I HATE HAVING HORSES IN WINTER

Perfect_Pirouette

Perfect_Pirouette

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I am fed up of winter already now :(

I am knackered from getting up every morning before work and doing all the jobs, getting soaked and freezing. I don't have enough time to go back home and change before work so I wear overalls and some days I am honestly disgusting going in (or at least I feel it) I work in a very posh office for a major global company and sometimes I need to be polished and look the part!

After getting hardly any sleep last night I dragged myself out of bed at 5.30 (15 mins earlier than usual as knew roads would be bad etc) got ready for work, put overalls on & left for yard. Car was frozen solid, towel I had put over windscreen last night had blown away as I forgot to trap it in door, under wipers (due to not getting home from the yard last night til gone 8pm and just wanting to get in the warm!) so I couldn't get in my car to get my ice scraper out, had to do a kettle/water job.

Finally got on the road but it took me twice as long to get there. Arrived 6 mins later than normal, turned my boy out, had to break ice in his field water buckets resulting in freezing, frost bitten fingers that hurt so much it made me want to cry! Got back up to yard and went to do stable bucket waters and surprise surprise every tap on the yard was frozen solid :mad:

He has to have his hay soaked so last night before I left yard I dragged soaked haynets out of bin and tied them up to drain. You guessed it, they too were frozen solid and I couldn't untie the bloody things. I was running late for work at this point and had to spend 5 mins untying 3 frozen haynets and then another 5 mins trying to hang said 3 frozen haynets.

I then had to spend another 5 mins taking Michelin Man style clothing off to get to my work clothes! Drove the 40 mins to work with traffic driving so slow getting caught in every red light going. Ended up being 7 mins late for work (we have a clock in/clock out service) and upon arrival the first person I saw was my global manager by the water cooler who raised his eyebrows and looked at his watch.

I am feeling seriously exhausted and fed up of winter now. I'm having him turned out tomorrow and Fri morning and am going to have a lie in and deal with everything after work. Just cannot be doing with rush, rush, rush anymore this week.

I get like this every winter around this time to be fair. It really does start to get me down after a while though. Roll on next Fri when I finish for xmas for 2weeks, yay!
 
Oh dear, lets hope no one p*sses you off today or they might end up dead :D

I'm just about to get my first horse, pick her up Saturday and everyone thinks im mad because of the time of year... you however have just un nerved me :eek:

I also plan to do it all myself this winter and i've been running through my morning routine in my head a million times but i still think that first 'proper' morning is going to be a shock :p

Hope you feel better x
 
Is it your own land? I have mine all living out (riding ones clipped and rugged). They all have bedded shelters and frequently lie down in them. Farmer runs me in big bale haylage and my streams never freeze. Bit of a break tbh.

Alot to be said for 24/7 out in winter if you can. Certainly last year when my injured mare (plus rotated companion) was in 24/7 I felt like you, although I did look much better in the LBD as had lost so much weight.

Cheer up, only 9 days till shortest day.

PS I don't rug my youngsters who are mostly WB or TB. In aberdeenshire, frequently -6 and below and all are fine, fat (:eek:) and happy.
 
Wagtail said:
Oh you poor thing! Could you afford to put him on part livery during the winter?
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He is on 5 day bring ins Mon-Fri as I don't get down there til 5.15 after work and it's dark and he wont stay out on his own in the dark.

BUT, I think I am going to start having him turned out 2-3 mornings a week too, just to give me a break. TBH, by the time I drive to yard and back it probably wouldn't cost me too much more than in petrol really. It'll mean it'll take me a bit longer in the evenings as I won't have as many jobs done but tbh he doesn't take me that long in evenings as hes on pellets and I only ride for about 30-40 mins. Think I'd rather get in 15-20 mins later a couple of evenings a week and not have this ridiculous, mad rush in the mornings & feel exhausted all day at my desk. Might even get to work on time too ;)
 
Antw23uk said:
Oh dear, lets hope no one p*sses you off today or they might end up dead :D

I'm just about to get my first horse, pick her up Saturday and everyone thinks im mad because of the time of year... you however have just un nerved me :eek:

I also plan to do it all myself this winter and i've been running through my morning routine in my head a million times but i still think that first 'proper' morning is going to be a shock :p

Hope you feel better x
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Haha, you'll be fine.

