How is everyone coping?

[Surbie]

Yes, we inherited a smallholding and the family business (blacksmiths, not the useful horsey kind either ) from my husband's side, moved in end of October. The land hadn't been touched for 15years, so had encroaching hedgerow to clear (and still do ) need new permanent fencing and drainage redoing. Husband and brother in law like playing with the boys toys like the digger etc, but don't actually use the fields, so they have created more work for me by digging trenches and driving tractors around it, and then leaving it because they have found something else to do. Unfortunately those are the fields I need to walk through to bring mine to the tiny bit of hard standing I cleared to do anything with mine. The big bit I cleared they filled with commissions and land rover defender carcasses for restoration (as for having shed space, forget it!). I feel very pushed out and not considered at all. I know I'm fortunate to be in this position, but it is a lot more of a slog than I was anticipating. Sorry for that whinge!

That sounds rough. I hope they can see they haven't helped.

I'm a 6th winter of DIY, and so far it's pretty similar to other years. The field is wet, but ok away from the gate, and I want to get some more mud slabs down while the ground is nice and solid.

I am doing my best to get my horse out for 10+ hours a day, and actually being in is helping keep his feet in really good nick. I wish I had more mojo for riding though to be fair he has so much coat, despite being clipped, that he is a sweaty mess after very little. 3 weeks to the solstice and the downward run to spring starts!

 

[claracanter]

It is a slog but you do get used to it after a bit. I tend to abandon actually doing much with them in the darkest months, and just concentrate on what absolutely has to be done for their welfare.
I'm dealing with a lingering abscess which the vet said was almost certainly due to the continued wet weather. There's apparently been a lot of that about but he is on the mend now so feeling a little less fed up.

One of mine has an abscess too. Farrier is coming to hopefully put shoe back on tomorrow. It’s so wet here, spring seems such a long way off

 

[honetpot]

My solution which worked for me for many years, and we flooded, was build them a straw island, made by rolling out round bales or hestons on the highest convenient place, I also leave them a bale to pick over and feed hay there, so they spend some time out of the wet.
Gateways, we spent a lot on drainage and hardcore, but I would start with Mudcontrol Mats before spending real money.

 

[SO1]

I am part livery and our fields are in great condition compared to most mainly due to not over grazing and well draining land.

There are 5 geldings in Berts group and we have a big field half of which is rested and gradually a bit more is opened up as and when more grass is needed. We have plenty of foggage left for the winter. We just opened up a great big section of rested field and still have a big section left. Even if we have a wet or snowy winter I think we will be fine.

The reason we have so much grass and it is not over poached and we have all year turnout throughout the winter is the horses are only out for 7/8 hours a day all year round.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I always wonder every winter if this will be the winter I deeply regret moving from full livery to DIY (I actually moved to Assisted DIY but services no longer offered) but not yet.

I'm so lucky what we lack in facilities we make up for make up for in AYTO turn out & hacking.

Still riding/hacking 4-5 times a week albeit by head torch which is slightly wearing always having to make sure batteries are charged - although some of our hacking routes are very wet, it's to be expected.

Drying my hoof boots in time for the next ride is currently my biggest headache.

 

[Jambarissa]

I'm having an easier time than last year since my much loved but very difficult/dangerous boy had to be pts.

Remaining 2 plus new one are pretty laid back about turnout and bring in times, easy to catch, lead, etc. It sounds very basic but I appreciate it after 20+ years of a stressy bugger on ankle deep mud and an icy driveway!

Field is horrendous, most of it flooded and is now muddy clay. Fortunately we have hills so they graze the sides of those which keeps them out of the mud and is excellent for their muscles.

They all got FWS on changing from 24/7 grazing, mainly resolved for 2 of them but other is being seen by the vet now. I have tried every type of forage and supplement going!

Riding is always slow in winter,I aim for 3 times a week with the 2 riding horses, pretty much managing that.

We are allowed 24/7 turnout if we wish and a few people are trying to make it work but really the horses are just stood at the gate all night - I know because I went every 6 hours to give antibiotics. They're not suffering but may as well be in imo.

I do hope it dries out. It's only November!

 

[Lois Lame]

The 3 are still on and doing fine with Summer routine. They all go out every night and come in for breakfast in the morning. They are always the far end of the field still asleep when i go to get them, never at the gate so i figure they are happy with this too!

