| With summertime coming, one's thoughts | | | | heel and then goes back to the ground |
| carelessly leap to the idea of trekking | | | | again. If you don't put your heels |
| across wild terrain with not a soul for | | | | together, lightning could go through |
| miles, except for the beautiful beast | | | | your heart and possibly kill you. |
| beneath you. | | | | Once the storm has moved on and you have |
| But like hikers and golfers, when the | | | | a 50 second gap between lighting strikes |
| black clouds start to roll in, and | | | | and hearing the thunder, you can mount |
| distant thunder is heard, the prudent | | | | up and get under way again. |
| horseback rider must take into account | | | | If high winds are part of the storm as |
| his or her safety, and that of their | | | | well, once again get to the lower |
| horse, when this situation arises. More | | | | reaches of the landscape. Get behind |
| riders are killed in local thunderstorms | | | | rocks or large boulders, but not trees. |
| than in hurricanes or tornados. If you | | | | Get inside a sturdy building if at all |
| are planning a ride always keep an eye | | | | possible. |
| 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 to | | | | levels, but also try and find overhead |
| lessen the risk to the pair of you when | | | | shelter. If there is no shelter, |
| caught out in the wilds in an electrical | | | | dismount, and lead your horse. If you |
| storm. Don't forget, the danger is not | | | | can, find a clump of bushes, not trees, |
| just of dangerous lighting strikes, but | | | | and 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 only | | | | Leave the horse's saddle on and if you |
| apparent at the eye of the storm - if | | | | have anything else to hand, try to cover |
| you are within 10 miles of it, lighting | | | | the horse's head. Also, try and get your |
| strikes can still occur. If there is a | | | | horse to lower his head. Just as horses |
| time lag of less than 50 seconds between | | | | do, turn your back to the storm, keeping |
| seeing lighting and hearing thunder, you | | | | your hat on. |
| are probably in the danger zone. But | | | | Don'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's | | | | gullies or depressions in the ground |
| difficult to know which flash is | | | | that 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 there | | | | event of a flash flood. Once again, stop |
| is lighting, get off the high point of | | | | and dismount, as lots of accidents |
| the terrain as quick as you can, but do | | | | happen when riders keep going in the |
| not go into stream beds or low lying | | | | rain and poor visibility. Ground current |
| areas - that is tempting fate from other | | | | is one reason horses and cattle are |
| directions. The lower reaches of sloping | | | | especially susceptible to lightning |
| land or rolling hills is probably the | | | | strikes. Because they are four-footed, |
| best to get to. Dismount, and tie your | | | | livestock are killed by "step voltage," |
| horse to a low bush, but do not tether | | | | which occurs when lightning's ground |
| him to a tree or fence, especially one | | | | current radiates out from a struck |
| with metal components. Move about 40 or | | | | object. 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 safety | | | | among horses and cattle whose vital |
| experts have invented a "lightning | | | | organs are in the current path. If you |
| crouch" that is very important to know | | | | are at an outdoor event when a storm |
| about if you are caught in a thunder | | | | comes up, and there is no building |
| storm and you can't find a shelter. If | | | | cover, get your horse back in his |
| you think that this position looks hard | | | | trailer and close the ramp. Make sure |
| to do, you are right. It is. So practice | | | | that any safety chains are not |
| it until you can stay in it for several | | | | connecting with the ground - they could |
| minutes, because it could save your | | | | conduct a strike up to your trailer, and |
| life. There are several reasons for | | | | its contents. You should get in the |
| doing the lightning crouch. Remember, | | | | towing vehicle, making sure that once |
| lightning usually hits the tallest thing | | | | again nothing such as cables, ropes, |
| around and this is one time that you | | | | chairs, chains, are touching the ground. |
| don't want to be tall. Remember that it | | | | Once 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 lightning | | | | about their own safety, should consider |
| hits the ground, electricity goes | | | | their horse's life, and be especially |
| through the closest foot, up to your | | | | careful in these sorts of conditions. |
| heel and then transfers to the other | | | | If in doubt - stay at home. |