Electrocution as a Cause of Sudden Death in Horses

Four previously-well horses experienced electrical exposure due to unsuspected buried electrical wiring on entering a wet indoor barn arena surface. Two horses died. Electrocution was determined to have resulted from deterioration in the wiring and conductance through the wet arena. Horses shod on all four hooves were more severely affected than horses shod on front hooves only. An affected horse owner and two surviving horses recovered uneventfully. Inadvertent electrical exposure from buried wires in a wet (arena) surface may be an important consideration for sudden unexplained deaths, convulsions, or avoidance of an area in horses. Guidelines for electrical placement in areas used by horses are reviewed.