Cannot ride my horse due to static electricity....

[cavalier123]

Basically, my pony has got so much static in his coat (over the past week, not been a problem before) that touching him causes a shock. He doesn't wear a rug at the moment, it's purely down to anybody touching him, so not me. Not due to brushing, just touching :-( I'm in the process of backing him, but twice he has been shocked at the mounting block so I have had to stop working with him. I've done a bit of research, but most people only seem to experience problems taking rugs off, or when brushing, can't find anything on riding.. It happened when I tried to lie over him and also when i gave him a treat. From what i have read I need to wear cotton only clothing and try rubbing him down with show sheen to remove static. Just wondered if anyone else has ever experienced this when riding and has any suggestions?

 

[Cobbytype]

Static is more of a problem in a dry atmosphere, so try dampening your pony's fur a little by dipping the grooming brush in water, or wipe him over with a damp cloth. Dampen your hands before handling him too.

 

[SEL]

What are you wearing on your feet? I have one pair of wellies that are awful for creating static

 

[Bubblewrap]

I know this sounds totally random but when my daughter was young she did a lot of ballet, and had fine static hair, the only way to control it was a light spray of hairspray. Im wondering if something like that might help! I did say it was random!

 

[cavalier123]

Static is more of a problem in a dry atmosphere, so try dampening your pony's fur a little by dipping the grooming brush in water, or wipe him over with a damp cloth. Dampen your hands before handling him too.

Thank you for the suggestion, I will try that!

 

[cavalier123]

What are you wearing on your feet? I have one pair of wellies that are awful for creating static

I had a pair of chameau wellies on the other day, today I had jodhpur boots on, didn't get a shock today, but didn't try lying over him. So worried to try again as I just can't risk him thinking that every time I mount he's going to get a shock... May be the wellies though, I will try again, when I'm feeling brave!

 

[cavalier123]

I know this sounds totally random but when my daughter was young she did a lot of ballet, and had fine static hair, the only way to control it was a light spray of hairspray. Im wondering if something like that might help! I did say it was random!

Random is good! Anything I can do to fix it has got to be worth a try, not sure about putting hairspray on his coat though, but I could try a bit on a cloth and see what happens maybe.

 

[Bubblewrap]

Random is good! Anything I can do to fix it has got to be worth a try, not sure about putting hairspray on his coat though, but I could try a bit on a cloth and see what happens maybe.

Yes, maybe not spray direct onto coat, although I fix plaits with hairspray, a cloth is a good idea. I got a shock off our boy once when i slid a rug off him, we both jumped and he snorted at me as if i'd done something bad to him. Not had it since.

 

[cavalier123]

Yes, maybe not spray direct onto coat, although I fix plaits with hairspray, a cloth is a good idea. I got a shock off our boy once when i slid a rug off him, we both jumped and he snorted at me as if i'd done something bad to him. Not had it since.

Aww poor boy, it's horrible because they don't understand why! Makes me so sad that he's being so good to back, but we've got this problem and it's hard to risk shocking him as it could become a big issue if it carries on. Yes, lots of posts about getting shocked taking rugs off, but none about riding.Although I think it's the laying over him that's the problem....

 

[Puzzled]

I wore a mojo band...definitely stopped me getting static off my car door etc which was a real nightmare...just wondering if u can get something similar for horses?

 

[Sukistokes2]

Just to say I have one pair of boots that make me very static, rest of the time I'm ok.
Maybe your static to? Are you worst in one particular pair of footwear? Just a thought

 

[Gloi]

Earth yourself before you touch him. If you have wellies on either take one off and stand on the ground or touch the floor or a metal pipe with your hand. A water spray will help too.

 

[alainax]

Do you have long hair rubbing on your back? I get shocked all the time and put it down to this!

 

[Embo]

Urgh I get awful static this time of year, especially getting in/out of the car! I know they are coming so I quickly grab the top of the car door once I've climbed out. Get it over and done with.

Last year my horse was very static taking rugs off etc. This year for him nothing so far. Just me! Some days I can feel it in my hair, so annoying. Funny isn't it how static shocks do not hurt at all but they are so unpleasant!

 

[Llewellyn]

So the other day I saw a sign in petrol station asking people to discharge their static by touching their car before using the petrol pump.
Not something I'd ever considered before but maybe discharging yourself on your car may reduce it. I did think it was made worse when horses were moulting. So maybe it will pass before too long when the summer coat it installed fully.

 

[KAZJAZ]

I've been getting a lot of static shocks this past couple weeks and I put it down to the fact its been so dry here and my rubber wellingtons, I have had them a couple months but it had always been wet/muddy...

I get shocks when I take her rug off, if I'm grooming, closing the window's at work and the worst ones are when I get out the car!! I'm hoping it stops soon!

 

[Queenbee]

I have been having a right old time when I drive my mum's car, and not little shocks -HUGE painful shocks. When I drive my car I am fine, but mums - with trainers or yard boots - no such luck. I have taken to touching the floor upon opening the door... works for me.

Since grounding yourself is key OP and obviously this is awkward to keep doing whilst grooming how about sticking a sewing needle in the outer part of the sole of your boot... or super gluing some form of metal to your sole... I don't mean the entire sole, just enough to ground you. May sound a bonkers idea - Im just thinking on my feet here. Also technically, once in the saddle it should not be an issue as the horse will constantly be grounding you both - unless he has rubber hoofboots on

 

[cavalier123]

I wore a mojo band...definitely stopped me getting static off my car door etc which was a real nightmare...just wondering if u can get something similar for horses?

