Your thunderstorm routine?

[BestHorses]

Another thread got me thinking about thunderstorms. Do you bring your horses in or leave them out during a thunderstorm? I have a shed the horses can go in if they choose, but most times they choose to stand outside so I tend to stall them if a bad storm is coming. Even if there are tall trees around can't a horse still get hit by lightning?

[Paddys Mom]

I leave them out. They can come into the barn whenever they choose.
Lightning can hit the tall trees or the barn. :(

[myvanya]

As long as there is shelter in the pasture I leave them out. We get thunderstorms daily here in Colorado (or pretty much daily- it is rare that we don't get one) and the horses would be in too much if we brought them in for every thunderstorm (and all of our pastures have large run in shelters). I do not like to rely on trees for shelter, but some people are ok with it. We get too many close lightning strikes and cloud to ground strikes for me to be comfortable with that.

I was actually talking with one of the other people at the barn about that last night- here in Colorado I have discovered you really need an indoor arena to ride consistently. In the winter you need it for the snow and wind and the rest of the time for the thunderstorms! Now if only I could find a way to catch my horse in a thunderstorm with 1"+ hail I would be all set....:winkgrin:

[BeverlyAStrauss]

If I know a bad storm is coming, I leave them in my barn (outfitted with lightning rods.) If it might storm but not for sure, I put them in the paddock adjacent to the barn, figuring the barn might get hit first. If they are already out in my back field, I do NOT go out to get them in- I figure if they are gonna get struck, I don't want to be there when it happens- and if they are not gonna get struck, there is no reason to get them in- sounds warped I know........I do worry though if they are out and a storm hits......

[manyspots]

My guys have 24/7 access to their stalls and I find that about 80% of the time they choose out. My gelding is way more nervous if I lock him in. He has a thing about not being able to see where loud noise is coming from... and while "I" realize he can't see the sound, HE feels better about being out in it. :eek:

[trubandloki]

Mine have 24/7 access to their stalls/run in so I leave them to stand where ever they want during a storm.

[deltawave]

Leave 'em out, but with the option of stalls or their overhang. I have one pasture where there's no shelter, so I don't use that one if there's a threat of T-storms.

And put the dog in the barn; she's scared of T-storms and having the horses around to talk to seems to help her. :)

No lightning rods at our place--the whole property is surrounded by 75 foot tall trees, so I don't think they'd help a whole lot.

[Saidapal]

I leave them out. They have access to shelter and can usually be found standing under it in storms.....mostly because my prima-donna mare absolutely hates rain and will run for cover at the first raindrop bringing the boys with her.

[aiken4horses]

Mine are all out 24/7 with run-ins.

In a drizzle or rain they run to the sheds, but for a real thunder/lightening storm, they stand outside butts to the driving rain. Some just keep on eating!

[gooselover]

Here in Oklahoma, land of the tornadoes - if a BAD storm is coming, we put them in their stalls (prediction of high winds and large hail/tornadoes), otherwise, they are out and have access to their stalls wherein they can seek shelter - BUT THEY NEVER DO!!! They prefer outside.

[cevent]

Another thread got me thinking about thunderstorms. Do you bring your horses in or leave them out during a thunderstorm? I have a shed the horses can go in if they choose, but most times they choose to stand outside so I tend to stall them if a bad storm is coming. Even if there are tall trees around can't a horse still get hit by lightning?

If they have run ins they stay out, if they don't have a shed they come in. If there's a tornado warning we tend to keep them out so that they might have a chance of getting away. They are still fenced in their fields, but at least they're not locked in the barn and have no chance of getting out should the barn be in the path of the tornado. Thankfully, we don't have tornado warnings often!

[Char]

We don't have any shelter in our pastures, so when weather starts rolling in, the horses do, too.

If we had a run-in shed, or they had access to thier stalls I would leave them out.

ETA: They only come in if the weather is going to be severe. If it's over 60 degrees and just a light rain, they stay out and don't mind one bit.

[arabhorse2]

Mine come in during a thunderstorm. Smaller storms with no lightning, they stay outside.

That will change as soon as I get shelters put up in all my pastures.

They probably won't use 'em, but it'll make me feel better knowing the shelters are there for the silly beasties!

[asb_own_me]

Mine have shelter in their pasture....so I put my feet up and grab a book :D

[mhtokay]

I leave them out. They can come into the barn whenever they choose.
Lightning can hit the tall trees or the barn. :(

ditto. I can't make myself nuts about a thunder storm. I might not put them in the "highest" field. But lightning could strike a tree and follow something in the ground pretty far away. They have sheds they can stand in or near.

I have a friend with a boarding stable and they lost 2 horses several years ago to lightning and they were 2 pastures apart. One was hers and one was a boarder's. The strike followed the fence around and they were standing too close. It was devastating and she makes herself nuts about the storms... but, with other peoples' horses, you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

[Flash44]

Mine stay out. They only use the field shelters to retreat from the sun!

[pines4equines]

First, shut the computer off then bring the horses in...

[besttwtbever]

Mine stay out all the time. They have run-ins... which of course they never use. :no::rolleyes:

Ours even stay out when there are tornado threats, that way they can run if need be and are not trapped in a collapsed building if the tornado hits.

[JB]

If I'm home and see that a particularly nasty line of t-storms is imminent, I'll put them in. We don't often get those though.

Hubby and I work away from home (mostly), and cannot always be here when a storm rises. I don't wig out at work when most storms come through, because I know that while they might have a few moments of "EEEEEEE!!!!!!" as the storm starts, they'll quickly head for the trees and stand there for as long as it takes.

This means that I don't bring them in for most storms - I need to know they have acclimated to behaving appropriately.

If I'm at work and see a particularly nasty line headed our way, I'm lucky that I *can* go home to tend to them. I've only done that once in 5 years though - tornados were touching down very, very close to home.

[Lori T]

Mine are in..we are the lightning capital of the world..last night we had a horrible storm, there were 550 strikes PER MINUTE! It was like armageddon.

[shea'smom]

Lori T, they would have to pry me off the ceiling if that happened here.
I hate T storms and try to avoid my guys being out at all costs. 4 horses were killed near here a few years ago.
I don't buy the " I leave it up to them and they'd rather be out" method.
My stupid horse trotted happily out in front of a car going 50 mph, so I don't trust his judgement.

[Sonic Boom]

We bring in and leave in, or keep in if it's a threat at night. Sometimes it stinks because they might have had a night of turnout. However, there's no run-ins in my farm's pastures, and no trees. My poor BO, once upon a time, had to make two calls to owners over horses dead from lightening strikes, so I well understand her thought process. :no:

That said, if just rain and no lightening and not cold or anything, out they go and they are happier for it most times! Those that really can't stand it come in.

[Tango14]

Something I've been mentally debating too.. Apparently, lightning is not ''attracted'' to those lightning poles and trees or metal for that matter. It is apparently random and can strike anywhere anytime and travel for many feet along the ground for eg. along tree roots if it hits a tree. From what I've read, it would seem that when it comes to lightning it's Hobson's Choice and good ole' Fate has a lot to do with it. As a bit of a control freak I find this disturbing:lol: as it would be really neat to be able to 100% prevent one's horses being struck by lightning.

My horses tend to use their run in shelters if they're in their individual night time small paddocks, if they're together in the herd they may not use the communal one, or some may while others stand out with back to the storm.

[Cinnybren]

Mine have shelters to use. Thankfully all three use them when the weather gets bad.