April showers can mean thunder, which means lightning—a serious danger to you and your horse. Here’s what to do if you’re caught in a booming storm.

Count from Flash to Bang: Every five seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder equals one mile. If the time between gets shorter, you know the storm
is moving toward you.

Dismount: When you’re horseback, you’re a giant lightning rod. Tie or hobble your horse, and move 15′ away, crouching close to the ground with your feet together to touch as little ground as possible.

Seek Safe Shelter: Lightning strikes ahead of the storm’s arrival, so take cover as soon as you see a flash, if possible. Get out of open, high areas, and steer clear of metal, water, and tall trees.

Load Up: Put your horse in the trailer and yourself in the truck’s cab, with the windows up. If lightning strikes your rig, the shock will travel around the metal perimeter.