THE effects of the recent devastating bushfires on the horse industry - and the progress of assistance to those affected - will continue for a long time, the Victorian Horse Council says.

Early estimates are that several hundred horses perished, about 50 are under intensive veterinary care and several hundred more under less intensive care.

So far veterinarians and their suppliers have been able to do this work at no charge. But that cannot last forever.

Lack of a secure identification system and database makes accurate estimations of the impact impossible.

Some daring rescues have been made. Rebecca Tedder was involved in one that saved 30 horses and took the picture with this article.

"On February 7, a dear friend of mine, Celia, from Kinglake West, called me, panicked and distressed for the safety of her partner and horses. The fire's speed gave her no time to load up her horses and she fled the house with her dogs and elderly neighbour," Rebecca said. Her partner was stranded at the Kinglake CFA overnight but was safely transported down the mountain the following morning.

On Monday, February 9, a post was placed by Sammi Whitehead, a friend of Celia's, on a Victorian horse forum asking how to get horses off the mountain.

"At that time, I had six floats ready to go and offered them to Sammi and Celia. Many others on the forum offered help and I soon arranged a convoy of 15 floats, along with people offering to help with dogs, cats and wildlife," Rebecca said.

"Another young girl by the name of Maddison then contacted us. She and her friends had eight horses in Kinglake and had tried everything to get to them but only residents were being given access.

"We contacted Trish from Pets Haven as Trish was going up and down rescuing cats and dogs.

"She immediately arranged safe passage through the road blocks via a contact in the police force. I had previously been in contact with Triple R Equine Welfare and placed my name on their database informing them that I had 60 floats ready to go. We formed a joint relationship with both Pets Haven and TREW.

"I rallied the volunteers to meet at the road block on Wednesday, February 11, at 10.30am.

"We managed to bring to safety 30 horses. Most were taken to Woodstock. Thanks to Sammi Whitehead and TREW we now have a property to offer as a refuge."

Sammi, TREW's Whittlesea/Kinglake co-ordinator, has so far been involved with 74 rescues.

"We all keep in daily contact. When floats are required or help needed to rescue animals great and small, they receive immediate response."