Tips on dealing with ice

[MarniL]

The whole yard is just one uneven ice rink at the moment. I slipped heading down to the field this afternoon and saw my life flash before my eyes! Katie isn't the most balanced horse at the best of times so of course she was skidding all over the place. I'm actually very surprised the YO hasn't done anything yet.
Any words of wisdom on how to deal with this winter weather? I'm terrified for horses and humans alike!

 

[3Beasties]

Get some salt /grit and spread on yard. Problem solved

 

[Holzdweaver]

I wear ice grips on my shoes, after slipping underneath my horse one year and having to pull myself up on his rug to get out from under his feet(thank god he stopped!), i always have them on in icey weather. Grit a pathway for the horse or a trail of bedding and sorted

 

[chocolategirl]

The whole yard is just one uneven ice rink at the moment. I slipped heading down to the field this afternoon and saw my life flash before my eyes! Katie isn't the most balanced horse at the best of times so of course she was skidding all over the place. I'm actually very surprised the YO hasn't done anything yet.
Any words of wisdom on how to deal with this winter weather? I'm terrified for horses and humans alike!

I'm sorry but what is it exactly you expect the YO to do? IMO it's simple, if you choose to risk walking across it with a horse then YOU accept that you may slip and injure yourself. It is not financially or physically possible to make some yards totally safe to walk on in icy conditions. On my yard, if we are presented with a yard of sheet ice in the morning, all the horses stay put with hay until it's thawed enough that it's safe to walk on. I'm ducking now to avoid the bullets! LOL!

 

[MarniL]

I'm sorry but what is it exactly you expect the YO to do? IMO it's simple, if you choose to risk walking across it with a horse then YOU accept that you may slip and injure yourself. It is not financially or physically possible to make some yards totally safe to walk on in icy conditions. On my yard, if we are presented with a yard of sheet ice in the morning, all the horses stay put with hay until it's thawed enough that it's safe to walk on. I'm ducking now to avoid the bullets! LOL!

I completely agree that I should be prepared to slip and fall. Perhaps I'm expecting too much, I just would have thought that the YO would be trying to make the yard as safe as possible for herself and the other liveries. There are a fair few who are slightly older and, not meaning to cause any offence, wouldn't bounce like they used to if they were to have an accident.

 

[Princess Rosie]

Seems a bit silly for the YO to not to sort the problem asap, we have a big bin full of salt at the entrance to the yard so it can be sprinkled on the yard if it gets slippy, doesn't take 2mins to sprinkle and soon melts the ice and gives you some grip. I certainly wouldn't be leading horses out onto a frozen yard.

 

[chocolategirl]

I completely agree that I should be prepared to slip and fall. Perhaps I'm expecting too much, I just would have thought that the YO would be trying to make the yard as safe as possible for herself and the other liveries. There are a fair few who are slightly older and, not meaning to cause any offence, wouldn't bounce like they used to if they were to have an accident.

As a YO I was advised that unless I can gauge tee 100% that I can clear the whole are of ice (not just make a path as this is bound to be wandered off from!) then it's better not to even attempt to clear it as if someone then injure themselves, I would be liable. If my clients want to attempt to make a path to the paddocks, then they are then accepting liability for injuries. Don't know if this advice is still current though as it was given to me some years ago. I think this is why you will often see pavements not cleared if snow and ice. Sand bins are there for the public to access are they not?

 

[paddy555]

I'm sorry but what is it exactly you expect the YO to do? IMO it's simple, if you choose to risk walking across it with a horse then YOU accept that you may slip and injure yourself. It is not financially or physically possible to make some yards totally safe to walk on in icy conditions. On my yard, if we are presented with a yard of sheet ice in the morning, all the horses stay put with hay until it's thawed enough that it's safe to walk on. I'm ducking now to avoid the bullets! LOL!

Find your comments a bit difficult to believe. A YO could do what I have just done which is walk round with a bin of salt and grit. Took less than 5 minutes and however icy it is I shall be able to safely lead the horses (and myself) over the yard in the morning.
I would have thought saltiing was part of a YO's duty of care to their liveries.

Even if a yard is massive it is still possible to do wallkways for humans and horses.

 

[chocolategirl]

Find your comments a bit difficult to believe. A YO could do what I have just done which is walk round with a bin of salt and grit. Took less than 5 minutes and however icy it is I shall be able to safely lead the horses (and myself) over the yard in the morning.
I would have thought saltiing was part of a YO's duty of care to their liveries.

