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How To Keep You and Your Horse Safe in an Electrical Storm

With summertime coming, one's thoughtsheel and then goes back to the ground
carelessly leap to the idea of trekkingagain. If you don't put your heels
across wild terrain with not a soul fortogether, lightning could go through
miles, except for the beautiful beastyour heart and possibly kill you.
beneath you.Once the storm has moved on and you have
But like hikers and golfers, when thea 50 second gap between lighting strikes
black clouds start to roll in, andand hearing the thunder, you can mount
distant thunder is heard, the prudentup and get under way again.
horseback rider must take into accountIf high winds are part of the storm as
his or her safety, and that of theirwell, once again get to the lower
horse, when this situation arises. Morereaches of the landscape. Get behind
riders are killed in local thunderstormsrocks or large boulders, but not trees.
than in hurricanes or tornados. If youGet inside a sturdy building if at all
are planning a ride always keep an eyepossible.
out for local weather forecasts.Another danger could well be a heavy
As long as you are aware of the dangers,hail storm. Once again seek lower land
there are many things you can do tolevels, but also try and find overhead
lessen the risk to the pair of you whenshelter. If there is no shelter,
caught out in the wilds in an electricaldismount, and lead your horse. If you
storm. Don't forget, the danger is notcan, find a clump of bushes, not trees,
just of dangerous lighting strikes, butand try to manoeuvre your way in the
of flash floods, and even hail storms.bushes, pulling your horse in with you.
Do not think that lighting is onlyLeave the horse's saddle on and if you
apparent at the eye of the storm - ifhave anything else to hand, try to cover
you are within 10 miles of it, lightingthe horse's head. Also, try and get your
strikes can still occur. If there is ahorse to lower his head. Just as horses
time lag of less than 50 seconds betweendo, turn your back to the storm, keeping
seeing lighting and hearing thunder, youyour hat on.
are probably in the danger zone. ButDon't forget also the danger of sudden
beware of particularly violent storms -rising water. Keep well away from
there may be so many strikes it'sgullies or depressions in the ground
difficult to know which flash isthat lead from uphill. These could soon
associated with which peal of thunder.fill up with fast moving water in the
If you are caught in the open and thereevent of a flash flood. Once again, stop
is lighting, get off the high point ofand dismount, as lots of accidents
the terrain as quick as you can, but dohappen when riders keep going in the
not go into stream beds or low lyingrain and poor visibility. Ground current
areas - that is tempting fate from otheris one reason horses and cattle are
directions. The lower reaches of slopingespecially susceptible to lightning
land or rolling hills is probably thestrikes. Because they are four-footed,
best to get to. Dismount, and tie yourlivestock are killed by "step voltage,"
horse to a low bush, but do not tetherwhich occurs when lightning's ground
him to a tree or fence, especially onecurrent radiates out from a struck
with metal components. Move about 40 orobject. While ground current only
50 feet away, in case he is startled.affects the feet and legs of a standing
Don't lie down, but squat down,person, it is a common cause of death
balancing on your feet. Lightning safetyamong horses and cattle whose vital
experts have invented a "lightningorgans are in the current path. If you
crouch" that is very important to knoware at an outdoor event when a storm
about if you are caught in a thundercomes up, and there is no building
storm and you can't find a shelter. Ifcover, get your horse back in his
you think that this position looks hardtrailer and close the ramp. Make sure
to do, you are right. It is. So practicethat any safety chains are not
it until you can stay in it for severalconnecting with the ground - they could
minutes, because it could save yourconduct a strike up to your trailer, and
life. There are several reasons forits contents. You should get in the
doing the lightning crouch. Remember,towing vehicle, making sure that once
lightning usually hits the tallest thingagain nothing such as cables, ropes,
around and this is one time that youchairs, chains, are touching the ground.
don't want to be tall. Remember that itOnce again, remember that the prudent
is not safe to lie flat on the ground.rider, even if they are not worried
With your heels together, if lightningabout their own safety, should consider
hits the ground, electricity goestheir horse's life, and be especially
through the closest foot, up to yourcareful in these sorts of conditions.
heel and then transfers to the otherIf in doubt - stay at home.



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