On 12/02/2011 19:46, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In ,
@g mail.com writes:
On Feb 12, 2:18 pm, wrote:
Sofa - Spud wrote:
Bit weird - racing came on after Big Bang and they said some sad news
two horses *electrocuted* as the were in a paddock. Just walking and
down they went.

I know horse racing is crooked as hell but FFS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/othe...ng/9395743.stm

Just heard about this on BBC R5. There was a suggestion that under
ground power cables might have been the cause. But they said that there
was some distress, it got worse and then the 2 horses dropped.
Surrounding horses were also similarly distressed. Surely electrocution
would have been instant, not relativity gradual. Or, is that how it
happens for horses?

What I dont get is that in the article you posted, every one seems quite
content with the electrocution idea, but none seem to say how.

And the, if it is underground cables, then how come its never happened
before, well, to my limited knowledge. Not just to horses, but humans
too. Or does it happen often but we are protected by our shoes and never
notice? No humans a Newbury were affected, only some one who felt a
tingle on a horse.

Horses and other four-legged animals are a lot more sensitive to
electric currents in the ground, as there can be a considerable
voltage drop between front and hind legs. It seems like an earth fault
to some metalwork in the ground, dodgy earthing is a common problem on
sites that have a lot of small structures, there are a lot of
'gotchas' when laying on supplies to outlying buildings.

Actually, most animals are electrocuted at smaller currents
than humans, and even small ground voltages can be disastrous
for large quadrupeds, and they have no option to "let go" of
the live ground.

This is why (on uk.d-i-y) I always warn of the need to use
electricians familiar with these extra risks when working on
installations near livestock, when I see a poster talking
about such a situation.

Very sad for all concerned.


That horses were more susceptible to electrocution than humans and
needed only a very small shock to kill them came as news to me till it
was pointed out to me by my horse riding daughter. Terrible really!