Even if a yard is massive it is still possible to do wallkways for humans and horses.

Is your yard full, part or DIY if you don't mind me asking? Mine is DIY so most of the owners TO themselves and herein lies the problem! It brings to mind an incident a few years ago, where my husband was leading a group of people down a grassy bank to take part in a completely unrelated activity (clay shooting) and instead of using the steps down provided, one chap decided he would walk down the grassy bank alongside the steps, and yep you guessed it, he slipped and fell. When I asked him why he didn't use the steps like everyone else, his reply was and I quote ' you didn't tell me too!'. If I was turning all the horses out myself then yes I would make a pathway, but sadly, some people just can't be relied on to use their not so common sense! I did expect to be shot down over this though TBH, but I wonder how much can be done and classed as 'reasonable'?

 

[Arzada]

If I was turning all the horses out myself then yes I would make a pathway, but sadly, some people just can't be relied on to use their not so common sense! I did expect to be shot down over this though TBH, but I wonder how much can be done and classed as 'reasonable'?

Have you ever made a pathway and did your liveries use it or did they just go freestyle and do their own thing? Having lived in the US for several years we did what everyone else did in bad weather conditions - as much as possible as often as possible because if you didn't you then had an almost impossible job on your hands when conditions were prolonged or got worse. In rural areas in the UK you don't decide not to throw grit/sand around just in case someone manages to slip on any bits you've missed - no you get out there throwing the stuff around to try to keep the roads/paths safe.

 

[WelshD]

The trouble with gritting is if someone slips on a missed bit they may well have a case against the owner for not gritting thoroughly. if there is no gritting its seen as their risk to take.

I work for a company that sells salt/grit and even we don't grit despite having literally tonnes of it hanging around

 

[Kat]

We all chip in to buy grit so we can grit the yard. If the weather is awful shod horses stay in but the barefooters go out and DIYers make their own decisions. If we get snow then YOs husband clears the drifts with his tractor and my husband often digs footpaths over the yard.

 

[Illusion100]

Honestly the world we live in!

'I slipped and fell due to natural and known to be treacherous conditions even though someone made the effort to reduce this hazard as much as reasonably possible for my benefit. I'm going to sue them.'

It's madness I tell you, Madness!!!!

 

[oldjumper]

When it's frozen/snowy/icy we just muck out onto the yard. Thaws ice, gives grip, makes a soft surface.... and saves comedy routine of trying to push barrow over ice!. Just sweep it all up when thaw comes.

 

[Sukistokes2]

As my yard only gets slippery on very rare occasions, I use used shavings and then clear Them up when it gets warmer. But then I am on my own.

 

[WelshD]

Honestly the world we live in!

'I slipped and fell due to natural and known to be treacherous conditions even though someone made the effort to reduce this hazard as much as reasonably possible for my benefit. I'm going to sue them.'

It's madness I tell you, Madness!!!!

i know. sad but it seems like there is always someone else to blame. You'd have to wonder who they'd sue if they slipped on their own drive!

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I'm sorry but what is it exactly you expect the YO to do? IMO it's simple, if you choose to risk walking across it with a horse then YOU accept that you may slip and injure yourself. It is not financially or physically possible to make some yards totally safe to walk on in icy conditions. On my yard, if we are presented with a yard of sheet ice in the morning, all the horses stay put with hay until it's thawed enough that it's safe to walk on. I'm ducking now to avoid the bullets! LOL!

I'll shoot if you like.

I've heard this before from yard owners. They won't put grit down, they won't let their liveries put grit down or put used bedding down to make it safely to essential areas of the yard. I can put ice grips on but I can't do that for my horse. People are paying to use your facilities therefore depending on the nature of that provision you need to make it safe not expect horses to stay in their stables all winter because of the ice. What if it doesn't thaw for days? How can people wait until it thaws when they have to go to work. In any other industry it just would not be acceptable.

 

[Illusion100]

i know. sad but it seems like there is always someone else to blame. You'd have to wonder who they'd sue if they slipped on their own drive!

God? Gravity? Mother Nature?

 

[Marydoll]

If someone is running a business from their yard then they should be making it safe for the service users, not to do so imo would be likely to land you in hot water if someone was hurt and you'd done nothing to make the area safe

 

[Dry Rot]

As a YO I was advised that unless I can gauge tee 100% that I can clear the whole are of ice (not just make a path as this is bound to be wandered off from!) then it's better not to even attempt to clear it as if someone then injure themselves, I would be liable. If my clients want to attempt to make a path to the paddocks, then they are then accepting liability for injuries. Don't know if this advice is still current though as it was given to me some years ago. I think this is why you will often see pavements not cleared if snow and ice. Sand bins are there for the public to access are they not?

