How are people keeping horses active with all the ice?

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reecebailey

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We have had to keep our horses in for the last few days as to turn them out we have to walk down a very icey lane which is on a slope. The school/field is completly frozen over and the roads aren't safe! How are people coping? The horse hasn't been ridden for over a week now and he doesn't cope well with days off! I am out of ideas what to do? Anyone have any? People on the yard seem fine with keeping their horses in 24/7, but I don't want mine in this long! Would it be worth finding another place for them for a while? (as it's impossible to turn out and bring in due to the slope and the fields are bad!) I don't know how long it's going to be icey.
 
I'm not doing anything with my pony as I can't get to him but he lives out 24/7 so can pootle around.

If there are any indoor schools near you you could try getting in contact with owners and see if they'd let you use it? If they are horse people they will hopefully understand your predicament and be willing to help.

Sorry that I've got no better ideas!

Good Luck!
 
Essentially, I can't much. No school, no walker and the fields are ice traps. I chuck him out for half an hour everyday when I muck him out and my heart is in my mouth. He thinks it is a fun game to go to the top of the hill, trot half way down it, and then skid the rest of the way. Repeatedly. Stoopid horse. If he were a person, he would love rollercoasters.
If you can find some where to move him, it might be worth it but I don't know how you would get him there, I wouldn't want to transport a horse in this weather, the roads are so icy, all the horse would have to do is move a little and the trailer/lorry could skid on the ice.
 
I'm feeling the same, i feel so bad for my horse! We haven't found anything to do with him, i know some people turn out in a menage for a bit, but mine's a loon and i don't want to risk an injury! It's awful but it's the safest way
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Essentially, I can't much. No school, no walker and the fields are ice traps. I chuck him out for half an hour everyday when I muck him out and my heart is in my mouth. He thinks it is a fun game to go to the top of the hill, trot half way down it, and then skid the rest of the way. Repeatedly. Stoopid horse. If he were a person, he would love rollercoasters.
If you can find some where to move him, it might be worth it but I don't know how you would get him there, I wouldn't want to transport a horse in this weather, the roads are so icy, all the horse would have to do is move a little and the trailer/lorry could skid on the ice.

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That reminds me, yesturday me dog ran then slid down a huge hill and then hit his head at the bottom, on a tree. Animals are stupid sometimes.
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Ours are out 24/7 so are getting some exercise naturally. Can't imagine will be riding for some weeks yet going by the forecasts!
 
I'm stuck the other way around. Can't get mine in because the track and yard is too icy to lead them in.

But hey ho, they're able to mooch around I spose.........

I'm just peed off because they ALL need the farrier!!!!
 
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Horse walker! It has been a life saver in this weather especially with the hunters.

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^^^^Ditto this couldn't cope without it
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I think your best bet is just to try and walk him out in hand for half an hour a day, maybe you could make a track out of old hay or straw or even the muck out of your stable!!! (I know its messy, but it will do the job).

I dont think its a good idea to try and move him at the moment if your roads are icy, it would be dangerous to box him anywhere!
 
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I think your best bet is just to try and walk him out in hand for half an hour a day, maybe you could make a track out of old hay or straw or even the muck out of your stable!!! (I know its messy, but it will do the job).

I dont think its a good idea to try and move him at the moment if your roads are icy, it would be dangerous to box him anywhere!

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I was thinking of doing that, the icey hill will be impossible to get down i think! I will try putting some hay down, or even sand?- I have some sand bags about! Are we allowed to walk a horse on the road if noone is on it, or do we have to go on the pavement? It's just the pavements are a nightmare. Still leaves me with what to do with the other horse who I am no way walking in hand on the ice with!
 
mine is out 24/7 so he's fine. but i hadnt ridden for 2 weeks over xmas. gave him a gentle lunge last fri then took him out last sunday for an hour and he was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo relaxed! it obviously did him good to hve a holiday, so if i cant ride for some time yet, he'll be asleep when i take him out next!!!
 
ours are still getting turned out and we are lucky to only hve about 5 mins road work before we are in our local woods so we are still able to do some hacking and the smaller horses can be ridden in our indoor school but I tend o just free school in there
 
Is there any way of clearing the ice?
My boy is out 24/7 so the fields are just covered in snow so he's fine but i do live on a very very steep hill!

Over christmas we resorted to attaching a rope line to the top lampost to help everyone lower/drag themselves up the road it was so bad!
In the end no matter how much we avoided it it was simply a case of breaking the ice and brushing it to the side.

Get your shovel out and clear it!
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My angel (well, when the voices in her head aren't telling her to do bad things) is staying in. Too icy, yard like a skating rink. But since she's been lame and on box rest since August and the vet onlyjust last week said it was OK to start walking her again I'm very, very annoyed ...
 
Mines out 24/7 but havnt managed to take him out in three weeks as the lanes are too icy and slippy and up the feilds have to much snow with hard snow on top which may cut his legs!
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hate this weather!!
 
My lad goes out twice a day atm,probably for an hr or 2 in the morn then a quick 15 min legstretch in the afternoon,this is only in a little fenced off bit on the yard though,the gateways are far too icy to risk it
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However most of the others are in and being remarkably well behaved
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Is there any way of clearing the ice?
My boy is out 24/7 so the fields are just covered in snow so he's fine but i do live on a very very steep hill!

Over christmas we resorted to attaching a rope line to the top lampost to help everyone lower/drag themselves up the road it was so bad!
In the end no matter how much we avoided it it was simply a case of breaking the ice and brushing it to the side.

Get your shovel out and clear it!
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OK, I'll try and smash the ice tommorow on the lane, I think I might get some funny looks!
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