Horses & Lightning

[MagicMelon]

Just wondering, I used to leave my horses out in thunder / lightning storms but after hearing reports of some horses being struck and killed - I now rush out to bring them all in if I hear even a rumble in the distance!

What does everyone else do?

 

[JAK]

I must admit, we leave them out.
I feel the risk of them being 'trained' to expect to be brought in due to adverse weather conditions or become over-sensitive during storms if we keep rushing out to 'rescue' them is far greater than the actual risk of them being struck by lightning!

Please God nothing will ever happen to any of them, I do get a little worried sometimes when I see a whole group of horses sheltering under one of the big oaks, some of the tallest things around for miles, although mainly, the ponies brace it out against the hedges!

 

[Jellicle]

When I worked at a stud yard one of our old stallions was struck by lightning in a storm. Very sad at the time, but I do think of it as a freak accident. I wouldn't bring horses in now unless lightning was actually striking nearby - that night we could hear it hitting the ground.

 

[sarah23]

A few years ago we had lightning hit our field, the horses where OK thank god but very since then i have never left my horses out when there is lightning about.

 

[TGM]

If there is a storm actually going on I would be wary about bringing them in, as I have heard of handler and horse being killed as horse being led in to protect it from the storm. However, it is worth doing if you know a storm is forecast.

I must admit I don't bring in as our field is sheltered and not exposed - perhaps I am naive in thinking they will be safer there than in a hilltop field

.

 

[Gingernags]

I know some idiot

who loved going out riding in thunderstorms! Happily cantering across the moor top, all heather and no trees... then realised - hum... lightning tends to strike the highest point, so on the top of a moor... no trees, horse... rider on top... what is the highest point?


Ah. That'll be my head then?

I don't ride in storms anymore, realised the error of my ways!

But the horses tend to stay out through them.

 

[ISHmad]

We leave ours out. Lightning can strike buildings too and cause fires, so we took the view that please god they are safer out.

 

[Gucci_b]

I would say leave them out as horses are flight animals and will run away from any thing untowards, and i would worry that they would go MAD in the stable, as i have known a few trying to jump over the stable door and one did and got stuck and ripped all his guts, also is your stables earthed ....there's a thought???