Have you ever been caught in a thunderstorm on a ride? It can be pretty scary, especially if there's lots of lightning.
Since we're in the midst of thunderstorm season, here are some things you can do to minimize your risks, both on a ride and at the barn:
• If you can hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck by lightning. If you're riding, get off the horse immediately.
• Stay out of river beds and off hills, and away from single trees or small groups of trees. Seek out low areas. If you need to tie your horse, use a bush never a tree.
• If your horses are in a pasture, get them inside as soon as possible. Horses should not be allowed to stand outside in open fields during a thunderstorm. (However, convincing the horses to come inside might take some doing.)
• Horses in a trailer are somewhat protected, especially if there's rubber mats in the trailer, and the horses' sides don't touch the metal.
• If you are outside with no protection, get to a low spot. Make your body low to the ground, but do not lie flat. Curl on your side or drop to your knees and bend forward, putting your hands on your knees.
• Put down any object that might conduct electricity, such as a rake, hoe or shovel.
• Get off farm machinery.
There are four ways in which a lightning strike can injure or kill people or animals:
• A direct strike, which usually results in cardiac arrest.
• A sideflash, which occurs when the body of a person or animal provides an alternate path for the current. If the current passes through the head or heart, death may result.
• Conducted current from a lightning flash, which may range from tingling shock to a massive current.
• Step voltage, which radiates out through the ground from a struck tree or pole. This results in many livestock deaths every year.
— Information from the National Agriculture Safety Database.
Besides being an equestrian, Bonnie Phillips is the Middletown/Shoreline Region news bureau chief. Her horse is named Annie.