AVERAGE FLASH DENSITY 2005 TO 2014
Electricity running through a body typically travels along the nervous and cardiovascular systems---if the current passes through the heart, it can stop it from beating. An entire herd that huddles under a tall tree can be killed instantly. “The most common scenario is you have a lightning storm overnight, and the horse is found dead up under a tree,” says Robert Judd, DVM, of Judd Veterinary Clinic in Hewitt, Texas.
If you notice that your horses like to congregate under tall, lone trees during storms, you might consider fencing them well away from the trunks. Stands of smaller trees of uniform height are not as dangerous, especially if they’re in lower-lying areas of the pasture.
Run-in sheds are not generally considered to be safe shelters from lightning, but you can take steps to reduce the hazards. Although it is generally recommended that these shelters be placed on high ground to improve drainage, if your farm is in a lightningprone area, you might consider locating your shed on slightly lower ground, especially if otherwise it would be the tallest object in the vicinity. Also avoid placing a shed under a tall, isolated tree. Some sort of nonconductive footing, such as a deep bed of gravel or rubber mats placed over a concrete pad, can help reduce the risks from ground currents if lightning strikes nearby.
Anyone who spends a significant amount of time outdoors develops an appreciation and respect for the more violent weather Mother Nature can throw at you. As deadly and destructive as lightning can be, it’s good to know that you can take steps to keep yourself, and your horses, safe.