Mary Allen
Thunderstorms have a cleansing effect. But for horse and rider, the natural spectacles can end fatally in the worst case.
In the past, among other things, birch branches in the stable and dead barn owls nailed to the barn door were supposed to protect against lightning strikes. The fear of our ancestors was just as questionable as the success of these methods was questionable. Because isolated courtyards are much more likely to be struck by lightning than a townhouse. With a voltage of around one million volts, a current of up to 100,000 amperes, and temperatures of up to 30,000 degrees Celsius, lightning can destroy electrical systems, burst concrete walls, and set everything on fire. Today, riding stable owners counteract this danger best with a lightning protection system, which should be checked at least every five years.
Unfortunately, unlike buildings, horses cannot be protected with lightning rods. Particularly disastrous: Horses inevitably have a great “step tension” because of their anatomy. This describes the difference in tension between two feet or four hooves. And the greater the voltage difference, the more current flows. This is another reason why lightning strikes usually end fatally for horses. If a storm is coming, it is best to bring the four-legged friends into the stable – this applies in particular to animals that are on open pastures without wind-protected depressions, forests, or open stables.
Visit the Nearest Farm or Valley
Even if you are planning a ride, you should keep a close eye on the weather conditions and, if in doubt, stay on the square or in the hall. Because lightning likes to look for the shortest way to earth, i.e. the highest point in the area. Horses and riders are attractive “impact targets”, especially in open fields. And the common tip of finding a low point in the landscape when a thunderstorm is near and crouching down with your feet close together to minimize step tension is hardly practicable for riders with a horse in hand.
In addition to the weather forecast, a look at the sky helps with the thunderstorm forecast. If you see small cumulus clouds in the morning after a clear night, arranged in a line and crenelated form in higher layers, there will probably be a thunderstorm during the day, often accompanied by rain or hail showers and strong winds. Lightning and thunder are menacingly close when black clouds darken the sky. In the summer months, thunderstorms usually develop in muggy, warm air.
If you are still surprised by a thunderstorm in the field, the next farmer will provide you with shelter in the best case. If there is no building in sight, valleys and depressions offer protection. Individual trees, small groups of trees, open hills, and bodies of water are taboo. In the forest, falling branches and falling trees are safest in small clearings and close to relatively young, healthy trees.
Not only the thunderstorm itself but also the fear of many horses of lightning and thunder can have disastrous consequences, for example, if the horse panics or shies away. You can prevent this with confidence-building groundwork and anti-fright exercises. Special anti-fright CDs for horses or dogs, which are available in specialist shops with various noises such as thunder, children’s screams, New Year’s Eve crackers, and low-flying planes, help to get used to frightening noises.