Q&A    Questions and Answers:

Hi bob,

I have a question for you...in the event of a thunder and lightning storm, what should I do with my horse?....would she be safer in her stall/paddock, or in her field, where she can run out her panic....We have a field, that is about an acre....and we also have a 12X12 stall with a 12X12 paddock connected...if needed we can lock her just in the stall.....please answer this question if you can....

Thanks for your help!

My question for you is, "How likely is it that one place or the other will be actually struck by lightning?" Without seeing your place, I'd guess that the odds of being hit in either place are about the same as your odds of winning the state lottery -- almost nil. That being the case, let your horse make the choice. Most horses prefer to be outside in almost any weather. In the event of hail, sleet, high wind, etc., they should have a run-in for shelter if they want it. Being cooped up in a stall is usually a horse's last choice -- unless there's grain waiting for it there.

Another problem with moving the horse inside is that you are likely to communicate your own sense of concern (or even fear). The horse may not be worried, but if it senses that you are, it will pick up on that fear. The horse's line of reasoning seems to run like this: "I don't see anything to be afraid of, but the human is afraid, so I guess I should be also." Remember, horses have lived through hundreds of millions of thunderstorms over the centuries -- thunder is just a part of their world. A well-trained horse should be no more spooky with a clap of thunder than it would be with a gunshot on a hunting trip.

I hope this helps.

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