Winter is a cruel mistress

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.

Absolute bedlam. Never been so grateful to have the battered old 4x4 and not a small runaround.

Didn't sleep a wink worrying about those darned animals who aside from a bit soggy seemed very non-plussed about the situation this morning.

I've got to hand it to the field. Yes we have puddles but we aren't actually underwater. So I'm calling that huge positive. And all the rain is actually helping some of the top soil wash away and revealing hard standing. Positive number 2 😂

But yes very much need an ark over here. And would you believe....it is STILL raining 😂 looks set to improve in a bit though.

Been asking colleagues at work (we work remotely from all over the place) and deffo seems like South West took the worst hit last night!
 
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.
 
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.
Crumbs! You have it worse than us I think.

If I didn't work from home I would 100% have said couldn't possibly make it in in these conditions and I'll see you all tomorrow. Lol. Admire your dedication for battling your way in!

Knowing hay was done night before and that's off the table must have been such a relief!
 
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 🙃
 
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 🙃
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' 😂

We had to cancel farrier this morning as it would have been a nightmare. They will just have to wait for it to stop raining.

Other half literally said on Sunday when we were shovelling tons of wet slurry top soil out of the feed areas 'why can't we strap a scraper to the horses and get them to tow it out the way for us?

Very good question indeed and got me thinking I might need to alter my long term training plans as we do indeed have some decent horse power going to waste for practical purposes 😂 - any of yours broken to tow said hayledge up the hill??

We now have HAIL STORMS here. Ricocheing off all the garden furniture. Not going to look at the horse cam. Give me strength honestly.
 
I 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 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 🤣
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!....
 
I detest the torrential downpours, but it did make moving the electric fencing a hell of a lot easier as the posts just slid out and slid into their new places 😂

Rabbit my youngster is loving the weather as he's a real water baby, loves splashing around and is happily dunking his head in every and all puddles he can find - Baggs my retired lad on the other hand is absolutely seething with the rain, detests getting rained on (despite having a full neck turnout on!) and is plotting Rabbit's demise as he hates being splashed with the water from Rabbit's paddling sessions......😂
 
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.

This 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).
 
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!....

Yes these 2 are both unshod so just due a trim, last done 7 weeks ago but not looking terrible tbh. In an ideal world I'd get them a rasp but in the grand scheme of things they might have to hang on another 3-4 weeks until I can get them onto the dry field at least. I usually move them for the day onto the rested field to dry their legs off but I currently have 10 bales of haylage parked there! In a few weeks I'll be 5 bales down (if they ever eat the bloody stuff) and can fence off what is left to get them on there.

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! 👋🙃
 
Rabbit my youngster is loving the weather as he's a real water baby,
Wish mine were this enthusiastic. They are deffinitely taking your older boy's approach to the whole thing!

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
🤣🤣🤣 that does sound very pleasant given the current status quo.

I think there are a few in my inner circle wondering when they are allowed to do this. Driving everyone absolutely nuts with my horse neuroticism at the mo.


alcohol of increasing quantities (and decreasing quality).
Yup. That one has happened already. When you start eyeing up the cooking brandy and wondering if its drinkable on its own 😂

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! 👋🙃
In that case worry not! You can always change your mind in a weeks time if you decide you think they need doing sooner.

Are they upright is about the sum of it at this stage!
 
This 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).
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 it 😂😂😂😂 Trying noise cancelling headphones to drown it 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!
 
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!
Try and stay positive. I promise you I felt exactly the same when I started this post and multiple times since!

Your post is so like what was in my head when I wrote this I was initially reading it trying to work out if you were replying to something I wrote earlier.

I have also considered throwing in the towel. I still led in bed last night considering it when the storm woke me up at 5am and I couldn't get back to sleep worrying about them. But it will pass. The Spring is coming and I know if I gave up now in 4 weeks I'll be kicking myself.

Rant as much on this thread as you need to as well. This is exactly why I started it and don't worry you are not alone.

They also just like to put it on and make us feel guilty. If it helps they have way more creature comforts than mine do right now.

