What if it never stops raining and doesn't dry up a bit?!

In mid-Wales - I am praying for a stint of dryish weather. Last yr we built an all weather turnout area, and boy has it come in handy this year. all of the mud fevery ones spend half a day in it, and the hardy types are on the sacrifice winter paddock. Usually it holds up fairly well, with mud just around the gateway. but this year the further in you go, the more slippery it gets as the grass just seems to be separating from the ground underneath.

We've had about 4 days of gale force winds, 2 of which have been dry, and the ground is slowly improving. fingers crossed if it keeps up, we might actually be able to roll and harrow the spring/summer paddocks (which we havent been able to do since they moved off them in SEPTEMBER as its been too wet!!), give them 2 more weeks rest, and they might actually all be able to go out in a field. This week we've had 3 or 4 really awful thunder and lightening storms - really bloody scary, only no rain, hail! I just don't know what is up with this weather.

How sad is this - the other day it was sunny but blowing a gale, freezing outside. I went to put the baby up for a nap, was closing his bedroom curtains and through the window the sun was glorious - like being under a tanning lamp! so i settled there for a good hour whilst baba was sleeping, felt like a fat old cat finding the only warm sunshine spot in the house!
 
2011 wasn't a wet summer,it just wasn't very sunny.I work outdoors all day and all that year I lost a handful of days due to rain/bad weather.October was very hot and dry and we had no significant rain until April 2012.I remember looking at the weather forecast each night and wishing it would rain.The rain started during the Easter weekend and never really stopped after that.

I've given up believing what scientists tell us will happen to the weather.Remember when we were told to prepare for desert like conditions and to only plant drought loving plants? That wasn't too long ago? I think they just look out of the window,like the rest of us,and predict whatever is happening at that minute.

You obviously don't live in Wales. :D
 
I read it as 'last year wasn't a wet summer' and wondered if you were in a different UK from me! 2011 was pretty dry and the winter fairly dry too. Had no worries on the ground despite having 4 big horses in the same field.

I've got all fingers and toes crossed for a spring like last year. We NEED a month of no rain the let the ground dry out. If we don't I don't know how it'll recover. My field really needs rolled but it was just too wet to do last year.

We need to sundance.
 
How will you cope?

Like many people, I suspect, Im only just managing with my field nd just about hanging on 'until it dries up a bit'

But what if it doesn't?

I have 5 acres for 2 horses. They live out 24/7 as I've no stables. Over half of it currently squelches as I walk across it and parts are big puddles of water. Only round the feeder is proper mud but much of its so soft and poached. I keep looking at it and thinking: 'it'll recover in the spring when it dries out'. But what if it doesn't dry out and we get another summer like the last? Im not sure how I'll cope.

Just a general whinge about the weather but feel free to add your own wet weather woes.

I've had these thoughts too over the last few days. Even to the extent of "if the gulf stream has really moved north for good, is this our weather from now on?" :rolleyes: I am working on an all weather, grass free turnout plan...
 
We put an all weather path at the beginning of the winter and I am so thankful we did. We're on heavy clay and it's sodden at the best of times. Horse's have the path, some trash paddock, the yard and the stables. It is more work, but at least it's on hard ground. They'll stay on this until the ground dries up sufficietly for them to go out. Having seen next doors paddocks I know we'd be under 1ft of mud without it - best horsey money we've spent.

Unfortunately, I think we're going to have to get used to wet weather - it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
 
I will cry....lami horse has gone and pulled something in his left hind and doesn't like it being touched or full weight on it...,I'm thinking its when they had a hooly on the feild and he slipped:(
 
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