Thunderstorm precautions and trees

Wagtail

Wagtail

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We are supposed to be in for some violent thunderstorms in the early hours of Saturday morning. I am debating whether to bring some of the horses in for the night. Just the ones in the field with six huge oak trees. Do you think that is a sensible thing to do? It will be a load of hassle as the stables aren't ready and I will have to work hard through a hot day to make them ready. I suppose the other option is to bunk them up with the others in one of the non-treed paddocks, though this may lead to some argy bargy. Then I guess I could just leave them be, but I will probably be lying awake worrying. What do others do if their horses are out in fields with big trees?
 
Personally after here so many horrible stories of horse deaths after our stormy winter I would be bringing them in. All of ours are no brought in if there is any storm even the mares who live out 24/7
 
I leave out when it's really bad. Because every horse I have had has taken themselves well away from the trees or any structures when the winds have really been blowing. In a stable, I've had a close miss with a very solid roof almost coming off solid breezeblock stables and scaring the life out of Fly whilst stuck inside. How she didn't hurt herself trying to escape, I still don't know. I'd rather give the horse the choice.

That said, when my old mare was at Hartpury, the internal stabling was so secure and quiet, I would have chosen that over turnout, so if your stables are up to it and not likely to scare the horses...why not I guess xx
 
Leaving out, I'd rather horses be out and able to move in storms although last thunderstorm we had our lot didn't even look up from grazing.
 
I think I will move the horses that have trees in their field into the sand turnout for the night. Though hearing about the poor pony that was struck in a field with no trees is worrying.
 
I've had a stable roof collapse in high winds before, so never stable if it's going to be bad wind wise, luckily ours were out at the time. Lightning is another issue though, and I am happier with them in, the thought of all the electric fencing worries me too!
 
Whatever the time of year, if high winds or thunderstorms are forecast then mine are out.
Having had to help remove smashed stables (at a local yard in the early hours) from under a large old oak that landed on them, trapping 3, mortally injuring another and killing one more, mine take their chance outside.

Tho they have access to shelters they are always out in the open if its howling or thundering and lashing it down
 
I would always leave mine out. Have been caught out riding once or twice in freak thunder storms with no warning,and can honestly say, I have been a lot more frightened than them. I also think they are much better off being able to move around and see what is going on, rather that walled in on 3 and a half sides, with nowhere to go.
 
If stables are sturdy, bring in. If not, leave out. If lightening did strike a tree, horses can shift faster than us & hopefully get out the way. What worries me are horses in a field with no shelter - they're sitting ducks, especially if they have shoes on!
 
My old horse got hit on the head by lightening. Don't know if there were trees in the field, she was out on loan at the time.
My horses run for cover as soon as there is a bit of rain!
 
My lot are in over night all year round so they will stick with routine. Luckily there are no trees close to their stables which could fall on them and their stables are very sturdy brick built stables with tiles on the roof so occasionally a tile will come off but unlikely the roof will come off in high winds. I'm not sure I would want mine out anyway as our fencing isn't brilliant and it only takes them getting startled and we have mares, stallions and geldings running over a lot of acreage... hmmm nahhh I'll keep them in ;)
 
Friends mare jumped out of her stable, fell and broke her neck during a thunderstorm....mine live out no matter what
 
Thanks, everyone. I have one block of very sturdy brick built stables and two blocks of wooden stables. I'm sure they would be okay in the brick ones. But at the moment, I think I will leave the youngsters out in the open field (with a field shelter), and bring the others into the sand turnout that is surrounded by high hedges but no trees. I will discuss later with the owners.
 
I ran outside and got all mine in at 3am this morning my Arab kept calling so I couldnt lay there any longer, he was shaking when I got him in as was my friends pony, my big mare was fine though she is a tough old girl, they will be coming in tonight if it storms, my stables are sturdy brick built so I would rather them be in than out.
 
So those who bring in in a storm, what do you if it arrives unannounced or earlier than planned? Okay if you live on site, but in the south we had a spectacular thunder and lightening storm last night at about 1.30am.. I think it arrived a day early!

Both my two live out, fields are lined by big trees on either side.. Personally I prefer them being out in string winds, due to the risk of roof/stable collapsing being much higher (in my mind) than a big tree coming down.
 