Hmm, would they prefer to finish their sleep and make their way to the gate for breakfast?

 

[Fransurrey]

I always wonder every winter if this will be the winter I deeply regret moving from full livery to DIY (I actually moved to Assisted DIY but services no longer offered) but not yet.

I'm so lucky what we lack in facilities we make up for make up for in AYTO turn out & hacking.

Still riding/hacking 4-5 times a week albeit by head torch which is slightly wearing always having to make sure batteries are charged - although some of our hacking routes are very wet, it's to be expected.

Drying my hoof boots in time for the next ride is currently my biggest headache.

Put the hoof boots in the passenger footwell of your car and have the air directed that way (if you're doing journeys of more than 20 minutes). That's how I used to do it!

 

[Belmont]

Also one of the few coping ok so far. I'm down to 2 (having had 3 the last few winters) and that has made a big difference. As we had such good grass growth through the summer, I was able to rest 2 acres of well draining paddocks. I'm also trying to keep them living out this year for the first time - SO much easier! Hoping the rain holds off for those with swamps already.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Put the hoof boots in the passenger footwell of your car and have the air directed that way (if you're doing journeys of more than 20 minutes). That's how I used to do it!

Oh, that's a good idea, thank you! I'm currently stuffing them with straw

 

[Tiddlypom]

Thanks to tips from HHO, I now find de icing the field water bins both fairly trauma free and really rather therapeutic. I used to fish the ice out with my bare hands .

A colander now resides on the yard just for sieving out the ice after I’ve bashed it into chunks with a hammer. Go me .

 

[southerncomfort]

Thanks to tips from HHO, I now find de icing the field water bins both fairly trauma free and really rather therapeutic. I used to fish the ice out with my bare hands .

A colander now resides on the yard just for sieving out the ice after I’ve bashed it into chunks with a hammer. Go me .



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Brilliant!

I use an old shavings fork for removing ice from the water trough.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Not too bad here, mushy in places but hardening off with the frost.

 

[AutumnDays]

Thanks to tips from HHO, I now find de icing the field water bins both fairly trauma free and really rather therapeutic. I used to fish the ice out with my bare hands .

A colander now resides on the yard just for sieving out the ice after I’ve bashed it into chunks with a hammer. Go me .

One of mine likes me to bash the ice and leave the chunks in the water, so they can be fished out and crunched... Makes my teeth hurt just watching!

 

[maya2008]

We now have an adult ‘was wild for long enough to learn all the tricks’ pony on our yard again - bliss, her field’s trough never needs de-icing because they do it themselves regularly enough over the night that the ice never gets to form.

 

[HollyWoozle]

We are lucky to have own land but I think it’s important to remind yourselves that it’s OK not to do too much at this time of year, as long as welfare needs are met. Ours are essentially retired anyway which helps of course, but we don’t give ourselves extra work and worries with rugging or grooming for example when it’s not needed (elderly loan pony does get a rug but not the other four).

We have some mud mats but I appreciate they are costly. Even just a few small ones to make a narrow path through a gateway for horses to walk on does help though. The horses are fed in wooden hay feeders and when the ground is poached we move them to a different bit but in the same limited area (so as to not trash too much). We have a little fishing net for scooping leaves and ice out of troughs.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Three days ago I was walking and and trotting 3 x horses up and down this compacted hardcore slope for their routine chiro vet check. Now it is our personal and growing glacier . It’s normally dry, but this autumn it has been collecting field run off after all the persistent wet weather.

I’m doing the horses evening routine much earlier than their usual 7pm slot to try and get it done before it gets fully dark and we’re skidding about in the dark in sub zero temps. This is 4.15pm, the IDx approves… I don’t like it, but it is safer. I bring all 3 in for their tea, then put them back out.



I’ve managed to keep this one entrance from the field fairly clear for them. If they are round the other side I have to bring them in the long way round to avoid walking them along the glacier. Photo taken in the gloom at 4.37 pm.

 

[maya2008]

Supposed to go back to endless rain from Sunday where I live. Not sure that’s better to be honest, at least frozen saves the fields.

 

[ycbm]

Three days ago I was walking and and trotting 3 x horses up and down this compacted hardcore slope for their routine chiro vet check. Now it is our personal and growing glacier . It’s normally dry, but this autumn it has been collecting field run off after all the persistent wet weather.

