Are horses afraid of thunder and lightning?

Question

Are horses afraid of thunder and lightning?

Answer 1

Bright Lights and loud noises scare horses... put them away for the 4th of July

Answer 2

yes they generally are, most horses go quite loopy during storms

Answer 3

Hello,

I think it depends on where you live and what they are use to...  OURS don't scare at lightning and thunder.  NONE of them have ever been hurt from it, so they don't panic, etc.

Horses can acclimate to many different situations it just depends on what they are exposed to and how often.  Also depends on the horses temperament.

Answer 4

mine couldnt care less but they do get a little frisky before a storm.lightning struck less than a 1/4 mile from me and they just lifted their heads to look and see where the noise came from.i used to call them in from the far pasture by firing my shotgun so they could get fed,kind of like pavlovs dog

Answer 5

Yes, most definately horses are scared of thunder and lightning. That's why you shouldn't ride in or if a storm is near...they get all twitchy if the wind picks up before the storm!!

Answer 6

Yes, most horses are very nervous of loud noises and sudden flashes. Once in a great great while you get a "bomb proof" horses that will perk his ears at the most, butt getting a horse to be bomb-proof takes a lot of hard work.

Good Luck

Answer 7

Yes,It makes them very nervous.Thats why your not suppose to train them during a storm.

Answer 8

It depends on the individual horse. Mine dont care in the slightest. But I know of others who really freak out at it.

Answer 9

Thunder or Lightning. I dont think it would be to jolly getting struck by lightning.... especially in a thunderstorm.

PS- Its thunder

Answer 10

It all depends on the horse, but most horses are frightened of sudden loud noises and flashing lights. There is one pony I know who spooks horribly during a thunderstorm or when someone tries to take a photo, but my horse hardly reacts to a loud thunderclap or flash of lightning.

Answer 11

some horses

Answer 12

Every horse is different.

Last year we went out for a ride and got caught in a sudden storm - lightening and thunder, very loud and my ( normally spooky) horse never batted an eyelid at it  - I was stunned. I wouldn't advise anyone to ride in it if they could avoid it though.

Answer 13

A horse tends to fear a storm more when its closed in a stall than it does when its in a pasture with a shelter. I think its because the horse knows it will have room to run if a bad storm begins to form, but if its just rain horses LOVE to stand in the summer rain to cool them off :)

Answer 14

They can be trained out of it. Police horses go through rigorous and constant training to literally make them bombproof. There are lots of things you can do to train the average horse to overcome its fear of flashes and loud noises, but it takes a long time and a lot of patience. http://www.positivelyriding.com/page/pag...

Answer 15

Yes, they can be.  But not all horses are.  When the weather get severe and they feel they are in danger they will display fear.  Note: each individual will display fear differently.

Answer 16

Just like people it depends on the horse... horses who are more skittish tend to be frighted of storms... horses who have worry mummie owners who are always rushed around and locked up during storms tend to be more frighted then the horse who is just rugged and left in the paddock during a storm... in a paddock of 13 horses only one is terrified of storms... and his owner comes down every time we have a storm and freaks him out more because she freaks out and holds him and he feeds of her energy... the rest just huddle up under the tree and get on with being a horse...

Answer 17

Hi most horses are but you can get the ocasional BOMB PROOF horse that is not scared of anything(rare)

they are very rare to get.

some people get there horses use to lightning and thunder my old stock horse i had didn't give a c**p about it.

she was awesome

Answer 18

Yes, most horses are afraid of loud noises and flashes... ever been in a riding ring and seen a sign that says "NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY"? That's why. Horses are scared of a lot of things, and if they don't know what something is, they are more likely to run away like it's trying to eat them than run up to it to check it out.

Answer 19

IDK But I know I am =]

Answer 20

Yes they are...and if they are outside during an electrical storm, they often try to huddle together under a tree if one is available...around here, I've seen several electrocuted when lightning struck a tree they were huddled against.

Answer 21

Some horses are. Most actully. My horse isnt for some odd reason. I guess that also explaines why she LOVES!! Fireworks.

She will come as close to the fence as possible to watch them while all the other horses are running around, scared and not knowing what to do. lol i love her!

She is so calm during fireworks. And when its thundering and lighting she is calm to. SHe doesnt want to go in the barn, just sits out in the rain sleeping. While im inside freaking out for her lol