As horse people, we all have underlying animosity toward storms. While some of us may enjoy the light show and soothing rumbles of thunder, storms are a very serious thing. Even if you are a horse person that is less concerned about your animals in the weather, the flooding and mud that these natural beasts bring are at the very least a nuisance.
This blog comes to you today, not only because I look out my window to see dark clouds and pouring rain, but from a sad story that is making its way around the nation via Facebook, twitter, Parelli, and news stations.
Enter Kali. She is a young girl from Colorado. Her two horses, Bio and Patchy, were struck by lightning and killed. Parelli has stepped up to the plate for the horse community and is helping Kali and her family search for a new horse. (Please visit Parelli's website for more information. Additionally, if anyone would like to help Kali, please get in touch with the right people through this site: www.shareparelli.com/node/7750 )
Now that I have the attention of those who were thinking to themselves, "Storms aren't great, but they aren't that bad for the horses," I will continue.
Lightning works in mysterious ways. Well, sort of. Actually, there are mountains of information about lightning and how it functions. While there is a science to lightning, (most of which my "comm major" mind can't understand), I like to think of the bolts of electricity like fire.
In the movie Backdraft, the fire inspector explains that fire is a live thing. It thinks, it behaves with a mind. While I understand that lightning does not have a brain, per say, the fire inspector continues that to kill it, you have to love it a little. While you can learn in the books that fire needs oxygen and functions in this way or that, there are some unexplainable parts to its behavior. I believe this is very true of lightning as well.
BUT, there are precautions that you can take to protect yourself, (and more importantly for some of us) your horses.
1) Watch the weather! People can be so anal about this in the winter when blanketing, but forget how important it is in the summer. Even though you are concerned with subzero overnight temperatures, you should be concerned about your horses overheating during the day, and getting caught with no shelter in a thunderstorm.
2) Plan! If you watch the weather and there is a possible chance of a severe thunderstorm, plan your attack. IF the storm is coming before feeding time and the horses are out, should you bring them in before, or wait? IF the storm is coming after feeding time and usually turn out at night, do you keep them in because of the chance? IF you put them out and the storm comes, are you going to be able to get them in safely? If you know you have to go to a dinner function and won't be back until 11 pm, it's probably a good idea to bring in/leave in, just in case. Better safe than sorry is cliche advice because it is good advice. If you're going to be sitting around the house, able to check the sky every so often, it may be worth while to let the 4-legged kids out for a few hours of grazing out of the heat of the day. All of these answers are things to consider when you make your game plan.
3) Execution! While some may think the execution of bringing in during a thunderstorm is easy, those of us who have brought in crazy horses, or a herd of horses, know sometimes the truth is otherwise. If you have an adequate plan, when the wind picks up and you hear thunder in the distance, your horses with be tucked safely away, or you will have your boots on and power-walking to the barn. A few bits of advice from experience: First, sometimes it takes longer to take shortcuts from your routine. Bringing in 7 horses at one time when you usually take 2 could end with you chasing horses around in a storm. Keep in mind, the entire purpose of this task is to protect your precious animals, not to put on a show for the neighbors. Second, bring a towel to the barn. You may think you can beat the rain, and perhaps you will. BUT, if you end up drenched and stranded in your barn, you'll probably want to dry off. Third, if you have herding dogs and you feel comfortable doing so, leave them in the house. The weather tends to make the horses and the dogs more... energetic... shall we say. Don't make more issues for yourself.
These simple things are often forgotten by horse owners. Above all else, a good and effective plan is important. If you have a plan of action, no matter what happens, you'll be ready.
For those who have boarding barns, keep in mind you are the responsible party. I know it is no fun cleaning 32 stalls in the morning when the summer is usually a feed-only morning schedule, but waking up to a boarders animal down in your field is much worse.
For those who don't have a barn (myself included), you need some sort of shelter for your horse. I have a huge run-in shelter where my mare can easily get out of the weather. I understand not having the commodities many people take for granted at big boarding barns, but it doesn't excuse your responsibility as an owner. Take precautions, and do the best you can.
Lightning is not a joke. It can be fun to watch, makes really pretty sculptures in sand, strikes metal and water easiest, and often kills when it comes into contact with a living thing. While you sit warm under a blanket watching a summer storm, keep in mind that your horses are confined to where you keep them. Be considerate. You'll never realize how much of a difference it makes, until the one time you decide not to, and then, you may never forgive yourself.
Photo courtesy of http://www.windsun.com/
Thank you so much for spreading the word to help Kali!
ReplyDeletePetra Christensen
Parelli 1Star Junior Instructor
Parelli Central
Just to add another possibility. We were out of town when a tornado hit our ranch. We were lucky and the horses where out in the pasture. We lost houses, barn, shop, fences, everything. My sons came to check the place first. It was dark and they could not find the horses. The dogs were all there. Two and one half hours later the horses showed up like wow that was close HuH. No one knows where they went or stayed during the tornado but I do know if they had been in the stable they would not have survived. So, it is a chance to put them up or leave them out. A choice I struggle with when a storm is approaching.
ReplyDeleteTeri,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for bringing this matter up. My post was geared more toward lightening, but you are very correct in the fact that tornado watches and warnings should cause a completely different reaction for horse owners. In hindsight, I should have brought this to my readers' attention. Thank you for doing that in my place. After the terrible story about Kali, I just felt compelled to post a lightning warning. Thanks for reading!