I’m doing the horses evening routine much earlier than their usual 7pm slot to try and get it done before it gets fully dark and we’re skidding about in the dark in sub zero temps. This is 4.15pm, the IDx approves… I don’t like it, but it is safer. I bring all 3 in for their tea, then put them back out.

View attachment 129172

I’ve managed to keep this one entrance from the field fairly clear for them. If they are round the other side I have to bring them in the long way round to avoid walking them along the glacier. Photo taken in the gloom at 4.37 pm.

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Nightmare! I'd be feeding in the field using nosebags if I had to rather than risk broken bones on that
.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Nightmare! I'd be feeding in the field using nosebags if I had to rather than risk broken bones on that
.

I wouldn’t lead on that, either . It’s the main vehicle access from the drive to the yard and luckily I don’t have to have them on it for the normal daily routine from field to stables and back, albeit with just one route available, not two. All neds are v.good and follow on carefully behind me on the safe bits, I wouldn’t lead a silly horse on it. I can mince past it on the grass if needs be when horse free.

In the past if it’s been too iced up in all gateways to be safe leading them in and out, I’ve just lobbed hay at them over the fence rather than risk me and them on the ice, and they've stayed out.

I’ve salted it, but it’s not touching it. This year the wet has been unprecedented, the glacier is visibly getting thicker daily as any water from any slight thaw freezes as soon as it touches it .

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

There is not a lot you can do at this time of year. This is an issue that needs sorting out well before autumn/winter time. After you've managed to get through the winter dig out your gateways that get very wet & muddy. Once dug out order yourself some hardcore & put it down in gateways and really smash it down. Buy hardcore that has been broken up to 2/3" in size. This should provide you with some drainage at the gateways & not cause any issues with your horses feet. There are various mats you can install but those are far more expensive than hardcore. I hope you get through the winter ok.

 

[Tiddlypom]

^^^ T_Z if that is referenced to me all my gateways, paths and the area under the glacier are already surfaced in deep compacted hardcore, and in normal times it works well.

The water table is so high in these parts that farm land isn’t draining, as the water has no where to go. The roads are dreadful with much long term flooding from field run off which has now frozen.

 

[blitznbobs]

I hate lugging water- currently had to move water from a house to the yard — and the fields woe betide anyone who wastes a drop atm I mud matted our muddiest gate way last week which was just in time for everything to be frozen over so that at least is a plus and they went down with only minimal swearing!

 

[AutumnDays]

I've just come back in from doing the rounds, and we are now 2 degrees and horizontal rain and got kicked in the knee by the younger one who came charging through the sheep, because she was jealous of me checking them (and giving them a fuss and not her ) thankfully she's barefoot or that would have been very nasty! That was a long hobble back, bl**dy mare

 

[Tiddlypom]

Ouch, Esyllt, how’s the knee today?

 

[AutumnDays]

Ouch, Esyllt, how’s the knee today?

Surprisingly not as bad as expected thank you! Swollen and sore, but not technicolour! My Spidey senses must have kicked in before I comprehended what was going to happen and moved me out of the worst of the way. Today's mission, how to stop everyone wanting my attention all at once and jealous tiffs breaking out.. oh to be so popular

 

[SEL]

More rain today. Excellent. Needed my field lake to expand even more.

The guys doing the enormous solar farm down the road have been digging up the verges to lay cables. They seem to have relaid the verges with a gentle incline towards the road instead of the ditch. The road is now a muddy stream of water.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I've absolutely loved the frosty weather, no mud and happy dry horses Looks like it's going back to more rain this week though

 

[maisie06]

Supposed to go back to endless rain from Sunday where I live. Not sure that’s better to be honest, at least frozen saves the fields.

The endless rain has started here in the south - it means flooded properties, road closures and traffic chaos thanks to the useless county council who don't/won't maintain anything - thankfully I don't have horses anymore as it would take hours to get to the yard...

 

[southerncomfort]

We've got a couple of inches of snow with more heavy snow forecast overnight.

Ponies are delighted as I've opened up all the fences, so they have the whole winter paddock. They are ignoring hay and happily digging for grass.

Looks like it'll thaw on Tuesday.