Morning turnout after a storm has gotten complicated with all the extra hazards that pop up overnight. As someone who has walked many a soggy pasture at 6 AM in rubber boots, I learned everything there is to know about post-storm safety checks. Today, I will share it all with you.
Check Your Fencing First
Before anything else, walk the perimeter. I cannot count the number of times I’ve found downed branches on my fence line after a decent storm. Broken boards, sagging wire, posts leaning where they shouldn’t be — storms expose every weak point in your fencing. One time a massive oak limb took out an entire section and I only caught it because I checked before opening the gate.
Fix what you can immediately. If it’s too big for a quick repair, keep horses off that pasture until you can do it properly. An escaped horse after a storm, with debris everywhere and roads potentially flooded, is a nightmare scenario.
Inspect the Pasture Itself
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Standing water, debris, mud slicks — storms rearrange your pasture overnight. Walk it and look for new hazards. Erosion can open up holes that weren’t there yesterday. Branches and random objects blow in from who knows where.
Some spots might just be too slippery for safe turnout. My back pasture has a low section that turns into a skating rink after heavy rain. I keep horses out of it for a day or two until it firms up. Not worth the soft tissue injury risk.
Clear the Run-In Shed
Wind drives debris into shelters something fierce. I’ve found everything from shingles to trash bags to tree limbs in my run-in after storms. Check for standing water inside, move anything that could hurt a horse, and make sure the structure itself is stable. Give it a good look before assuming it’s fine.
Test Your Water Sources
Automatic waterers clog and fail during storms. Troughs fill with leaves, twigs, and muddy runoff. Check that everything is clean and flowing properly. My automatic waterer got jammed with debris once and I didn’t notice for almost a full day — felt terrible about that. Now it’s the first thing I check.
Let Muddy Legs Dry First
If your horses are caked in mud from the storm, resist the urge to groom immediately. That’s what makes patience endearing to us horse owners — we know that brushing wet mud into the coat creates skin irritation and scratches. Let it dry completely, then curry it off gently. Your horse’s skin will thank you.
The whole post-storm check takes maybe 15 minutes. It’s a small investment of time that prevents accidents and catches problems before they turn into emergencies. Make it a habit and you won’t even think about it after a while.
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