Preparing for winter?

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LittleLady2

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21 August 2013
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It seems winter will soon be upon us, been making a list of everything that needs sorting out before the weather turns. It made me think of what else I could do to prepare that I havent thought of. So... What do you do to prepare for winter? Also around how many bales of hay do you buy in for one horse? I never keep track and buy a few in when I need them but this year I'm thinking of buying in bulk.
 
I need to phone the blooming plumber as I know my heating is not working! Being useless. Thank goodness it's still warmish.
 
I've ordered hay and shavings, ordered new hay nets and plan to make up as many as poss at the weekend to do the week stables been gutted out and winter beds in, I feel organised now :-)
 
Repair and strengthen any weak post and rail before the fields get wet, the last thing you need are tractors on wet ground.

Get the chimney swept, note to self, ring today !

Sort the rugs out. I keep promising myself I will label the rugs to help me remember what fits what, still not done it.
 
I've had all last winters rugs washed but my horse has grown so need to dig them out to see if they still fit! At least they are clean and ready to sell if not!
 
Pete's stabled at night - so hay, feed, bedding etc is ordered as normal.

I washed & reproofed his tugs over the summer, so that is sorted.

I've bought some new waterproof thermal trousers, coat, boots & fleece - so I'm sorted too! Just got to buy some Sealskinz gloves.

Other than that, feeling pretty prepared ... Just waiting for next Spring!
 
Waiting for a couple of medium weight rugs to come back clean and reproofed and guess I should send the heavy weight in for the same but other than that im just gona wing it! :p
 
Mine live out. I am going to get a new feeder cos they have trashed the home made one! Haynets and rugs sorted. Just praying it's not as wet as last year!!
 
I have a long (unfinished!) list of things I still need to do which includes:
- Buy a new pair of wellies
- Clean and repair rugs and coats
- Mend fences
- Add more hard core to gateways
- Mend leaky barn roof
- Fix and reinsulate dripping yard tap
- Get out and dust off water containers for when the outdoor taps freeze over

I don't have the space to buy in and store bedding and forage but I have already agreed a price with my local farmer for haylage for the season and he has set aside enough bales for me for the winter, so I know what price I am paying and won't get a shock when the price goes up/he runs out. :)
 
Ive hardcored around a water trough in the winter field that was really sludgy last year and is looking ready for winter now.
Hay ordered and i pick it up weekly as i use it.
All rugs clean and ready to rock.
Shavings sorted out.
Huge Indoor school use negotiated, with friends using as a group of 3,mean its only a tenner to use it and the jumps.
Got new thermals yesterday, so ive 3 sets now and ive lost weight so all my really warm jackets and jodhs all fit again :-) yaaaaas
 
Have already had large straw and hay delivered, and a few haylage. Have also bought first lot of winter feed so will only need to go get a bag of each a month.

To do list:

*lay the hedges around the winter fields (not allowed to do that yet! Birds wont approve!)
*put new gate in winter field/barn
*clip shetland again so she doesnt sweat
*clip big boys when their coats are through
*lay and hose the base layer of deep litter beds
*buy new pony a winter turnout
*clean up the acorns before horses move to winter field
*remember who i lent my spare energiser to
*hardcore round the trough
Buy a heating element for the water pipe
*teach bf which bucket belongs to which horse so he can feed them mornings
*invest in some small holed haynets
 
I'm ready!
Rugs washed and reproofed
Hay and bedding in the barn
Matts down in gateways
Pipes all lagged
Feed stocked up
Bag of rock salt in the tack room

Bring it on! (I'm not smug at all :P )
 
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