I think you are right -- legally. But it does seem a bit silly. Another example of the law being an ass?

 

[Fransurrey]

Spread used straw as a walkway, preferably after clearing ice, or early afternoon, when it's hopefully thawed. Yaktrax pro or similar for you, ice studs or hoof boots with ice spikes for them. You could always have cheap oversized boots like Cavallos and spike those if you live somewhere with prolonged icy weather and have a shod horse.

 

[Moya_999]

Get some salt /grit and spread on yard. Problem solved

^ this

 

[chocolategirl]

When it's frozen/snowy/icy we just muck out onto the yard. Thaws ice, gives grip, makes a soft surface.... and saves comedy routine of trying to push barrow over ice!. Just sweep it all up when thaw comes.

This what my clients do also but I leave the choice to them.

 

[chocolategirl]

I'll shoot if you like.

I've heard this before from yard owners. They won't put grit down, they won't let their liveries put grit down or put used bedding down to make it safely to essential areas of the yard. I can put ice grips on but I can't do that for my horse. People are paying to use your facilities therefore depending on the nature of that provision you need to make it safe not expect horses to stay in their stables all winter because of the ice. What if it doesn't thaw for days? How can people wait until it thaws when they have to go to work. In any other industry it just would not be acceptable.

In 20 years our horses have NEVER had a day stuck in, not one.

 

[Honey08]

I tend to not sweep the yard if it looks like freezing so there are bits and lumps for grip on the ice.

When I had liveries it used to scare me when it snowed or was icy. I started seeing issues in everything, whereas now it's just us and no liveries a bit of ice doesn't worry me.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I think you are right -- legally. But it does seem a bit silly. Another example of the law being an ass?

I can't think this logic is right otherwise the highways wouldn't salt the roads at all, neither would Supermarkets salt their car parks or any other workplace. But they do.

If you went to court and all REASONABLE steps had been taken then it is likely that you would be covered. If NO steps have been taken then you have absolutely no defence. If you are properly insured then that should take away the financial worry in any case except of course premiums going up. Doing nothing of course doesn't prevent anyone from suing you regardless. Your liveries are not accepting liability because you refuse to do anything for them to use the facilities they are paying for you to provide, especially because they MUST attend to their horses it is not an option.

 

[el_Snowflakes]

Can you ask you yard owner if they can supply sand/grit etc/salt? Of course you have to look out for your own safety but I have to disagree with some others who say it's not the yards responsibility. It is up to a point- if it's a livery yard ie. Business which is open to the public the business owner has a duty of care to its customers & staff.

 

[canteron]

I tend to not sweep the yard if it looks like freezing so there are bits and lumps for grip on the ice.

When I had liveries it used to scare me when it snowed or was icy. I started seeing issues in everything, whereas now it's just us and no liveries a bit of ice doesn't worry me.

This, Clearly it gets to a point where it doesn't work, but bizarrely leaving the yard with a bit of dirt on it is a good thing in icy weather.

I guess it depends on how much you pay for your livery as to how much you expect the YO to do ..... if you are paying a premium rate, then yes OK, expect a premium service, but otherwise then it is up to the liveries to grit their own path/wear sensible footwear etc.

I just feel so sorry for all those horses who are left in their stables all day.

 

[saddlesore]

My yard puts down grit/bedding and gets out a digger to clear snow from the access road...

 

[chocolategirl]

My clients pay £27 pw and my insurance alone is £1500 pa. You do the math! I get really ticked off when people expect livery on the cheap, which I am not suggesting is the case with everyone, but at the same time expect YO's to fork out extra in certain situations. All my fencing is p&r we spray for weeds and resow winter paddocks every year etc, etc., and don't even get me started on the business rates! And before everyone asks why I do it at this price, there are 2 reasons, one is for the company ( though lately this has not been giving me much pleasure!) and secondly because there are a lot of yards in my area so prices are low because I would have a lot if empty stables otherwise! I don't know everyone's situation, but it is mine. OP I think you need to judge for yourself what is reasonable for your YO to do. I don't know what you pay etc., but maybe put yourself in YO's shoes and ask what you would do to remedy the situation that is is within reason? Hopefully the icy weather won't be with us for too long, not like 2010! Even then though, our horses went out every day as always. Good luck and stay safe.