Turning out in a thunderstorm...

_MizElz_

_MizElz_

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Does anyone do it? It's one of my biggest fears...after the spate of horses killed through lightning strikes a couple of years ago, I really hate the thought of Ellie being out in a storm (I myself hate them just as much - am terrified of lightning!)

Thunder was forecast for us today, but I took a chance and turned her out as she has been in since Sunday and was desperate to go out....but now I'm sat here worrying in case it does thunder!

Does it bother anyone else?
 
My girls are out 24/7 during the summer - they have permanent access to their stables but only use them when it's too hot. During thunder storms they can be found in the middle of the paddock happily munching and ignoring the fact that its bucketing down around them!

Can't say that I do worry too much about lightening strikes - yes it could happen but then so could a lot of things.

Try not to worry, I'm sure she will be fine. :)
 
I grew up in Johannesburg, where a thunder storm is a daily occurrence. It would not be practical to gather horses in from the fields whenever a storm was brewing and horses were often out. Our horses at home had field shelter / stables and they often chose to stand in the rain (probably because it cooled them down). I've also had to hack back from shows in thunderstorms too, which was not fun!!
We all seemed to emerge unscathed though, and I'm sure I would have remembered hearing about it if any horses did get struck by lightening. I know a golfer who did, and that was reported in the local paper.
I would say, maybe if you can avoid it, for your own peace of mind. But if turnout can't be avoided, I am sure the risks are quite low (touch wood).
 
Horses are vulnerable to lightening but unless your field is high and exposed with few buildings and trees the risks are probably low.
 
We just turf them out and hope for the best :rolleyes: The fields are on the side of a hill but there are lots of taller trees at the top. I worry and stress over a lot of things, but I will not let myself stress over that! :D
 
Mine are out 24/7 in it, and don't seem bothered.

I worry though that they are cold as they are spending too much time in the rain... My OH reminds me that they are horses though lol
 
Mine are out 24/7 in summer. If there's a storm in the middle of the night I'm not going to go out & bring them in. If I could see it coming during the day & I was in the field, I might.

When I wake with thunder, they're always the first thing I think about though. I think its quite rare, but can happen unfortunately.
 
Puppy - rain is fine, I have no probs turning out when its raining, as even if she gets cold there's always a nice warm box for her to come in and snuggle down in :) But when there's thunder around, that's what really bothers me :( Thankfully at the moment all we seem to have had is rain!

I live in fear of being struck by lightning myself, too. My worst nightmare is to be out riding in a storm...it happened last year when I had ridden about 6 miles to meet another HHOer...just as we split and went our separate ways, it started thundering and I was so scared - I had to ride across the top of a hill all the way home on my own :( Poor Ellie has never been asked to trot so far! I've actually had two lucky escapes in my life which I guess is why it frightens me - as a kid, I was out in our yard at home when a bolt came down right behind the stables, about four metres from where I was standing. And a couple of years back, our car was narrowly missed as we were driving to Hickstead - it came down just a couple of feet in front of us, and the air was 'tingling' for ages after...it was the weirdest feeling :eek:
 
I would rather turn out tbh, and ours are out 24/7 in the summer. One worry for me who be a lightning strike in a stable building and the whole lots setting on fire.

If I had to choose, I would choose death by lightning as is quick, than death by smoke/burning to death. I know its unlikely for either to happen though!! :)
 
I was out poo picking once when a thunder storm started nearby - lots of lightening! Horses just ignored it and carried on eating - I was praying that I wouldn't get struck by lightening. What a way to die - Poo picking!
 
Ronnie my chunky cob lives out 24/7 365 days with 8 others and has no choice of a stable! :D

They do just fine in most weather conditions and there are plenty of trees surrounding the field so i'll just have to risk it! ;)
 
I probably would turn them out while a thunder storm was taking place for my own safety! (ie not wanting to be dragged about) saying that, they go out every day and there was a storm while I was at work yesterday.......they hadn't been struck by lightening and hadn't charged about (no skid marks....) so I guess they were ok.
 
My first horse was killed by a lightening stike. She was in foal at the time too.

I still leave mine out, even if it is stormy, they can go in if they want.

It was just bad luck.
 
Mine stay out in thunderstorms, i'd much rather them be out than in. I'm another one who's more worried that lightning will set fire to the barn or stables and they'll be trapped. Mine hardly lift their heads during storms so i know they're quite happy.
 
avoid it at all costs. mine are relatively low risk as dont tend to stand under the trees, are not out overnight and dont wear shoes, but if a storm starts up in the day mum will bring them in and if it looked like one was brewing/could be heard in distance i dont turn out.

easy as mum doesnt work so 90% of the time is at home to bring in/turn out and my fab friend/livery will also help out.

last 3 summers there have been at least 2 horses locally each year, struck and killed :(
 
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