Why Should You Not Ride Horses in Lightning Storm

It is always safer to be indoors as opposed to outdoors when you expect a bad weather arising. However, in some cases you are just not aware of how bad the weather conditions might turn out to be while you are out riding your horse. A lightening storm is something you should always be careful of because it can strike you instantly and without giving you much warning. Here are a few reasons why you should always be careful of riding horses when there is a lightning storm approaching:

Getting Hit By Lightning

When a lightning storm strikes, horse riding in it will always be a bad idea. This is because both horse and people can get struck by lightning which can cause immediate death. Horses often get killed and hit by lightning. Therefore, it is best to avoid riding in such weather conditions. However, if you do happen to be in such an instant of an extreme weather change, then you should take certain precautions to keep your horse and yourself out of harm’s way.

Another thing to note here is that you should be staying low in such weather conditions instead of sitting on top of a horse where the lightning can strike you more easily. Keeping low will keep you comparatively safer from lightning strikes. Also, always tie your horse to a bush instead of a tree while you hunch down to the ground. This is because a tree has more chances of being struck by lightning as compared to a bush due to the height difference.

Nervous Shock and Health Conditions

A lightning storm can be extremely hazardous for you and the animal since it can cause a nervous shock or damage which can lead to temporary unconsciousness or even death. If the horse has been unconscious, it may wake up to blindness or depression. The nerve damage can cause destruction in the brain. Another effect of lightning would also involve heart related problems.

If the injuries sustained are no fatal in nature, then they will most likely be related to the nervous system, which can have bad implications later on. This can result in a horse suffering from so much brain damage that the brain stops functioning normally. A horse that is unable to function properly will most likely be of no use to you later on, since it will not respond to you like it used to before.

An Upset Horse

With extremely violent weather conditions, your horse can become spooky and quite upset. They can even sustain a motor injury. An upset horse is never a good horse and will most likely end up giving you a lot of trouble while you are dealing with the bad conditions and drastic changes in the weather. The worst would be if the mood of the horse changes while you are still on it. The horse will likely start galloping and jumping around and would not be able to calm down.

This can pose an extreme risk and danger to you as well as you will likely fall to the ground after which your horse will run away. To be on the safe side, it is always recommended to get horse bits for your horse. Since there are various kinds of horse bits from One Stop Equine available for passionate horse riders, you can choose the ones which are exactly according to your choice.

While you often find out about such weather conditions through the news and weather channels, it is always better to take precaution, especially for days when the weather changes without warning. Become more aware of Why not to ride horses in lightening storm and see to it that you are always vigilant no matter where you are. The safest thing that you can probably do is to stay indoors.