Tbh, once we get to end of January we're on the home stretch and it all doesn't seem so bad! You've missed a lot of winter already anyway and it's xmas soon too so you'll probably be as fresh as a daisy :p
 
Ohhh how horrid!! x Its the many reasons why my horse stays in alot!! I tie up 3 haylege and 3 hay nets and I top them up in the evenings, he has an automatic water trough in his stable which 'touch wood' doesn't freeze up, he has his feed bin next to his stable and I make up his sugarbeet the night before and he always has massive straw bedding with huge banks. If I try to take him out to his field I have to put his chifney on as he hates being out and will spin and gallop back to his stable :rolleyes:

I almost keep his supplies in his stable so if one night i couldnt get there for some reason or i'm in a massive rush, I can use the straw from his banks, he always has enough haynets filled to get away with not topping them up every night and he only needs mucking out. It saves time so I can ride for longer and spend time grooming and kissing him instead!! x On the nights i have loads of time, I bring 4 big wedges of straw, 3 slabs of haylege and hay and top everything up and use it up and just top it up in between. Also means that I dont stink too bad as I only have to do feed in the morning and a quick muck out - which is dead easy as he poo's in a pile!

I am lucky in the sense that he has a large stable and a large pen on the front so he can still move around.
 
I don't mind winter at all - love the quiet early morning on the yard.

I've always got ready for work, then donned the overalls etc. to keep clean on the yard, and never found it to be a problem.

A good hand wash after mucking out, and a freshener up in work with deodorant, perfume and a bit of makeup and I'm usually as right as rain.
 
amymay said:
I don't mind winter at all - love the quiet early morning on the yard.

I've always got ready for work, then donned the overalls etc. to keep clean on the yard, and never found it to be a problem.

A good hand wash after mucking out, and a freshener up in work with deodorant, perfume and a bit of makeup and I'm usually as right as rain.
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This is what I do and some days I'm fine and perfectly presentable.

It's days like earlier on in the week when I've spent half an hour straightning my hair before leaving, only to get to yard and it's blowing a gale, peeing it down and despite having a hood up, hair still ends up looking like I've been dragged through one of the yard bushes backwards by the time I'm done!

All I can say is, thank god for babywipes and Chanel Coco Mademoiselle :rolleyes:
 
amymay said:
I don't mind winter at all - love the quiet early morning on the yard.

I've always got ready for work, then donned the overalls etc. to keep clean on the yard, and never found it to be a problem.

A good hand wash after mucking out, and a freshener up in work with deodorant, perfume and a bit of makeup and I'm usually as right as rain.
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Same, peacuful frosty mornings and a cupa with 2 others (and sometimes YO brings out brekkie too). I walk the dog before I go to the yard, do 2 horses and turn one out. Then head home to freshen up, it does mean gettin gup a bit early but I hate being stressed and in a rush.

I also prep feeds and haynets in advance, along with buckets of shavings to go down. Could you not feed haylage instead of hay so you don't need to soak it?
 
SummerxStarsx said:
Haha, you'll be fine.

Tbh, once we get to end of January we're on the home stretch and it all doesn't seem so bad! You've missed a lot of winter already anyway and it's xmas soon too so you'll probably be as fresh as a daisy :p
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See you are feeling brighter already :D

My plan is to arrive at yard, put turnout rug on and feed on yard (she is food agressive so i cant be in stable with her eating) and whilst she is eating i will skip out (deep littering shavings this winter for ease) Then turn out, finish off skipping out and leave for work.

Turn up at yard for 1730 (traffic depending, my journey to work is an hour each way) and do haynets, feeds ect for next day. Bring in, fuss, ride, rug, feed and go home. I plan to always be a haynet and feed bucket ahead to save time :)

I dont know about you but if im helping my friend at the yard in the evening i get changed into my yard trousers at work (disabled toilet) get to car and put boots on so im ready to hit the mud rather than struggle getting changed in the car.

Im thinking for my morning routine i will put work shirt on, yard trousers and wellies and then just have the rest of my suit/ shoes in the car and bring them into work to get changed! ... Thats probably gona work better for me I think.
 