Thank you! Had a google, but can't find anything...

 

[cavalier123]

Just to say I have one pair of boots that make me very static, rest of the time I'm ok.
Maybe your static to? Are you worst in one particular pair of footwear? Just a thought

I've probably got some static, but not getting shocks, so not really sure. Can't seem to identify any shoes that are worse, but google does say that Rubber soles can make static worse, was surprised!

 

[cavalier123]

Earth yourself before you touch him. If you have wellies on either take one off and stand on the ground or touch the floor or a metal pipe with your hand. A water spray will help too.

Thank you! Tried this today and it seems to have helped, no shocks, but reluctant to try mounting again just in case...

 

[cavalier123]

So the other day I saw a sign in petrol station asking people to discharge their static by touching their car before using the petrol pump.
Not something I'd ever considered before but maybe discharging yourself on your car may reduce it. I did think it was made worse when horses were moulting. So maybe it will pass before too long when the summer coat it installed fully.

Yes, have come across that with the car, worrying, could be so dangerous. Didn't know about moulting making it worse, but that would makes sense as had him since October last year and not had this problem before now.

 

[cavalier123]

I've been getting a lot of static shocks this past couple weeks and I put it down to the fact its been so dry here and my rubber wellingtons, I have had them a couple months but it had always been wet/muddy...

I get shocks when I take her rug off, if I'm grooming, closing the window's at work and the worst ones are when I get out the car!! I'm hoping it stops soon!

Ooh, poor you, that's a lot! I'm not getting any apart from when I try to get on the pony... Seems it is my pony who is holding the static not me so much. But, I am going to stop wearing my lovely warm and waterproof wellies and try my old jodhpur boots with the holes in instead... hope your shocks stop soon too!

 

[cavalier123]

I have been having a right old time when I drive my mum's car, and not little shocks -HUGE painful shocks. When I drive my car I am fine, but mums - with trainers or yard boots - no such luck. I have taken to touching the floor upon opening the door... works for me.

Since grounding yourself is key OP and obviously this is awkward to keep doing whilst grooming how about sticking a sewing needle in the outer part of the sole of your boot... or super gluing some form of metal to your sole... I don't mean the entire sole, just enough to ground you. May sound a bonkers idea - Im just thinking on my feet here. Also technically, once in the saddle it should not be an issue as the horse will constantly be grounding you both - unless he has rubber hoofboots on

Hi Queenbee, thank you so much for your reply, I think you have helped me work out what is going on.... I put my grass mats onto my stony yard the other day for mounting practice, and pony is standing on the grass mats, so not grounding... So if I move the grass mats I should be okay, but I use a plastic mounting block, so when I get on the block, I'm not grounded... Do you know, if I touch the ground before getting on the block, will that get rid of any static in me and then when on block if touch horse, he is grounded so should be okay, no shock???? Feel stupid have googled a lot but still don't completely understand it :-(

 

[Celtic Fringe]

As Queenbee says don't wear rubber boots - or at least put a couple of metal tacks in the soles to earth them. Touching the ground or something metal before you get on the mounting block should help. You can buy strips of copper tape from garden centres (to put round pots to stop slugs and snails getting in). If you stick one of those across the top of the mounting block and down to the ground that might also help as it will earth you when you stand on it. If the grass mats are plastic or rubber then as you or the pony move on them it might be causing friction and building up the static charge making the problem worse (like rubbing a balloon on your jumper and then putting it near your head to make your hair stand on end!). Hope you find a solution soon - static shocks are horrid.

 

[Dave's Mam]

I'm terrible for static, my cats hate me, I shock their noses.

Ground yourself as above. Hitting the car gives me a right wallop!

 

[Beausmate]

I don't know about the horse, but to stop shocks from a car, grab hold of the edge of the door before you step out. I never get shocks from my car, as it has leather seats, but OH's is terrible!

 

[southerncomfort]

I had exactly this problem with a pony once. Someone advised wiping all over with a tumble dryer sheet thingie before riding. Worked a treat!

 

[dulcie_dustyxx]

Sorry only when brushing and strangely only in spring!

 

[Darbs]

I have technical experience of static as I used to look after safety in explosives manufacture and storage, where static is the number one hazard.

It is extremely unlikley that the pony is building up static as they have no mechansim of doing it (unless they have a rug on), and are not insulated from earth, so are constantly grounding any electricty they build up.

The main source of static is clothing, then combined with a type of sole on footwear that doesn't allow it to escape to ground, which will give the user the shock. In almost every case the shock you feel is you giving it, not receiving it. (The exception to this is in a car, where static may build up in the vehicle and cannot earth because of the tyres, then as you get out you touch the metal door or body, which takes the electricty from the car, through you to ground).

Wearing a nylon fleece and wellingtons is a good combination to start zapping things!

 

[Widgeon]

Wearing a nylon fleece and wellingtons is a good combination to start zapping things!

I know this is an old thread, but still, this is interesting. I hadn't realised that in most cases the wallop you feel is you *giving* a shock, rather than receiving it.