How are you coping?

only_me

only_me

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How is everyone coping with the weather?

I havent been able to ride for a week and half now, arena frozen solid and can't get any vehicle in or out of yard, so not even a hope of hiring an arena!!

Horses are ok though, they all get out for most of the day, with hay in fields. Water is broken daily.

The donkeys and colt live out, colt is heavily rugged (I'm a racehorse don't you know ;) ) whereas the donkeys have about 3 inches of a winter coat :p Good shelter, and they all get fed (donkeys get chaff ;) )

So humpf. Not liking the ice part of winter at all.

So how are you getting on? :)
 
We are doing alright so far. Ponies are happily living out 24/7, well rugged up and access to field shelter. Just have to give them some hay and keep re-breaking the trough but apart from that they are very happy. My boys have been going out to play in the snow everyday and I've still managed to get up to the yard everyday in my little car, even though it has been taking me twice as long as usual to get there (usually takes 10 mins) as I daren't go any faster than 30 mph! :eek: :p Luckily I have an Indoor school at my yard, so have still been managing to exercise my boys. :)

Edited to add: We have about 4-5 inches of snow here at the moment, and it's been snowing nearly all day here today! We are due more tomorrow. :(
 
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Ok I think.
Yard is like an ice rink! horses can't go out to stretch their legs :( Most liveries can't even tie up outside as it's too icy.
Handy's not allowed out :( Which is a pain cause he likes to go out. His stable is under a roof so is one of the few who can be tied up outside! He likes to talk to his new best friend.
He's not been worked for 2 weeks now as school's completely frozen! He has been walked inhand but is too slippery to even do that. Staff are giving him a 3rd feed at lunchtime which is lovely, and he has 3 big haynets (he's a big boy with a large frame!) He's all snug at the moment. More heavy snow forecast so we shall see....
 
Here in Bucks we only got a light covering a couple of days ago but it has not risen above 0 for about a week now and most of the time is down to -3 to -6. Due some more snow tonight so will see what happens but it is only supposed to be light again.

Anyway, both nags in at night out during the day in a large field with loads of grass which is poking through here and there so very readily available to eat. My 15.2 IDxTB mare has a blanket clip and a huge heavyweight hooded rug on day and night - don't actually bother taking it off as she is so warm under it and stable rugs are cold to put on. Welsh A has nothing but his winter woolies to keep him warm and he is doing very well - actually needs to shiver a bit of fat off.

Warming thoughts to the rest of you suffering from snow drifts...
 
I haven't ridden for 3 weeks ! First week horse had a kick then had back shoes off so thought should give a few days before I do anthing and in those few days the snow started !!

He has been out every day although today came in at 1 as he was creating at the gate (TB).

He seems quite chilled about the whole scenario so I don't know why I am so bothered ??
 
We've about 2 foot here now and still snowing! Main problem is piling up the mucking out as I can't wheel barrow it out as usual, so having to pile it up against the wall outside the back door! Been snowing here for a week now and ever since there's been a serious amount my two don't touch the haylage I put out in the field for them during the day? Can't understand it! Trough is frozen solid and constantly has snow piled on top, so taking buckets out to them. Must spend about 3 hours a day just looking after them and getting a very sore back! I was told the other day you are a true adult when snow becomes a chore and you don't have time/energy to enjoy/play in it!
 
All rugged (18months - 25yo) and two in at night. Have to keep putting water out as trough is unbreakable - might light another fire under it this weekend when I have time.

Hay is doing ok, putting more out obviously, and cut out 'energy' feeds and just gone back to feeding basics on the comp one. Although I don't think the hay will last past xmas, which I had hoped it would before we upped the amounts - another big bill :o

Donkeys will be fine with no rugs - we had one for 14 years (old blue cross donkey) and as long as they have access to shelter, they're fine. Ours didn't always go in - but he always could if he wanted - donkeys rule the top of the pecking order ;)

Prob about 18 inches of snow, loads more today and had to carry water the last 500m to the yard on a sledge :D
 
FanyDuChamp said:
I hope you don't take this wrongly but donkeys should be rugged, their coats aren't waterproof and they are not designed for cold weather. If you check with the Donkey welfare they will tell you. Look here http://www.donkeybreedsociety.co.uk/Page/Welfare
FDC
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They are getting enough hay and food, have a great shelter with lots of straw. They get ad lib hay in shelter and outside, and are very happy. They were not rugged last year either and were fine :)
They also have lots of natural shelter in field as well :)

By the speed they are playing in the field, I assume they are grand :)
 
My three are still going out in the field everyday (stabled at night as usual) water in stables has been freezing but is easily broken, can't say the same for troughs in the field, there is a thick layer of ice on it in the morning which takes a while to get through.
Two of them are rugged, one is a wimp so has a thick neck rug, another is in a medium weight standard and the young boy is unrugged (I do put a no fill rug on if its going to be wet just so he keeps dry).