It's not the horses, it is the going to work that is the problem. I suggest you give up work :eek::cool: That was the conclusion I came to this morning anyway as my foot went through the ice up to my knee :D

I find the evenings the worst, leaving warm office and getting out the car at the stables and thinking wtf and brrrr. What gets me is that the dog has also been in warm office but she jumps out of the car so happy "yay we're at the stables", "yay there are the horses" "yay I can roll in the ice" and I am just thinking "its so chucking filly" :cool:
 
leflynn said:
Same, peacuful frosty mornings and a cupa with 2 others (and sometimes YO brings out brekkie too). I walk the dog before I go to the yard, do 2 horses and turn one out. Then head home to freshen up, it does mean gettin gup a bit early but I hate being stressed and in a rush.

I also prep feeds and haynets in advance, along with buckets of shavings to go down. Could you not feed haylage instead of hay so you don't need to soak it?
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:eek: You have time for a cuppa tea? What hours do you work?

I start work at 0800 which will mean leaving the yard no later than 0700. It will take me ten minute to drive to yard .. he says with confidence, lol. Im changing my routine and showering/ shaving at night now so a quick hair wash in the morning and out the door to the yard!

Leave work at 1630 and to yard at 1730. Riding dependent home by 1900! ... to get moaned at for spending my life down the yard!!:rolleyes:
 
leflynn said:
Same, peacuful frosty mornings and a cupa with 2 others (and sometimes YO brings out brekkie too). I walk the dog before I go to the yard, do 2 horses and turn one out. Then head home to freshen up, it does mean gettin gup a bit early but I hate being stressed and in a rush.

I also prep feeds and haynets in advance, along with buckets of shavings to go down. Could you not feed haylage instead of hay so you don't need to soak it?
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Christ I wish I had time for a tea and chat lol, that would make my mornings so much more bearable!

Funnily enough, this past week I have been seriously considering haylage. It'd save me so much time and faff. It's just yet more expense but I am seriously considering it just for the winter and switching him back to hay in spring.
 
Join the club, I hate winter! The only good thing about winter is hunting and I'm not even doing that this year :(

I have lost all motivation to ride. Have a young horse who really needs regular work (and schooling!) and I can't be bothered to do anything other than hack at weekends. I'm so slack ATM! And it isn't even that cold... -3C here today compared to about -18C this time last year so I shouldn't really even be using the cold as an excuse. I'm moving yards on Sunday (to the yard of a friend I have lessons with) so hoping that might motivate me a bit more.

I hate having cold fingers and toes all of the time, having so many layers on that I look like the Michelin man, having a cold runny nose all of the time...
 
Antw23uk said:
See you are feeling brighter already :D

My plan is to arrive at yard, put turnout rug on and feed on yard (she is food agressive so i cant be in stable with her eating) and whilst she is eating i will skip out (deep littering shavings this winter for ease) Then turn out, finish off skipping out and leave for work.

Turn up at yard for 1730 (traffic depending, my journey to work is an hour each way) and do haynets, feeds ect for next day. Bring in, fuss, ride, rug, feed and go home. I plan to always be a haynet and feed bucket ahead to save time :)

I dont know about you but if im helping my friend at the yard in the evening i get changed into my yard trousers at work (disabled toilet) get to car and put boots on so im ready to hit the mud rather than struggle getting changed in the car.

Im thinking for my morning routine i will put work shirt on, yard trousers and wellies and then just have the rest of my suit/ shoes in the car and bring them into work to get changed! ... Thats probably gona work better for me I think.
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Good that you've got a routine all worked out.

I fore plan right down to the last minute. You have to!

I get changed into my yard clothes at work before I leave work (would much rather change in a warm, plush toilet than in the car or freezing, dirty, dark yard one lol!)

I don't think I could do anything quicker really, all my haynets are already made up and drained in morning when I get there so all I have to do is hang them up, change rug and turn out, skip out as hes on pellets, do waters, feeds and go. There's just always something which throws a spanner in the works lol (you'll soon find out ;) )

Think I need to get up earlier lol!
 
Antw23uk said:
:eek: You have time for a cuppa tea? What hours do you work?

I start work at 0800 which will mean leaving the yard no later than 0700. It will take me ten minute to drive to yard .. he says with confidence, lol. Im changing my routine and showering/ shaving at night now so a quick hair wash in the morning and out the door to the yard!

Leave work at 1630 and to yard at 1730. Riding dependent home by 1900! ... to get moaned at for spending my life down the yard!!:rolleyes:
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I start work at 8 too and leave yard no later than 7.07 (lol yes that precise!)

I also leave work at 1630 and get there for about 1720-1730.

