how to keep a horse fit in snow and ice?

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helencharlie

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This is my dilema. At Charlie's yard, we have no access to a school, or a horse walker. We can use a school at another yard further up a windy twisty country road. This is a further problem, the road is icy and untreated and the school is sand and frozen. I could use a field, but these are frozen and the ruts would be dangerous. The road leading to and from the yard is also icy and dangerous to hack on. So what do people do in this situation?
 
I think in that situation I would forget it an wait for it to thaw! We are lucky and have a covered horse walker, so mine goes on that for an hour a day to keep him ticking over until the snow goes away. It's still rubbish though!
 
Not much you can do really just cut thier hard feed down and pray for it to get warmer. I have two out 24/7 and two in at night. They all seem not bothered about the weather, all got good rugs on and hayed in the field. Cant ride any of them so no doubt will all be full of themselves when I do! eeeeeeeek
 
Where my horse is like that the YO took us to the beach in the wagon today (on untreated roads, though its quite good at getting about).
It was lovely at the beach until we caught in a total white out!!
We also box them to some nearby gallops, or a indoor school.
In the powder snow yesterday we hacked out.
Its hard work all this snow!
 
Mine is out 24/7 so he just has to stretch his legs while he's out. I'm sure going over a foot of snow must be useful exercise!
I'm in the same position, no arena but I go to one just up the road (windy and hilly) I'm worried about leading him along the road from his field so there's no way I can ride him.
I just grin and bear it until it thaws.
 
Thank you for your replies. This is the same conclusion that I have come to. Grin and bear it. The road isnt really safe enough to be even to take the trailer up to box him some where else. We havent even got enough snow. Most of it has melted and we have just ice left.
 
cant really. we live at the top of a hill which faces north and is treacherous to drive or walk down . so frustrating as we were doing well with regular work but horses are at home so just go out in the day and will have to try and get going again when the weather improves. not worth risking an accident in my eyes.
 
Don't!! I have been looking enviously at other posts of picture of people riding in the snow, but having seen one of the liveries horse fall 'arse over tit' just walking across the yard yesterday, just wouldn't risk it.

Our roads here are sheet ice, with snow covering, and the common land we usually excercies on is like concrete. Although the 4 x 4 is coping fine I would certainly not drive the lorry with a horse on board on our roads. All we can do is turn them all out daily to keep them sane and pray for a thaw. Oh to have and indoor school or horsewalker......!

Keep safe and dream of spring x
 
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