Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Shirley on May 17, 2010 at 2:38pm

HI Cindy, I suspect you are probably right that animals have a built in instinct to protect themselves and know what to do in storms for protection. But I also think the minute we take them out of nature and control where they can come and go we pretty much sabotage those natural instincts. They can't go where there instincts tell them to go. We may dull their natural way but we also prevent their abilities from working with the fences we put up to control where they go. etc. Where I board they are out in a field totally in the open & they are the tallest thing for lightening to hit. I want mine in side with lightening rods on the barn for (some) protection. Anyway~~That's my logic.
The lady that bred my horse lost two other wonderful horses when they got hit by lightening. As I shared her bad news with others when this happened, I was amazed how many people told me of similar events that they or friends had experienced.
Shirley

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on May 17, 2010 at 2:55pm

One thing we made sure of when my horses were in a small paddock was to have an electrified wire fence that was grounded. I always tried to have the fence posts taller than my horses also.
I lived in fear of my horses getting hit, but in this one thing I was lucky, which may be all that separates these experiences.
The pastures I kept my horses in did not have single trees, and all the tall trees were in the forest, not sticking out alone in the middle of the field.
Even wild horses get struck by lightening, sometimes everything just goes bad.
I do not blame you at all for being worried, horses do get struck.

Permalink Reply by Shirley on May 17, 2010 at 3:05pm

Jackie, I never thought about posts being taller and I'll check if the fence is grounded where I board. There are always times when the I can't get to the barn when a storm comes up suddenly and no one else can either. So at least knowing the precautions have been made will help me to not panic. At a certain point after we've done what we can we just have to rely on hope or faith or the odds. As I'm sure you have already figured out I adore my horse as many others do and would not deal well with his loss.
And now I'm off for a quick shower and a ride.
Thanks for sharing.
Shirely

Permalink Reply by Tracy McDermott on May 17, 2010 at 6:32pm

Yes, Lightening outside in pasture or paddock electrocuting or hitting a tree and it falling on to the animals under it. Thunder causing fright and running through the fence with damage to the horse or whatever 4 legged creature. Hail, large hail causing bruising on back and spine, causing fright and again running blindly into things. If you know there is a storm large enough to cause thunder and lightening close to where you are put all your animals into a barn or shelter. If a shelter is available they will get there themselves usually. Sheep and goats are susceptible to weather damage that they might cause to themselves. If you won't be home or the disturbance will be at night you can also feed 'chamomile' to your animals. Yes the tea, chamomile. Remember ingested substance effect is by volume, a horse is big so 2 tea bags(cut open and fed) of chamomile leaves, goats are smaller so 1/2 tblspn. It calms them just like us, you know 'Sleepytime Tea' easier and natural, keeps them calm. Use it on Dogs who run and hide during fireworks, just a pinch, you can even just slide it under their upper lip like men do with tobacco. It doesn't take much.

Permalink Reply by Jenny Mustoe on July 16, 2010 at 5:51pm

That's an interesting thread; I've been following one on another site that said that it was best to leave horses outside during a storm! I've known at least 3 horses struck and killed in paddocks by lightning and all mine over the years have run for cover at the first signs of a thunderstorm coming. I said this and got shot down being told that it wasn't 'natural'. But it's not 'natural' keeping horses in paddocks either as has been so rightly pointed out.

Like the bit about Sleepytime tea; I will try that next time we get a hyper dog, or maybe when I can't sleep I'll rub it on my gums instead of watering it down and drinking it. LOL I find strangely drawn to that tea but can't decide whether it's the teddy bears on the packet or the contents!

Permalink Reply by Shirley on July 26, 2010 at 6:03pm

I had a curious thing happen the other day. One of the ladies at my barn that has kids and horses and strongly wants her horses left outside if it's storming told her child the other day that she couldn't go out and play in the rain cause it wasn't safe. I said something to her and we both laughed as she told me 'oh be quiet' knowing very well what I was thinking. And she has shoes on her horse. I am very slowly learning to keep my opinions to myself.
Yesterday a couple of the young girls at the barn had decorated their horses. One had tied the tail with a couple of rubber bands and taken the mane and divided it off into sections with rubber bands but rather then laying flat they were sticking up like a Mohawk. My first reaction was "oh good, the girls are having lotsa fun." But they put this poor horse back out to pasture like this with no hair to swish the bugs off and you could tell it was a bit stressed. The kids were gone home. One of the other boarders just went out and untied the tail so at least he could swish the bugs with his tail. These are newer horse people so I wonder if they even think what a horse uses it's mane and tail for. Do you say something or keep quiet? I think the other lady will probably say something. It can be so hard to keep quiet but rarely do people seem glad that anyone says anything rather than a positive statement.
Another lady thinks people are picking on her because someone told her that her horse is getting too thin on the feed she is giving it. She gets defensive cause a friend of hers told her that this extra feed is all the horse needs besides hay and grass, that it supplies everything they need....vitamins and minerals. It doesn't seem to be feeling very good on the new feed and is loosing weight.
What to do? What to do?!

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on July 26, 2010 at 8:44pm

Oh boy, this brings back memories!
If the problem borders on abuse notify the barn manager and ask permission before you do anything.
I had to learn to keep my mouth shut. One extreme situation (running a horse then tying it up lathered and panting in the high 90's) I marched myself up to the little girl, told her the situation, and FIRMLY told her to go walk her horse NOW. No parents in sight. Luckily the girl went and walked her horse cool, I don't know what I'd done if she hadn't--the barn manager wasn't there.
Suggest to the owner of the thin horse that he might need to have his teeth rasped, that way a vet will see the horse. Also check about the worming. Try to tell an amusing tale of how hopeless you used to be around horses and how people helped you.
Ask your barn manager if you can talk to the girls about proper turnout grooming of their horse (loose mane and tail.) The little girls may not realize how the fly bites can HURT, and how the loss of blood can really drag down a horse. Offer to show them how you groom your horse's mane and tail.
Its things like this that I hated about boarding my horses decades ago. Good luck, and the horses thank you for caring.

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