dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
Anyone got Noah's number? I think we need a boat!
Everything flooded here. Main roads, country lanes, villages, the dip just down the road from my house, fields and fields underwater. Tail backs of traffic and crashes everywhere.Anyone got Noah's number? I think we need a boat!
Crumbs! You have it worse than us I think.Yeah getting in to work was a challenge. We have a combination of heavy rain (amber warnings) and high tides which is causing most roads to flood. closed roads everywhere and the divertions are flooded. Next high tide is at 6pm ish but it seems to be a very long slow high tide starting around 3.30 so roads likely to be really bad at home time 4pm. All traffic diverted the way I go to the horses so it's going to be long and slow.
But yes plus points are I have a battered old 4x4 that gets through the water fine. And i put a fresh bale of hay in the feeder last night in the dry so they are good for a few days and my water tanks will be nicely filled with all this rain.
Another plus - we cancelled a meeting this morning as none of us could hear each other due to the rain.
Giggled at the end line. That would drive me absolutely nuts too. They know just how to get you right! When you are already at the brink they think 'oh I'll just destroy X, Y, Z and really give her a breakdown'Rain, rain, rain as far as the forecast goes out!
But at this point I think I'm just resigned to it.... I mean the mud literally can't get any more muddy right?
Haylage delivery turned up at the weekend which was a relief, rolled 10 round bales across the field by hand as tractor couldn't get through the gateway
Moved the hay feeders up the hill out of the mud at the weekend too, which is nice for the horses but now means lugging 2 x 20kg nets of bloody heavy wet haylage up the hill every night, the joys. Telling myself I will be very streamlined and fit by spring! The ungrateful whatsits are also turning their nose up at said haylage but hey they are fat and get plenty of feed so I am done stressing about it.
Farrier due on Monday which is giving me a bit of a predicament as I NEED to get them in out of the mud for the morning to dry their legs off or farrier will kill me - no problem you'd think as I have 2 stables. However humungous dino-horse companion won't stay in a stable as he has worked out he can just lean on the door and push the bolts out the wood and literally barge his way out. I have no plan other than currently threatening to shoot it on a daily basis![]()
Absolutely freeloaders. The lot of them. And ungrateful ones to boot! HahaI had contemplating cancelling farrier tbh - I just can't see feasibly how I can get them done but they have gone 7 weeks without a trim although feet are looking ok and growth is slow due to winter. Would I be horribly negligent to leave them another few weeks and pray for better/drier weather
We had the exactly same conversation at the weekend about strapping the horses to drag the haylage up the field - they just stood watching over the fence like the freeloaders they are![]()
I'm not sure if I've just finally gone mad but this morning the whole sorry winter affair suddenly seems hilarious and I'm laughing rather than crying.
Absolutely freeloaders. The lot of them. And ungrateful ones to boot! Haha
If it makes you feel any better by the time farrier comes next week now ours will have done 9 weeks. They get done every 8 as standard (no shoes and just trims as all currently doing nothing but burning a hole in my pocket) so by time next week comes that will be 9 weeks. If I'm honest them going a few extra days is the least of my current worries. As others have said to me throughout the thread can only do what you can do. Can't ask the farrier to shoe in a swamp or I'll never see him again! And reinforcing infrastructure and making changes is off the cards for all of us until we are no longer swimming across the fields.
I'm not sure if I've just finally gone mad but this morning the whole sorry winter affair suddenly seems hilarious and I'm laughing rather than crying.
We all have a 'this is what we would like to happen' but this winter is putting paid to it. So just do what is actually possible.
....wow listen to me...I think those giving me the great advice on this thread has finally sunk in!....
Wish mine were this enthusiastic. They are deffinitely taking your older boy's approach to the whole thing!Rabbit my youngster is loving the weather as he's a real water baby,
What ever you do don't tell anyone non-horsey or you will likely be sectioned (the mental health hospital here has the most beautiful view of the sea so I'm kind of thinking about it, just til the weather improves
Yup. That one has happened already. When you start eyeing up the cooking brandy and wondering if its drinkable on its ownalcohol of increasing quantities (and decreasing quality).
In that case worry not! You can always change your mind in a weeks time if you decide you think they need doing sooner.Yes these 2 are both unshod so just due a trim, last done 7 weeks ago but not looking terrible tbh.
I've definitely reached the point of a kind of hysteria induced numbness to it all - are they fed? are they warm & dry under rugs? are they upright and appear to not be immediately dying or have a leg falling off? - great, see you tomorrow!![]()
I think I might need to seriously consider this. Belting it down with rain again and the sound is now like a torture device. Every time I hear rain now (which I used to like the sound of) i feel like I'm going to lose itThis is just delirium!!! It's a state we all go through at this time of year. What ever you do don't tell anyone non-horsey or you will likely be sectioned (the mental health hospital here has the most beautiful view of the sea so I'm kind of thinking about it, just til the weather improves). We usually self-medicate with pain killers hot baths and alcohol of increasing quantities (and decreasing quality).
Try and stay positive. I promise you I felt exactly the same when I started this post and multiple times since!I feel terrible... They have dry standing, shelter, adlib hay and rugs on, but the wind and rain is relentless and ever changing in direction, and the mud they have to go through to get to the mud mat yard for the hay etc is like porridge. They look miserable, my sheep look miserable, and I am constantly on the verge of tears! I'm debating jacking it all in, but realistically who will take on non-riddens with issues (not that I resent them, just feel like I'm letting them down in this weather due to lack of infrastructure)
Sorry, just needed to get that out!
