Calm Before the Storm
Yesterday afternoon did not feel like a November day. It was shirt-sleeve warm just before sunset, and so calm that not a twig was stirring.But the three horses in the pasture--LB, Corky, and Tiffany--were not out grazing on grass that's started growing again. They were up as close to the house as they could get, clustered near the gate to the barn. They made it pretty clear that they wanted someone to let them come inside.
I'm glad I gave in, because a major "wind-icane" blasted in during the night, slamming the side of the house and threatening to lift the roof right off. That first gust must have been at 60 mph, and the big blow has been hard and steady ever since. Anything not nailed down has been blown east to the next county.
Isn't it amazing what animals know before we do?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 9:20 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Yes ma'am. We always used to watch the horses, our beef cattle, and the deer population. They always "warned" us with their behavior what type of weather was headed our way. Before bad winter storms with heavy snows and winds, the deer would be out everywhere, power chowing on what they could find. Our cattle and horses seemed to tuck in tight, and go through extra hay before a storm too.
Animals can be very intuitive when it comes to things like that. We could learn a lot from them.
Oh yeah....I'm with you Girlfriend! Where we live we're noted for strong winds and even today the winds are STILL roaring out there.
Over the years I've noted my horses seek shelter right before storms hit. They are natural barometers.
This last summer I observed my (little) Quarter Horse, Cisco, herd his (big) buddy Sunny, a Belgian Draft, to shelter right before Thunder and Lightning storms hit.
During one incoming storm I watched Cisco run for shelter, then wheel around and gallop full tilt across the pasture to Sunny. Using his nose, he pushed Sunny across the pasture into protection just as the storm hit.
Seems not much bothers Sunny. Maybe he thinks as slow as he walks but you gotta love him. :) Cisco looks out for him. What a noble little guy!
This just happened to me today: I was cleaning a pasture with two mares in it, and it was nice and sunny out (it was raining realllllly hard yesterday). Than the mares started creeping towards their shelters, and finally both stood inside. About 20 seconds later it started pouring on me. I should have paid closer attention to them saying "get under cover!"
paint_horse_milo
ahorsenamedmilo.blogspot.com
we got hammered w/45mph winds and let me tell you, it was bloody cold!
but sounds like you all really got hammered!
I keep waiting for the Wicked Witch of the West (OZ) to go flying by! lol!
hang in there & have a great weekend.
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