrier section officer.

A free, special event will be held at the Sampson County Livestock Facility on Saturday, December 1, 2018 for horse owners and livestock producers, to review safety and maintenance procedures for trailers, as well as tips on having the right license, tags, etc. If you would like to attend this educational workshop offered by Cooperative Extension and the NCHP, please register by calling 910-592-7161.   Those attending are welcome to bring their trailer for a safety inspection.  Pre-registration is required for planning purposes.  Copies of the Haulin’ Ag Booklet will be available for those attending the workshop. 


Thursday, November 1, 2018

Equine Colic - Do's & Don'ts

Winter is coming and with the change of weather, we often see an increase in incidents of colic.  There are varying levels of "belly-aches" but all should be treated with proper care and caution.  Check out these guidelines to learn more:   https://thehorse.com/features/dealing-with-equine-colic/