Early morning horsey chores in winter

I am another who loves the frosty mornings, when the weather is wet and fields are horrid and muddy it is not such fun, but we always struggle through, my chap is less than 10 mins drive from home, but can live out 24/7 if i choose, so I tend to leave him out unless extremes of weather - poop picking is prefereble to mucking out usually ..LOL
I am up there around 6.30 each morning heading for home just after 7am, then try to be back again after work by 330, if i can manage it to get a quick ride in at least three times in the week, doesn't always work though!
i am another who is on count down to the shortest day, then in my mind it is all going in a positive direction!

one thing I really do enjoy is schooling my horse up in the fields around 3-4pm just before the sun sets, in fact sometimes it is fully dark by the time we wander back to the stables, it is so peaceful and calm and he never seems to mind the darkness.

doesn't mean i wouldn't like a nice arena though :-)
 
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My horse is on a very easy yard with just three easy horses. 7 minutes from home, no problem at all.

However, finding the tap frozen despite wrapping it to within an inch of its life the other day, was a pain in the a**e, so lugging water canisters around reminded me how much I dislike cold weather. I also dislike persistent wet weather - so basically I dislike winter, and can't wait for spring (but I also hate flies .......)
 
I love this weather. Compared to last years wet, mild & stupidly windy weather, its a blessing. The cold is really helping fattie cob loose weight and her apple bum is going down. Long may it last till spring!
 
AdorableAlice said:
scats said:
I'm loving this cold dry weather. It's ideal winter in my mind.

I agree, I can't remember another December as dry as this one, haven't got the welly boots out yet, all the fields are dry as are the gateways. Clean rugs and horses. What more could we ask for in December.

But, remember nature always rights herself and I do wonder what is coming our way !
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Hopefully she is righting herself for what has been the last few years not what is to come.
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I am out the door just after 5am, it's dark and cold but there's hardly any mud which is a bloomin' novelty...and my boy's arthritis and mud fever aren't too bad due to non-slippery fields and lack of mud...
 
I am finding this winter the easiest by far for years. Not entirely sure why as not a lot has changed. I think though that I am hunting less (going as and when instead of every weekend), having a lesson during the week breaks up the riding in the dark, its dry so less grooming of dirty creatures. LONG MAY IT LAST!!
 
I go out to mine at about 6.30 am but am thinking actually i need to buck my idea's up and get out earlier!
They are outside the house so its easier for me than our old livery yard or rented field days.
My horse takes ages to eat breakfast so i just feed and go mad getting as much done as possible! I dont mind it tbh except when its really p'ing it down!
 
I really cant complain as my biggest problem is very cold temps when my water tap freezes solid so I then have to lug buckets from my shed across my back garden to the field for them which is such a pain in the ass (especially when our water pressure is low so it takes ages for the buckets to fill!). Ive only had to do this a few times so far, not many days. Its bizarre the weather here - it was -6 for three days running then today its suddenluy 13 degrees?! The horses are so confused, I actually took their rugs off so they could have a good roll today in DECEMBER?! We haven't had any snow at all, very odd. Its been pretty good so far, cold enough to have frosty mornings which means the fields have been pretty dry and Ive been able to ride as much as usual.

I make sure I minimise work though, I keep mine at home so I can do what I like which is very handy. They all live out with their stables doors left open so they come and go as they like, I dont even have to hay them daily as I just get a big round bale put in their feeder regularly so they help themselves. I feed them morning and night, but I leave their buckets out so they can take as long as they like to eat. Otherwise I just poo pick the yard where they stand about but I do that all year round anyway. The main winter chore I hate is clipping! Clipped my mare today and I forget how much hair goes up your nose and into places it shouldn't - agh!
 
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