Re: Re: Thunder Storms /tornado

["Mike and Kathy Kelly" <reallykk@infomagic.com>]

I agree about it being a personal choice.  Nature is out of our control, and
although I know I'd like to think there is something I can do to protect my
horses (and do what I think might help), I'm just trying to make myself feel
better about a situation I can't do much about.  There is just no way to
gaurantee your horse won't get struck by lightening, etc.

I'm so sorry for those who have lost a horse to lightening, and know it
could happen to mine, too.  I just hope that people who have lost a horse
this way don't beat themselves up thinking they could have done something.
Sometimes its just out of our hands.

There are bad lightening storms in the summer in Na AZ where I live at
7300ft, and I have neighbors who have lost horses to lightening.  I had
lightening strike my well head years ago before I had horses.  I always
worry about mine.  I like to think that the rubber mats in their shed help.
I read in Perfect Horse (John Lyons) that even a wood barn or fence posts
(wood being a poor conductor) can store a lightening charge and zap the
first conductor that comes along (horse or human).  Horses (and people)
don't just die from direct hits, but also from charges from close strikes
that are carried through the ground (which can also get them inside).

With all of the variables, I don't feel sure that mine are safer in their
shed.  If I'm home and its not dangerous for me to go out, I'll put hay
inside to encourage them to stay in during a storm, but I won't lock them in
as they aren't used to being confined and I think its more likely that they
will panic and get hurt than get struck by lightening.  But who knows.

Kathy Kelly
Parks, AZ