Saddle up, horse lovers. Uncle Sam needs you.

The new South Florida Veterans Multi-Purpose Center in Davie is developing its new Equine Assisted Therapy Program, aimed at helping heal veterans recently returned from the Iraq War.

Center Executive Director Robert Bambury, a Vietnam veteran, said professional mental health workers, psychotherapists and occupational therapists already are volunteering for the program, which will assist vets dealing with post-traumatic stress disorders and service-connected physical disabilities. But now he needs some horse experts to lend a hand.

“They could be sidewalkers, or help people pack up the horses, or show veterans how to groom them,” said Bambury, who himself has been around horses all his life.

Here is more information on the center, which runs on corporate and private donations. Besides the equine program, it offers counseling for returning soldiers and their families, and weekend retreats.

Many studies have shown the therapeutic benefits of companion animals. While dogs tend to be the creatures usually involved in animal-assisted therapy, there are “therapy horses,” too. Great Strides, a program in Maryland, uses interaction with horses to reach adults and teens with behavior and emotional issues.

If you’re a horse lover that wants to work with South Florida’s veterans -- or if you are a veteran that is interested in equine therapy -- call Bambury’s center at 954-791-8603. The center is located at 4311 SW 63rd Ave., Davie.

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Horses and other large animals need special care during and after storms. Broward County officials offer these tips as Tropical Storm Fay approaches. South Florida’s three counties all are under tropical storm warnings and flood alerts.

And be aware that even after Fay's winds and rain hav passed, standing water can cause problems with horses’ hooves and their feed. Now is the time to make your final preparations.

BEFORE THE STORM:

* Horses should be kept on the owner's or caretaker's property, if possible. If you plan to evacuate your animal out of the area, go early.

* In a Category 1 storm, animals may be safe in a sturdy barn. In a Category 2 storm or higher, animals are probably safest in a large pasture with room to move around, allowing them to utilize their best instincts if there are no electrical wires to come down and the fences are in good repair.

* Do NOT tranquilize your horse!

* Make sure your animal is well identified by spray painting your phone number on your horse's body; attach a fetlock band or mare band with your name address and phone numbers in permanent ink; braid a luggage tag into your horses mane or tail close to the body (be sure its water proofed).

* Be sure to have photos of you with your animals, showing any unique markings, to prove ownership.

* Be sure that your horse is wearing a leather halter which will make it easier for someone to catch your horse if it gets loose.

* Plan for water (20 gallons per animal per day) and feed and hay for your horse.

* Have on hand a supply of basic first aid items, i.e., bandages, anesthetics, etc.

* Do not stay with your horse! You cannot help a frightened, 1,000-pound animal, and you may get hurt.

PROTECTING YOUR ANIMALS FROM FLOOD WATERS:

* Move your large animals to high ground.

* Cleanse feet and hooves with iodine. Once the iodine dries, the feet and hooves should be covered with Vaseline or petroleum jelly for protection from standing water and infection.

* Feed and hay should be moved above ground three feet to avoid water damage and mold.

(Keep reading for links to more information).

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Just got off the phone with Fort Lauderdale author Vicky Moon, whose book, Equestrian Style: Home Design, Couture, and Collections from the Eclectic to the Elegant (Clarkson Potter, $65) has just been released. I'm working on a story about her book for an upcoming Home & Garden section.

Moon divides her time between South Florida and the town of Middleburg, Virginia - population 550. A Pine Crest graduate, she discovered her mother's riding boots in a closet when she was just seven years old.

"So my father - bless him - took me out to Davie to Mrs. Elliott's where I learned how to ride," said Moon. "I've never stopped."

Moon called on all of her horsey contacts for this book. She found fabulous homes from Saratoga Springs to Wellington to include in a book that will delight anyone who loves horses.

When I asked her for tips on recreating equestrian style in our own homes she said: "A horse helps, but it's not not necessary."

Obviously, a sense of humor helps Moon. Look for some South Florida book signings when she returns to Fort Lauderdale this winter. Find lots more info about Moon on her Web site.

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Eastern equine encephalitis cases are on the rise in Florida, with four times as many infections in the first six months of this year as for the same time period last year.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is advising all horse owners to get their animals vaccinated – and for people to take steps to reduce the mosquito population, as the insects transmit the virus.

There have been 45 confirmed cases of equine encephalitis so far this year. One last month involved a Palm Beach County horse that had to be euthanized. The disease is 90 percent fatal to horses. Symptoms include fever, listlessness, stumbling and circling.
There also has been one confirmed case of West Nile virus, which also is transmitted by mosquitoes, in a Madison County horse.

While vaccines aren’t foolproof, they are critical in fighting mosquito-borne viruses. State officials say owners should check with their vets to make sure their horses’ vaccinations and boosters are current

Click here for a fact sheet on Eastern Equine Encephalitis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Equine encephalitis also can be contracted by people, especially in rural areas, and can be deadly. Keep reading for what you can do to protect yourself and keep down the mosquito population.

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