I feel terrible... They have dry standing, shelter, adlib hay and rugs on, but the wind and rain is relentless and ever changing in direction, and the mud they have to go through to get to the mud mat yard for the hay etc is like porridge. They look miserable, my sheep look miserable, and I am constantly on the verge of tears! I'm debating jacking it all in, but realistically who will take on non-riddens with issues (not that I resent them, just feel like I'm letting them down in this weather due to lack of infrastructure)
Sorry, just needed to get that out!
We aren't half hard on ourselves are we!I feel exactly the same TBH and have been saying the same to OH this week. I don't have thousands to throw at infrastructure and mud mats etc. to improve the situation, I feel totally stuck and out of options. I also rent the yard solely for 30yo pony to live out his days. Land is like gold-dust around here and I genuinely don't have any other options for moving them to. He wouldn't cope on a traditional livery yard and he prefers to live out and needs a companion, everywhere here is individual turnout (he would be miserable) or herd turnout (he would get bullied). He was previously on retirement livery but he needs too much 1-2-1 now (daily bute, big feeds, rug-changes depending on the weather from one day to the next etc.) It is literally the best I can do but I still feel like I am letting them down.
Ive advertised one of my young unridden foresters as just cant do it anymore - Ive lost the joy of it all & its not much easier in the summer having 3 on 3 acres always juggling the grass with their needs. Its not so much the jobs its needing to do her groundwork & ride the 6 year old forester who will be sold in the Spring - that's the tipping point for me & combined with my impending retirement & how young they are, I feel its the right decision for us. That will leave my golden oldie but will cross that bridge after Ive crossed the first 2. I said last winter I cant do another winter then before you know it your in that winter but being totally honest Ive lost the joy as dont have anybody to share it all with now my daughter has grown up & lost interest, so decision made for me albeit not a simple or straightforward one!!!
We aren't half hard on ourselves are we!
From what you have just described he clearly has everything he needs and his home has been created lovingly with his needs in mind. Not getting bullied, not getting lonely and getting all his daily needs. What more can be asked for.
I don't know when I had a change of heart but honestly in 6 weeks we will look back at this thread and it will feel like a whole other world.
I did get the news today that one I've been looking after for someone else is going at the end of the week which is probably helping my positivity as one less mouth to feed and a*** to clean up after will certainly lighten the load in the current conditions.
Imagine if we could get paid for the hours we spent worrying about our horses. We'd all be millionaires!
Im over the guilt now as I know given their young ages they will outlive me anyhow! Why feel guilty about loaning 2 as sounds like perfect solution for you all?I totally get where your coming from. I've been considering loaning or selling one as I have 3 and only time to ride 1. I've also thought about loaning 2 of them and taking one to full livery so I can have the fun with out the hard work, but I then get an overwhelming feeling of guilt so it won't happen.
Im over the guilt now as I know given their young ages they will outlive me anyhow! Why feel guilty about loaning 2 as sounds like perfect solution for you all?
This.January (and a January that's had over twice the average rainfall) is not the time for me to be making rash decisions,
Not falling is a win. Robin (AKA satan's love child) would have taken me clean out and run off with the bucket.A laugh or cry situation for your amusement...
I gave the horses their feed buckets on the mud mats as usual, and went to give the ewes their token gesture of feed to keep them coming to a bucket (they don't do anything unless there's something in it for them, so bribery and prompt payment is a must!). I have to walk through where it's gone quite muddy, but have managed so far despite it being over my ankles in some places....
I took my usual path, and a few strides away from the gate for the sheep (where they all stood shouting at me), my left foot sunk suddenly nearly up to me knee, and I could not get purchase on the slippy mud with my other foot to pull myself out, and holding onto a bucket of sheep food... The sheep are furious I'm "standing" there with a bucket, the horses have finished their food in record time and come over to "help" me by offering to empty the bucket, I'm trying to not lose the bucket, and wiggle my boot/leg free from the mud suction whilst not falling over from inquisitive and persistent equine nosesended up getting the stuck leg loose, with boot still on, lobbing the sheep bucket over the gate for them and grabbing onto spotty girl's mane to be pulled free and upright as she walked past to follow the bucket
I didn't fall, but from the state of me from all the splashing and stomping, I may as well have!
You are so right here KikiDee. The exhausting part right now is trying to work out what to put in or what to change. Wake up and it is the first thing on a cycle in my head! Exhausting and can't make it stop.Thank you, I keep saying to people it's not the physical work that gets you with horses I don't mind that, but it's the mental load that is exhausting.
How is everyone bearing up?
Still raining here. Meant to be clear until 2pm but raining. Now the sound just feels like a slow torture device.
Everyone around us saying how they have had bad years in the past but this is the worst anyone remembers.
I'm starting to panic we'll have an endlessly wet summer like a couple of years ago.
You are so right here KikiDee. The exhausting part right now is trying to work out what to put in or what to change. Wake up and it is the first thing on a cycle in my head! Exhausting and can't make it stop.
Oh wow. You must have some good balance. Did you actually stand on it too?so I took the back board off the trailor and used it as a surfboard to smooth out the mud…worked a treat!