Would much rather this weather than having rain.
 
only_me said:
They are getting enough hay and food, have a great shelter with lots of straw. They get ad lib hay in shelter and outside, and are very happy. They were not rugged last year either and were fine :)
They also have lots of natural shelter in field as well :)

By the speed they are playing in the field, I assume they are grand :)
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I think it sounds like they are healthy happy donkeys, that is all any of us can ask for.
FDC
 
I have to walk part way about ten-15 mins as car wont get me there the final part horses in at night so trek twice a day its ok bad when kids school shut kids dont mind once but unfair twice but have assisted diy for turn out /bring in so all good , used service twice during bad weather its hard cant ride as icy but hoping to be really fit !
 
We're doing ok atm. All 3 are in, foaly out in her little shed paddock during the day but in her proper box at night. Horses all lame after spending too long in dodgy field when school was built so trying to get them sound again.

Biggest current problem is that our water tap is totally frozen, its not the tap but the pipes under the road I think. So having to cart water backwards, and forwards, and backwards, and forwards.................

Best thing is that our brand new school isn't at all frozen and is just beautiful =]
 
Iceni said:
We've about 2 foot here now and still snowing! Main problem is piling up the mucking out as I can't wheel barrow it out as usual, so having to pile it up against the wall outside the back door! Trough is frozen solid and constantly has snow piled on top, so taking buckets out to them. Must spend about 3 hours a day just looking after them and getting a very sore back!!
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:D Iceni, get yourself a sled if you haven't already got one (B&Q plastic ones are cheap and do them job) put water in lidded containers and pull it, not carry, may help with the muck too. I don't carry anything, sled, quad or tractor all the way, such an idle mare I am.

Can you get heated hose pipes there? Excellent things, worth the investment.
 
only_me said:
How is everyone coping with the weather?

I havent been able to ride for a week and half now, arena frozen solid and can't get any vehicle in or out of yard, so not even a hope of hiring an arena!!

Horses are ok though, they all get out for most of the day, with hay in fields. Water is broken daily.

The donkeys and colt live out, colt is heavily rugged (I'm a racehorse don't you know ;) ) whereas the donkeys have about 3 inches of a winter coat :p Good shelter, and they all get fed (donkeys get chaff ;) )

So humpf. Not liking the ice part of winter at all.

So how are you getting on? :)
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Getting frustrated with lack of progress on the riding front. Have an expensive bit on hire so need to use it to establish whether it works or not.

Also getting frustrated as I am out of work in Feb (Council lack of funding for post) so need to compete whilst I still have the means.

Also frustrated as paying approx £80 per week for something sitting in a stable getting furry.

But it coud be worse I guess. :o
 
Some Folk not really coping here in central Scotland. My friend has been asked via another friend to try and reach some horses who have not been visited for DAYS. Yard and surroundings have been completely snowed in with no one living on site to help.
She walked in 2 feet of snow for a mile to reach them, they had been shut in stables since Monday, no bedding, hay or water left in any stable. All rugged up but thirsty!! Water tap had frozen so she had to break a field trough and ferry water to each, all 8 horses!!
She then managed to find some hay and had to drag great mounds of it to each horse to last as long as possible! Dreadful conditions here and still snowing now!!

Another horse outside seemes ok but had icles hanging off rug and buckles were frozen solid! Luckily had 3 rugs on and hay to munch, but still...

She's glad she went to check them, but now she will have to keep going to feed and water daily, until owner can get there!!
The digger that was supposed to help clear the road slid into a ditch and is now well and trully stuck!
When will it end?
 
Well up untill last night we were coping fine since about 4pm yday we have had about a foot and a half of snow, only very main routes gritted, I had to have a snow day today and tomorrow...tried to get my car off drive and it just decided it didnt want to do that!! I walked to the yard today YO would have done him but i was bored took an hr each way instead of 10-15min drive! Horse is happy to be in, although he has been in since friday now so starting to get bored and mischievious any tips to keep him occupied in stable would be great!
 
