tops tips to getting through winter?

bracken99

bracken99

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hi. Not really looking foward to winter and just wondered if anyone had any tips on how to get through winter and make it easier?:)
thanks!
 
My hubby bought us all sallopettes last winter (not sure if that's correct spelling) They are the padded waterproof ski trousers and were a godsend in the cold, wet and snowy weather. Nothing worse than seeing to horses when you are wet and cold.
 
Buy a sledge! Seriously, its great for hauling water containers out to the field (and unless you live in the Fens it's great fun going sledging!).
Big pair of marigold washing up gloves over good fleecy ones (I personally love thinsulate gloves) will keep your hands warm and dry.
If you can get a round bale in the field - so much easier than putting hay out twice a day!
 
Ooh - love threads like this.:D

Good waterproof rain suit in an extra big size so you can wear layers underneath, fleecey socks and lightweight fleece lined waterproof rubber boots, thinsulate gloves for pooh picking and a trappers hat to keep ears toasty, one of those fleece scarves that are small and circular around neck to keep front of neck warm:)

Keep horse food in your garage, make it/mix it in your warm kitchen/utility, put on front seat and drive right up to horse gate. Keep rugs in the boot of your car and dry over your bannister at home (and watch husband seethe - good fun:D)
 
Achinghips said:
Ooh - love threads like this.:D


Keep horse food in your garage, make it/mix it in your warm kitchen/utility, put on front seat and drive right up to horse gate. Keep rugs in the boot of your car and dry over your bannister at home (and watch husband seethe - good fun:D)
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And wait for the divorce papers to come through !!!!!!!!!!!!

I can just imagine the hole in the roof if my husband ever came home and found the rugs drying over the bannister - he would go into orbit!!!

Fair enough really - he is brilliant when ever my daughter and I ever want to buy something expensive - I remember when we went to look at a lovely warmblood - he just sighed, took out his chequebook and said in a weary voice ' how much and who do I make it payable to'

Bless him :)
 
If you can afford it/have the space - buy hay and bedding before the prices go up
Invest in thermal underwear, gloves and socks
Buy as many cans of de-icer as you can
Invest in grit/salt for clearing driveway to yard/hardstanding outside stable
Make sure all rug fittings are in good working order - nothing worse than trying to undo a rug with broken fittings in freezing cold weather
Invest in oil for inside the hooves - lot easier to keep the snow out and can help prevent stilts
Make sure lorry battery has full charge or put onto charge, the cold weather can really kill them
Put up pictures of nice sunny days and remind yourself that they WILL return.
 
check out primark & TK maxx for cheap ski gear
lower your standards - a bit of mud will not kill your horse/not being ridden as much will [prob] not kil your horse/give up any notions of atractiveness - better a wolly hat then a cold head:)
 
Achinghips said:
Ooh - love threads like this.:D

Good waterproof rain suit in an extra big size so you can wear layers underneath, fleecey socks and lightweight fleece lined waterproof rubber boots, thinsulate gloves for pooh picking and a trappers hat to keep ears toasty, one of those fleece scarves that are small and circular around neck to keep front of neck warm:)

Keep horse food in your garage, make it/mix it in your warm kitchen/utility, put on front seat and drive right up to horse gate. Keep rugs in the boot of your car and dry over your bannister at home (and watch husband seethe - good fun:D)
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OMG!!! husband seethe...i'd be thrown out!
I am currently threading thick string thru bits of hose pipe to make rug hangers for those awful heavy wet soaking smelly rugs....i'm looking forwards to it already!

(in truth im a weirdo who quite likes winter!)
 
Put the horse on full livery and stock up on hot choccy and biscuits.:cool:

ps I can't get the turnout rugs closer to the house than the garage, though I do have an electric oil filled radiator to dry them out.
 
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Gosh last winter my horse had a horrid wound on his shoulder, the amount of puss was unreal, it would be seeping down his legs even though it was cleaned 4 times a day.

I had a few of the duo liners that were washed and changed when the wound was cleaned as couldn't but a pad on it (point of shoulder). The washing machine was always on and 2 liners were drying in the back of doors.

OH didn't complain once, even when he had crusty bits of puss on his work shirts after I forgot to clean the washing machine :eek:
 
Oh and he put up with me using all the hot water every morning to take it down the yard to water the horses.

I'm a rubbish girl friend, he is a wonderful partner.
 
def salopettes, good boots, balaclava,
get big containers to transport water from house to yard when tap frozen.
I have my feeds made up for the next morning but I take a tub home with un soaked speedi beet. I use hot water to soak it and by the time i get to the yard it has cooled a bit and my horse gets a nice warm feed. Nothing worse than ice in your feeds.
Apparently it is to start to freeze by this weekend. Oh Joy!!!
 
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Duvet covers good to have , to put under rugs for extra warmth ,
Ski trousers and coats (cheap ) and brilliant to keep warm
make sure that the horse has access to water at all times so they don't feel the need to drink large amounts of water in one go, and add a little warm water to their buckets where possible
Add petroleum jelly to hoofs to stop balling of snow on hoofs
 
FPErin said:
My hubby bought us all sallopettes last winter (not sure if that's correct spelling) They are the padded waterproof ski trousers and were a godsend in the cold, wet and snowy weather. Nothing worse than seeing to horses when you are wet and cold.
Click to expand...

Agree to keep dry important. I use these and have ridden in them as well Any waterproof over trousers thick socks(thermal)

I fill hay nets for week at weekend(he lives out but I ad lib hay too). Have got pile of feed trugs filled before etc

Head lamp so my hands are free for poo picking.(the one u put on your head)! Dog has a light on his collar so I know where he is in the dark!

I wear riding gloves inside my poo picking gloves to keep warm.

heavy hammer for smashing ice. kitchen blow torch for de icing padlocks etc..brrrr makes me feel cold just thinking about it brrrrrrrrrrrrr
 
Untie the drawstring part of haynets and thread a clip (the sort on the end of lead ropes, our local saddlery does them really cheap :)) onto the string and retie. SO much easier to clip haynets rather than tie, especially with cold hands and gloves on :D

J&C
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Although I have to say that keeping the horses at home is much easier than a livery yard in winter.
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Agree with this. When the taps/drinkers freeze outside I can pop into the house for warm water! No driving either and much easier when got children!

Luckily my partner doesn't mind the rugs drying on the bannisters either! Or being repaired on the sofa! He's even moved to an equestrian propery for me and isn't in the slightest horsey! Bless him!

Tips are a sledge for draggin hay to field, lots of grit and warm boots and gloves! Fleecy headbands are glued to my head all through the winter and waterproof chaps!
 
EMIGRATE :D

Or go on holiday?...I have only managed to wangle one measly week in San Diego next February.

My next door neighbours fly south with the birds, they spend every Winter in Florida.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Grin and bear it!
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We do :D
 
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