I bring mine in every night anyway but theyd be in during the day if we had electrical storms on the go, its not worth the risk, mine are quite happy inside munching during inclement weather, and if theyre not in during lashing rain and wind they just stand at the gate wanting in
 
Gloi said:
Just to worry you even more - My friend's pony was killed by lightning in a field with no trees.
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This. My postwomans horse was hit by lightning and killed a few years ago. For me, lightning is the one type of thing I will always tend to bring the horses inside for. If windy, I leave out as I think its safer for them out and able to get away from stuff flying about.
 
I have a solid build wooden american barn stable block. When there are really high winds or thunderstorms forecast mine are in.

Only last year a yard less than a mile up the road from mine had a horse killed by lightening. Apparently he was stood next to the post and rail fencing in a large field surrounded by trees and the lightning struck the fencing and him, killing him instantly.

Remember that lightning can strike anywhere, whether is a sand paddock, a small field, a large open field or a field surrounded by trees.

It can also strike the stables or barn, but the energy is likely to dissipate through the building rather than it hitting anyone or anything inside.
 
Mine are in a field with trees, on top of a hill. They usually stay out. The barn has too much wood in it's construction and I would worry about a lightning strike causing a fire. No one lives on site and I think a quick death from being struck is preferable to burning to death in a barn fire. I have also seen a youngster fatally injure itself as a result of panicking in a stable. I think you just have to weigh up the risks for your particular situation, as stable construction, field location and weather variations are all different.


I try not to worry about it too much, or where do you stop?
 
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Mine live out come rain or shine, thunder or snow, Storm last night hit early hours without warning, I felt for them, because of the hail, but I was working, and no way I could have gone to get them in, and they are fine today :D
 
I don't think that you can win.

Last night i had horses in & out, & worried about them equally. The mare & foal were out in a big field, no trees but big field shelter- i worried about lighting striking them, the shelter roof blowing off & them galloping around or through fencing.

The old boy & NF pony have a couple of big trees in their field so that made me anxious.

The two 'event girlies' were inside & i worried about them as well, would the stable roof collapse? Would they panic with all the noise? Had i given them enough hay to take their minds off it?

As you can imagine, i didn't get much sleep & rushed down to see them this morning. They were thankfully all fine, only the old boy was a bit cross & stood at the gate.

I think that's it's best just to keep them in their usual routine as there are risks with being either in or out during stormy Weather. I hope that we don't get too much more of it. Stay safe everyone.
 
If a horse gets frightened I'd always rather it had space to run, not feel trapped inside. Stables can get struck as well as trees. I have a friend who had two killed by lightning in a field, but I still would leave mine out.
 
Beausmate said:
Mine are in a field with trees, on top of a hill. They usually stay out. The barn has too much wood in it's construction and I would worry about a lightning strike causing a fire. No one lives on site and I think a quick death from being struck is preferable to burning to death in a barn fire. I have also seen a youngster fatally injure itself as a result of panicking in a stable. I think you just have to weigh up the risks for your particular situation, as stable construction, field location and weather variations are all different.


I try not to worry about it too much, or where do you stop?
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Very well put!
 
Mine were out last night, in the absolutely cracking storm that we had in Berkshire. Stables are very solid old brick built ones, but theres an very old timber framed barn on one side of the yard, which is waiting for about 70k worth of structural work to make it safe. I'd rather the horses weren't near it in a high wind.
They were a bit tired and grumpy this morning, so came in for the day to have a sleep and avoid the flies. They're back out now, and if there's another storm, I'm sure they'll cope!
 
I dithered about this and brought them in tonight, they were a bit surprised as lately they have been in during the day and out at night but they have had a few hours out in the field this evening.

I was also up in the small hours last night, as the lightening was lighting up the countryside like daylight and they were completely unconcerned. However, we are on the top of a small rise and there is a very large tree which they would shelter under in case of heavy rain. The thunder wasn't that close last night and I didn't rush out and get them in as I wouldn't have been able to catch one, and since it was a distance away I wasn't too bothered.

However, there is a forcast of very heavy rain tonight and if there was a storm overhead I would be worried. The stables are brick and large, and although there is a tree close by it isn't at the most prominent point. I have thought about this!

I was out once fetching them in during a thunderstorm and I reckon the barn was hit as there was a definite shudder and a very loud bang, we were all OK, although I sheltered in the stables until it went over.

I know of a couple of horses that were sheltering under a tree that was hit, one was killed outright and the second badly injured so it was never ridden again - but we have hundreds of cattle out in the fields and we can't get those in! Relative had 10 killed one night from lightening.

Storms happen, you just hope it isn't right on top of you!.
 
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