this may sound weird

I know this may sound weird but im watching the movie Twister and it got me thinking. What do you guys that live out in areas where tornados are common do with your horses when a tornado strikes? Do you let them loose, or just like leave them in the pasture. Because I know they have that instinct to run.

Well, it kinda depends on where it is at, my pature and barn are in line with each other so if it came down to it and it was heading for my barn, I would try to turn them loose. If it was on the ground but not heading for my barn but there was debris flying around, I would try to get them into the barn, as they would hopefully have less chance of being hit by something in the air. Southern Ohio is not like out in the geat plains where they have 5 million (exagerrated) a day, but we get out fair share here.

But what if the tornado changed course after you had the horses in the barn and headed toward you?

I am 51 miles away from greensburg kansas, and yes in tornado alley...(the crew from storm chasers are often in my area in the spring time), don't get me wrong but i'm a mother of 3, first off I love my horses....but they can be replaced...my kid's can't....my horses are in a large fencing system on our farm with a run in and if need they can jump a fence for cover if not found in our field.....each horse has there halter on at all times in tornato season with there name and phone number on a tag either for indentafication of either a live or dead horse by those who finds it.....between the time a tornado spotter spots a tornado to the time the sirens go off it can take up to a minute to gather up the kids and run downs stairs. I did it 4 times last year only to surface to find the horses ok.
Here is a pic of star sporting his tag on his halter

Horse insurance says to keep them in.

At the YMCA, we would always turn them out - They didn't stay gone long...just enough to weather the storm

this is true. Aren't you scared though when a tornado strikes? I know it's probably a dumb question. And yes absolutely the kids come first. And yes I know horses can be replaced but to tell you the truth idk what I would do without my boy he LITERALLY saved my life(him and God) and if I lost him I don't know what I would do I mean I know they all go eventually and nothing lives forever but I wouldn't want it to be so sudden like that(am I weird for even saying this?). But another question (this is probably dumb too) why would you live in tornado alley? Im not trying to be rude. And when you leave the horses out(probably another dumb question sorry) but are you ever scared that you may loose them all and may never find them or wonder what they are doing? Sorry about the questions I am just really curious.

Also have you ever lost a horse to a tornado(sorry again)

Lol...no problem at all....ok where to start...why do I live in tornado ally??? Took a wrong turn off the 401!!! ...all joking a side...i moved from monteal que to here to be with my husband. Horses have a great instinct to save them self's in tornado's ( I don't think a horse lost it's life the 2007 greenburg tornado)....the closest tornado hit to us was not even half a mile down the raod...(june 2005 9 tornado's hit meade county area).

my horse's will often stand out in the rain and watch the storms rolling in, they'll even turn directions to find out where the siren is comming from.... but yes I love my horses , I put too much time in to them and training but when it come's to torado and my kids.....my kids come first

I agree, that the children need to come first and that a horse can be replaced. The way I look at it is that if I am outside trying to save a horse and get hurt or worse, who will take care of my horses and my children?

What dod horse naturally do in a storm? Do that take any precautions? Do they get low to the ground or anything like that? I have never had the oppertunity to witness that - thank god.

Wow tornadoes must be really scary. What goes through your mind when you here the siren go off. Horses aside?