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  Discussion on Horses with shoes out in a storm
Author Message
Member:
gwen

Posted on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 - 12:46 pm:

As I mentioned in another topic recently, my horses opted to stay outside during a storm the other night. They both have front shoes. Should I be locking them in?????
Member:
mrose

Posted on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 - 1:29 pm:

Being totally paranoid about lightening, I bring my horses into the barn during storms. I suppose it depends on where you live and what else is around the horses. I knew someone in GA that had three horses get killed by lightening. They were all standing under a large tree sheltering from the rain. Lightening hit the tree, traveled through the roots, and killed all three. Where we live, the horses would be the tallest things in the fields, which worries me more than them standing under a tree.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 - 10:19 am:

I have seen several horses killed by lightening over the years so I tend to agree, if practical, bring horses in during lightening storms. I do not recommend you go out during a storm to bring them in.
DrO
Member:
gwen

Posted on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 - 10:46 am:

This may sound silly, but can they be killed without shoes? Their turnout area is surrounded by very tall trees. There is no more than a ten foot space between fence and tall tree in any given spot. I would think that that would make them less likely to be struck, but I could be wrong??? Now, next question--locking them in with round pen panels??
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 - 11:27 am:

Gwen we had a cow struck by lightning and DrOpped right where she stood....no shoes. I think if the trees or fence are struck it can travel to the animal standing under/by it.
Member:
gwen

Posted on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 - 12:22 pm:

Great... I will sleep well now.
Member:
paardex

Posted on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 - 1:48 pm:

I always put off the electricity from the fence, in the hope it helps a little bit.
Jos
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 - 3:40 pm:

Gwen, the odds are with you, that's they way I look at it, we have some wicked lightning here, of course usually these storms blow up in the middle of the night.

My horses hate to be rained on so they always head to the lean-to when it starts storming. I have noticed if it starts to hail, they become "paralyzed" and put their heads down and "take it" I don't know for sure what the reasoning is , except maybe they don't want the hail to hit their eyes?
Member:
canter

Posted on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 - 7:23 pm:

Gwen, I would highly recommend you bring them in, with or without shoes. Every great once in a while, I hear of a horse around here that has been struck and killed - not often at all, but I know I certainly feel better when the horses are brought in when things start to rumble.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 - 10:36 pm:

Diane, if they are left out in a heavy rain or snow, our horses also stand heads down, tails to the weather, and are almost catatonic. When I go out to bring them in they kind of "snap to" like out of a deep sleep when they feel the halter touch them. If I talk in a normal voice they don't even hear me. I think it's some kind of protective instinct??
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 - 8:06 am:

I don't know how many times this summer I've been out in the pouring rain putting horses in. If they are in one of the pastures where they can come in the normal way, meaning the 2 mares have to go through a stall to get to theirs, I find they don't want to come in. The noise on the tin roof isn't comforting sounding to them I am guessing.

If they can come in the big back doors; then they come right in and manage to go in their stalls. Well, except for Tango who wants to stand in the middle of the aisle. It is probably quieter there with hay above?

I sometimes find myself in one stall with 3 or 4 scared horses milling around, trying to get them seperate; and cursing myself for deciding at the last minute "Oh, maybe that storm is going to hit and I'd better put them in."

I also worry about extreme winds remembering years back my farrier's horse got a broken leg from a piece of the barn ripping off and hitting him. It's not just the lightening that can kill.

I think every bad storm we've had this summer, I've been in the barn during the worst of it!
Member:
gwen

Posted on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 - 3:11 pm:

This is such a tricky argument. I suppose an argument could be made that locking them in is a bit of a risk, right? What if the building is hit? I have never really worried about this before! My husband is asking, why are you freaking out about this now? This was never an issue before! I get bees in my bonnet, then get stuck on them! I worry now, because Theo is so leary of going into the run in during the storms. grr
Member:
babychop

Posted on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 - 3:53 pm:

My horses are non-plussed by storms & go into their boxes when the rain starts to get heavy. Their boxes & enclosures are pipe corral (with corrugated roof & wood inserts for the walls on the boxes) - the one time lightning came close to hitting the yard it was towards the ground, not the metal, but that was just one storm. They do stand on rubber mats but I'm not sure how much that would protect them if they had their butt on or were leaning against a wall...

I've heard of horses getting fried in Florida by standing under a metal roof when lightning struck. In fact, I think I saw a lawsuit mentioned about it somewhere...
Member:
canter

Posted on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 - 4:19 pm:

Gwen, I guess I would ask you this: where would you rather be in a thunder storm? Out in an open field or in your house?

I suppose the type of structure they have shelter in may make some sort of difference (I remember having this discussion several years back here on HA but don't remember the consensus). What I do know is that I've never heard of any horses/cows killed around here while in their barn, but have heard of them being struck while out in their fields (This is MI, so we do get our fair share of strong storms coming over Lake MI and hitting hard). I suppose anything is possible though.

Truly, though, the chances are quite small that your horse would actually be struck. Around here, there are plenty of horses that do live out with little shelter all year around. I guess it boils down to what YOU are comfortable doing. If you are going to worry every time a storm strikes, and you live where there are a lot of storms, I think it would be worth providing shelter so you can have peace of mind.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 - 4:59 pm:

While talking about storms, just a reminder; the paper today had an article about several people being injured by lightening already this year and a warning to take shelter when a storm is coming. So, while worrying about your horses, be sure a protect yourself during a storm!
Member:
karind10

Posted on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 - 9:16 pm:

Two years ago, 16 horses at once were killed in Colorado by a lightning strike. I always bring mine in.
Member:
paul303

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 29, 2008 - 12:43 am:

Yes. My first horse, that I owned for 9 years, was struck by lightning and killed. He was on turnout, 24/7, with numerous run in sheds to choose from. The area where we boarded back then, was amidst old iron ore mines. Mine was not the only horse in the area lost to a lightning strike that night. My horse WAS shod all around, and rarely entered the shelters in his 22 acre turn out.

Ironically, now that I have my own farm, I happen to have bought property in an area where iron ore was a huge industry in the early 1900's. I bring the 3 mares I own today, into the barn at the slightest hint of a thunderstorm.
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