Ice

[RubysGold]

When the yard gets icy, do you keep your horses in?
Last year we all turned our horses out, walk them to the end of the stable block and then 'skidded' them over the concrete onto the grass and then took them across to the field.

I told some of the liveries today that I don't want to do that this year, I said I'll keep her in when the ice comes as I don't want to risk her falling. I got a few mucky lucks and asked why, and told that I'm stopping her from having freedom

Do you leave your horses in?

 

[TheMule]

Just put some salt down on the path before it freezes- works a treat

 

[MistletoeMegan]

Salt/grit the yard!

 

[sea_view]

TG - mine go out for a bit but ALi boy usually wants to come in so I leave their stable doors open with some haylage nets adn Pads will mill in and out and Ali usually comes in. My yard gets very icy so I just salt it and leave them to it ost of the time

 

[Mabel98]

We lay a straw path which makes it safe to go across the yard

 

[hairymolly]

We get very bad ice on our yard and some of the fields are rather far away from the stables so if the ice is very bad yes the horses do get kept in. If you salt/grit the yard it generally ices over again pretty quick. A girl on the yard lost a finger a few years ago putting a horse out on the ice as she fell and the horse stood on her finger. Also standing holding the lead rope of of half ton horse that is struggling for its footing and it thinks that the best place to be is where you are standing is not fun. So ours get left in it generally only happens a couple of times a year so its not that big a deal.

 

[Gleeful Imp]

Today my George was in as path just not safe. But he spent an hour playing like a looney with his chum in the indoor so I don't think he suffered too much!!!

 

[Enfys]

My fields flooded before the colder weather arrived, all of them have patches of solid ice, large patches. The horses (unshod, so maybe that makes a difference) just tiptoe across very carefully, the only one that has fallen is the silly yearling and she learned her lesson. I need snow to give some traction.

I don't have any concrete anywhere, but I still use sackloads of rock salt where we walk. In the UK, I just used to muck out onto the yard, looked awful, hard work to clear up, but my horse never fell over. Grit/salt is a much tidier option.

 

[HollyB66]

[ QUOTE ]
I just used to muck out onto the yard.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmm!! I can't see our YO going for that one -

 

[spotty_pony]

Mine will stay in if the yard becomes really icy but we usually put grit down and be careful not to spill any water, etc.