Effects of Wind Turbines on Horses

Wind turbines are touted as being a successful way to use wind as a renewable energy source. Turbines have little environmental impact, but some people worry about their impact on landscape and wildlife. Wind turbines' impact on horses is not often discussed, and whether there is actually an impact on them is a topic of debate.

  1. No Impact

    • There no official studies to suggest that wind turbines have any effect on horses when they are in close proximity. According to King's Street Wind Farm in England, the first English wind farm developed in Delabole Cornwall was located on a horse stud farm. The owner reported no ill effects on the horses there. Modern turbines make little noise and the blades are quite thin, making them non-threatening, according to some horse owners who own or ride horses near wind turbines.

    Spooked Horses

    • Some horse owners say their horses are spooked by moving shadows and moving light produced by the blades of a wind turbine. Noises produced by the turbine can sound like hissing or whooshing or an occasional clang, all sounds that some riders claim disturb their horse. A spooked horse can be a danger to its rider. According to a 2004 article in Horse and Hound magazine, horse owners in Wales opposed wind farms because their horses were acting erratically around wind turbines. They reported hearing odd noises from the machines, saying the horses did not like the turbines.

    Equine Tourism

    • An impact that has some horse owner concerned is the affect on equine tourism. Equine tourism is an industry in which visitors tour an area on horseback. They often ride horse trails through countryside landscapes. In the case of Welsh horse owners and equine tour guides, wind turbines are bad for business. Horse owners hesitate to send guests out on horses that may become spooked by turbine noises and shadows. A rider could be injured if he fell from a horse that was spooked. Tour guides say that turbines are an eyesore for tourists who come to a location to view the landscape. A guide in Wales also reported a farm blocking off one of the riding paths with a locked gate. Wind farms could become a growing concern if turbines are proposed in areas where equine tourism is popular.