A sledge! What a brilliant idea! I will take mine to the yard tomorrow. I am sick of pushing barrows through nearly a foot of snow. Horses have been out every day digging for grass, apart from today when it was blizzard conditions and my car got stuck and I had to abandon it! Luckily friend's hubby got there to give them hay. Hopefully they can get out tomorrow but looks like the roads will be really bad so I'll be relying on my friend again...
I am sick of it now, I'm a teacher and we have a Nativity play to rehearse! I was the only teacher to get to school today and a handful of kids turned up and the parents asked me to close the school!!! The kids were delighted! Then I got my car stuck on the way home.... ooops!!
 
Horses good, was gonna give my boy 2 weeks rest over xmas anyhow - so that's just been brought forward, it has scuppered my plans on breaking my youngster though , and the semi retired cob, it make no difference to her!! The ice is a pain, although I stashed some road salt from last winter so I can make a safe track to get mine in and out!!
Got about fine today, west sussex CC actually gritted the roads!! we haven't got alot though, and due to thaw on sunday...
 
We still haven't got any snow, just little bits of ice and frozen taps etc. but we are managing to get them defrosted or we get water out of the yard owners kitchin.

It sounds awful for you guys... hope it stays away from us (south coast).
 
We didn't have snow until yesterday evening, though it hasn't really stopped snowing since then. The ground is frozen and it has regularly been getting to -10C or lower at night but it is warmer now that it is snowing. We're lucky as YO has been turning out every day - I couldn't get up there today as was unable to get my car out of the road but have seen pics of the boys playing in the snow today :)

I am very lucky that I have a fabulous YO who is working her socks off to fill up tub trugs in every stable (all 12) first thing in the morning and again in the afternoon. She says her arms are dragging on the ground now! Everyone's horses are on holiday until the new year now as our arena is frozen and the roads are too dangerous to hack along. Horses seem to be enjoying time off! TBH I got really wound up last winter when I couldn't ride so I had already decided to give mine at least a month off this winter - he is just getting his holiday a bit earlier than planned. Don't see the point of getting upset about it!
 
We have no snow, the ice has melted and normal service has returned. I think we have been very lucky to miss the worst of this. All horses still living out 24/7, adlib hay. All are well rugged and are happy. Able to hack out today for first time. Sand schools are still frozen solid.
 
Red Nosed Fany said:
I think it sounds like they are healthy happy donkeys, that is all any of us can ask for.
FDC
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FDC you are right donkeys coats aren't waterproof, but I think the donkey sanctuary just recommends they have access to a shelter, not necessarily rugging. I have rugged our donkey for the past 3 winters but he is now in his 30s, I have had him since 1986 and until recently he has always wintered out without a rug, but with a big shelter, which he certainly uses. :)
 
We're doing ok in Essex, got about a foot or so of snow, roads very icy. The 2 outside schools are frozen solid under the snow but the indoor has been a life saver..have shoveled & gritted a path from our barn to the school.. horses in, snuggled up in rugs with hay nets & being ridden & free schooled daily..the lady who works on the yard has been doing the morning feed, nets, water etc so we just go up in the evening.. some of the girls have let theirs out in the snow in the outdoor to have a roll in the snow but with 2 gangly tb's I'm personally not taking the risk!!
 
Nothing you can really do about the weather. I am turning my two out for about 2.5 hours each morning whilst I wrestle with the frozen tap and try to push the wheelbarrow thro' a foot of snow to the muckheap!! I have so much snow everywhere, that I am worried when we do get a thaw I will have a flood on my hands!
 
Seen worse weather in November, whats the problem apart from nobody can drive and gridlocked southern England yesterday you useless wankers. LET A BIT OF AIR OUT OF YOUR TYRES it will double your grip on the road.
 
got way too much snow.
2 ponies out 24/7 and they seem to be fine on hay and 2 chaff feeds a day, 2 foals in at night, didnt put them out for the day as the snow is now past the belly of the smallest one, did let them out for an hour whilst i did their stables but they were keen to get back in.
It worries me having to drive the 4 miles or so to them as its only mine there, there are people who stay beside the field who would help but I like to only bother them in an emergency and tbh I think we are going to have to learn to cope with this.
It is quite stressful worrying about journeys to ponies, making sure they are ok, journeys to work, back to ponies and so it goes on.
And it just keeps snowing..................
 
I think I'm one of the lucky ones in that although we have a bit of snow its not been enough to stop any of us getting to the yard so far. We share our lane with a scrap yard and some barn conversions so a reasonable amount of traffic there to keep lane open.

Water trough has frozen solid a couple of times so YM has had to bring his blow torch to thaw the the pipes :p

All our horses live out, some with rugs and all with ad lib hay. We are getting 2 big bales a week to make sure we have enough if the weather gets worse


Coping quite well at the moment :D
 
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