oh it's so da*n cold!

H

henryhorn

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23 October 2003
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Location
Devon UK
www.narramorehorses.blogspot.com
Just driven up to check the main herd and they are split into three, some are inside in the warm barn (we don't muck out just scrape it every so often ) and the heat from the dung mixed with old hay generates a good warmth, others are eating from a bale out in the open, and yet more are grouped together just dreaming away.
It is absolutely vile outside today, but even those without rugs don't appear that bothered. I think they instinctively know standing still in a group conserves their body heat. Their coats are all fluffed up which shows air is trapped between the hairs keeping them warmer.
In all the other fields they are grouped round haylage feeders tucking in.
It's times like this I wish I had an enormous stable block with individual stables fro every horse, but I think that's the human view, the horse view is probably to stay outside free and with their friends!
I've just added coal to the fire, and am about to have some soup , to see my view from the chair go to www.narramorehorses.blogspot.com
It's a day for staying inside by the fire I reckon!
 
D has been refusing to come in from the field for the last few days. Now she's on more grass she couldn't care less about the cold. I've been an evil mummy today and put on a thinner rug to see if it encourages her to come in tonight
 
Pah - bunch of softies!
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We've had -temperatures here for days... Snug looks incredibly inviting. I'm on my way!!
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I have had cold feet for days - the ponies dont seem bothered by it, I think they are happy not to have to plough through the mud - so am I come to think of it!
 
I prefer this to the wet and windy conditions we had a few weekends ago.They give that sort of weather coming back at the weekend again!
 
i've had 12 days away in really hot places, can you imagine how cold i feel? the horses are all fine, they don't give a damn, it's me who's suffering!
although when i say i've been in Dubai and the Maldives, i know i won't get much sympathy...
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Aaaaahhhh, I LOVE your pictures
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The fire and Christmas tree looks like a Christmas card! And so warm, mmmmmmm, I can dream
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And William, bless his heart, he is a treasure. Loved the caption above the one where he was looking at the barrels
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Having lived in Norway for a bit (temp. can go down to -35) i've learned to live by a saying the Norweigiens have... "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing"
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Now i've learnt how to dress myself, i'm the one riding out in the morning all toasty warm !!
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Nags aren't bothered at all; they seem to like cold and dry and, I must admit, I'd much rather have it than wet. Having to thaw out padlocks with matches and candles is a little tiresome and one of the bloody padlocks froze up again this morning AFTER I'd opened it once . . . . and hoping that the tap won't be frozen when I go to do water is a bit of a game too. I filled two 25-litre jerrycans to keep aside and they both froze solid the night before last
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Being at work all day can be a right pain this time of year - it's still feezing hard in a morning and even if it thaws out during the day, it's freezing again by the time I go and do them in the evening . . .
 
I've just had a phone call from my yard, my silly horse is refusing to be caught to come back into his nice cosy stable. Oh well, he's obviously happy to be out in the field, although it is about -2. I'll go up and see if he's changed his mind tomorrow.
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I have to admit it's very difficult to tear yourself away from that room once you sit down, I love it at Christmas and hate removing the decorations.. (sad aren't I !)
The other room has a big fireplace that eats huge logs, so the fire only gets lit at Christmas and dinner parties, I reckon half the heat goes up the chimney in there anyway, we have to have the radiators on full blast as well as the fire.
There's nothing like Christmas morning present opening in front of a big fire, we burn all the wrapping as we do it and it makes a great blaze.
William has been out for his daily exercise, the vet says we can just keep a pad over the small op site now with vet tape, so it shouldn't be long before he can go and play with some of the other horses, for now he is still on box rest with walks and a play in the arena .. he has to have a stable bandage on for another month yet as a precaution, we don't want him to get ill again.
 
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Can you give us any clothing tips ? I hate to be cold ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Get a good base layer and build on it.
Don't have cotton next to your skin.
Lots of thin layers.
Not a few bulky ones..

Today i'm wearing, on the top half..
Long sleave thermal top.
Very thin micro fleace.
Rugby Shirt
Fleace jumper.
Fleace jacket.
Body warmer.

Bottom Half..
One pair of sports socks.
Thermal bottoms
Pair of jods, that are a little on the large size and very strechy.
Ornella waterproof riding trousers.

I also wear a bandana under my riding hat, which covers my ears...

Note: i feel the cold ALOT, most people would sweat their arse off wearing all that LOL but it was perfect for me, and i can move about/get on/off racehorses easily enough.
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thanks, mdm, that's good to know. i always have cotton next to my skin, no wonder i'm freezing. trouble is, if i have enough layers on to be comfy hacking out in the cold, i sweat like a pig doing yard work. i have yet to find the solution... fleecy stuff next to my skin makes me horribly sweaty, as do thermals.
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yeah, but if you have cotton next to your skin, and sweat even just a little tiny bit (that you wouldn't even notice) you'll get soooooo much colder later!!!
You shouldn't get too hot in thermals.. if you do, don't wear so much on top of them!!
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I am experiencing my first winter in Atlantic Canada.

After all the recent mild (everythings relative) winters they have been experiencing of late, this winter seems to have come in with a bang!

We have just had our second decently sized storm of the winter so far.
Lots of snow, we had some ice rain too.
Right now at 3pm it is minus 8 with a decent wind chill to go with it. tonight will be in the minus 15 region, again worse with wind chill.
I keep perfectly warm with my layers and the horses seem fine too.
I did get them all in over the storm days, but the big ones have winter rugs and the Shetlands look like baby mamoths with all their winter coat.

I will let you know by spring how I feel. I think we are in for a long winter.
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Judging from Tia's pics it is a heavy snowfall already for you, pretty but a devil to work in no doubt.
I think horses cope pretty well with just cold, it's the rain or sleet that makes them unhappy. I expect if they are born there they soon become acclimatised, whereas our softies hardly ever see snow, they always go potty playing when it falls.
I've only ever seen ice rain once and it was beautiful when it stopped and everywhere was glistening , but I'd rather not experience it thanks!
 
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