can horses sense a storm coming?

[Briony&Anakin]

I was just wondering about this. This last week ani has been a bit of a pickle (anyone else's horses been loons this week? He's only on hifi and benevit and some hay as grazing underwater at moment, he lives out) but not too bad just cheeky.

However yesterday when I got to the yard he was well and truly spooked, he was in his shelter munching on hay but he had broken quite a lot of his electric fencing (although had stayed in his paddock even with fencing in tatters), didn't think much of it and brought him in. He was so freaked out when we got onto the yard, he was like a time bomb ready to go!! Those of you that know ani he is very very quiet and chilled. It was pretty much clear skies when we left, and i picked a route ani knows off the back of his hand but the whole way round he was jumping, spooking, snorting, jogging, backing off and generally acting like hed seen a ghost! Sure enough, half way round the clouds and rain rolled in, along with thunder and lightning, so we picked up the pace and went home sharpish. His behaviour carried on like that all evening, however this morning he seems back to normal!

So, can horses sense a storm coming?!

 

[Sprout]

I would say they can - mine seem to get very edgy well before I am aware of a storm coming, especially yesterday!

My dog, who is terrified of storms also gives me plenty of warning.

Actually, my daughter finds her ears pop when a storm is on its way - change in atmospheric pressure I guess.

Glad you got home safely - you have a very special boy there.

 

[lcharles]

I think so, my toes click really badly two days before a storm too!

 

[Briony&Anakin]

Thanks for your replies guys!

lcharles - that is really wierd!!!!! lol!

That's interesting Sarah, my ears always pop when i put the aircon on in my car, same reason I guess?! Replied to your PM by the way

 

[PandorasJar]

99% of the time ours do and most will be out of sorts, regardless of if spooked or not. However last night not a single one stopped grazing (even the v spooky ones) and munched through crashing thunder, tipping down rain and lightening. Not one headed for shelter either

Pan

 

[Archangel]

Yes my old broodmare sensed it and would always alert her daughters. Even when they were 14 and 12 one trumpet from her and they went over to be parked in a safe place.

 

[staceyn]

Yes mine were very spooky and acting up last week when a storm was coming so I would agree they can sense it

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Very much so, particularly when a gale is forecast. The horses are more accurate than the Met office.