what do you do?????

[helencharlie]

When your field is 14 inches under snow, are struggling to get access to horses due to treachorous roads. This involves a 4 mile walk at present, can only get there once a day and there are 6 starving horses. We are all putting hay out for them, we are going to start running short of hay at this rate. so the question is those who are under snow how do you cope?

 

[katherine1975]

I had to walk two miles to get to the horses yesterday so only went once. Been feeding them lots of haylage in the field, picking feet out and making sure they have water. Seriously thinking of hiring a 4x4 for a week as we are running out of haylage. We have got a land rover but it is being mended as the postman crashed into us two weeks ago!

 

[Arabelle]

Living in Scotland I suppose I expect some bad weather, so I am prepared for winter. I have round bales in the field shelter and I carry a flask to defrost the tap and have 2 large water containers I then sledge to the water trough. Worst case scenario I have to bring the water from the house - that does happen on occasion when the tap is too frozen.

If you are struggling for hay, see if you can get a farmer to drop a round bale in your field every week or so - when the fields are under thick snow you must ensure they have access to forage. Water is essential, so you may need to take it with you from the house - a sledge is really useful for this.

Our fields have been covered in snow for over a forthnight and there is more falling now, so we just get on with it - it is going to be a long winter

I hope you find a good solution for your horses that gives them access to forage and water as they need it through the winter - good luck.

 

[pottamus]

If there is more than one owner of the horses...can you set up a rota so that they all get hayed and watered at least once per day but it means you are not all trying to get there every day?
I think your priority is to get more hay in if you are running low...this weather could stay until March. How much grass was in your field as they can probably dig and nibble at it if it was of reasonable length...my lad was able to and did not need hay in the field even when the snow was well over my knees in the field.
I would spend your 4 mile walk identifying farmers and knocking on some doors to see if they would drop a round bale off.