Normally leave yard each eve by 19.30-19.40 and am normally home by 8!
 
I go through this too!

I don't have overalls, but I wear joggers over the top and a long coat. I take a brush with me too. Never need to re apply makeup luckily. But as you said even with a hood up, hair looks a mess!

I don't do many jobs in the morning, If I am honest, I like to have a lay in. I get up at 7.30, get to yard at 8.05. Turn 2 Horses out, fill nets and do water. Leave yard at 8.40 and get to work for 9am. Then my friend brings in for me (I turn hers out) and gives net. I go up and muck out and make feeds in evening.

Its not the jobs that gets me down, its the poxy mud!
 
If I could get up at 7.30 I think my problems would be over lol!

Trouble is even if I DON'T go to horse before work, I still have to get up at 6.45 to get ready and leave house for 7.15-7.20 latest to get to work on time.

However 6.45 is a lot better than 5.45 so I probably shouldn't complain :p

Unfortunately most people I'm pally with down yard work similar hours to me and so pay to get theres brought in in winter too so no chance of sharing it. Could perhaps share turn outs though. I may ask a lady who's field and stable are both right next door to mine and see if she wants to share turn outs once or twice a week maybe to give each other a break.
 
Ive been on diy livery since owning my horse. This year Ive swapped to grass livery where she is out 24/7 and the difference is brilliant. I love it. No bringing in or stressing about getting to the stable before everyone else to turn out because my mare would be stressed, no hay nets to fill, no mucking out, no bringing in in the pitch dark. I get to pull up right outside the field if its raining and if im in a rush then i will make a feed up at home rather than going onto the yard and whip straight up in the car and feed. I do get freezing hands from the water trough though. It has been so much easier so far and I spend more time riding than doing all the little boring jobs. Would that be an option for you?
 
claribella said:
Ive been on diy livery since owning my horse. This year Ive swapped to grass livery where she is out 24/7 and the difference is brilliant. I love it. No bringing in or stressing about getting to the stable before everyone else to turn out because my mare would be stressed, no hay nets to fill, no mucking out, no bringing in in the pitch dark. I get to pull up right outside the field if its raining and if im in a rush then i will make a feed up at home rather than going onto the yard and whip straight up in the car and feed. I do get freezing hands from the water trough though. It has been so much easier so far and I spend more time riding than doing all the little boring jobs. Would that be an option for you?
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Unfortunately there is no decent grass livery around here really :( plus an all weather, floodlit school is an essential requirement for me (i'm lucky where I am has 2 and a small indoor) so unless it had one of those then not really :( I can see how it makes life so much easier though!
 
Yep it's pretty miserable isn't it :(
Roll on spring!!!!!!!
Tip I found for breaking field waters when iced over, have your normal gloves on, and then put heavy duty black (think they are like washing up gloves but are really thick) over the top, as they are waterproof you don't get your hands wet, and they keep toasty as you've got your normal gloves underneath! :)
 
I think the problem for you, Summer, may be that your days are simply too long - and that's why you're exhausted.

Remember, you don't have to work the horse every day.
 
wish i didnt read this - its reminded me what im leting myself in for?!!


pony comes home tomorrow.........i WAS having a winter off but nooooooooooooooooo :D
 
I think I'd be considering a change of hairstyle:eek: 30 minutes straightening your hair before going to do the horse? That's a decent lie in or that chat and cuppa that you wish you had time for!
 
Just to make you feel a little better. I go through the same hassles but have two horses and start work at 7am. I do my mucking out and haynets in the morning. Granted I dont need to soak hay but do have t
 
amymay said:
I think the problem for you, Summer, may be that your days are simply too long - and that's why you're exhausted.

Remember, you don't have to work the horse every day.
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He's only worked 5/6 times a week. However, I think you're right and after xmas I am going to drop him down to 4/5 x a week until Feb. That should keep his fitness levels up and anyway 1. it's not like he's an Olympic eventer :D and 2. We will no doubt get some pretty bad weather in the next few weeks which will probably make riding as much impossible anyway.
 
*hic* said:
I think I'd be considering a change of hairstyle:eek: 30 minutes straightening your hair before going to do the horse? That's a decent lie in or that chat and cuppa that you wish you had time for!
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Lol, I don't do it every morning trust me. Just a couple of times a week so I don't feel like a bush baby the whole of the working week ;)
 
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