I even went into the field shelter on Saturday to see if they might like to stand in 3 inches of water just to get out of the wind and panels have blown off the roof of that now as well 😳 so we don't even have a functioning underwater shelter left.

So hang in there and if they give you evils tell them to think themselves lucky as my lot would kill for a functioning shelter about now.

My inability to mend things due to the season and weather has had me in tears but everyone on this thread is so right. What can we do? Can't change the weather. They are all well fed, watered and in snuggly rugs so really they don't need anything else when it comes down to it.

Hang in there!
 
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 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.
 
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.
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!
 
Much to her great joy, my mare has rediscovered the flooded bit of the field. She is dripping mud so as pee’d off as I am about the endless rain, at least she’s happy? 🙄

I have no doubt many of us are giving ourselves a hard time right now and trying to do our best but I’m very much with @Little bit old-fashioned here, crying won’t help but manic laughing might (get me a nice padded cell holiday)
 
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!!!
 
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!!!

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.
 
If anyone fancies a giggle/ needs a pick me up this morning -

Twas' a normal winter morning, the boys had just finished breakfast, I was popping on my wellies, grabbing head collars and praying for a nice simple turnout with no drama or incidents.

Both boys walking lovely down to the field with me, get to the part where it starts to go downhill as have recently moved them to a new patch of grass and I went completely grass skiing on my arse!

I land right in a fresh puddle of mud and mud water, Rabbit my water loving youngster then proceeds to start a game of splashy, and is merrily playing in the water getting me even more covered - I'm trying to stand up but keep getting lightly waterboarded by Rabbit, Baggs my older lad is absolutely seething at Rabbit getting him wet, so he has ears fully back with a face only a mother could love on, I'm coughing and spluttering, my friend is across the field in hysterics, the yard owner is videoing and it's just been posted in the yard group chat 🤣

On the upside, Rabbit couldn't care less about me ending up right underneath him, nor the noise I was making as I was trying to get up, so that bodes well for me starting him under saddle later on in the year.....

Sending love and hugs to anyone who needs them ❤️
 
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!

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. Always something to feel guilty about or anxious about! I have another ridden one who is on full livery and because oldie takes up so much of my time he often misses out. I don't resent oldie at all, but it's a practicality of life that it all takes up so much of my time and finances meaning I miss out on riding the other one who is now lagging behind where we should be and I feel time is slipping away with him.

I know in a couple of months it will all feel much easier when I can pop in, feed, poo-pick and be done in 20 mins, just trying to hang on in there!
 
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?
 
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 am not so worried about the younger one. He was meant to make 13.2 but only made 12.2 so really would be a kids pony. Although I think he was put on earth by the devil to punish me for something I did in a previous life. At 6 this year and only back and hacked he really needs a proper job so I need to find a plucky kid to enjoy him (or just a child who's parents don't really like them). B is a different kettle of fish. He had a poor/potentially abusive start in life and isn't happy to be ridden (dangerous) or to be left on his own. He's a great in hand horse and a great nanny horse for babies, but those homes are limited. I've found him one once but they eventually they moved to livery and no longer needed a companion. And well, 3 does seem to be the magic number.

I also have other animals as we set up a smallholding through lockdown. But I don't plan to replace as the sheep and chicken numbers slowly drop but until then we are doing what we do. I'd still need to visit the land to tend to the sheep and chickens if I had just 1 on full livery elsewhere.

January (and a January that's had over twice the average rainfall) is not the time for me to be making rash decisions, but a can see a time in the next few years where I just have 1 horse and my free time is spent enjoying him and not wading around in mud. Might even afford a holiday :eek: 🤣
 
January (and a January that's had over twice the average rainfall) is not the time for me to be making rash decisions,
This.

Which is exactly what I did yesterday and am now regretting it hugely so this may help some others who are up and down and not sure which way to go.

Had a total fullscale meltdown on Wednesday. Absolutely nothing concrete to trigger it and I actually had a rare day off because I had to travel for work so lovely freelance groom was doing them for me. Something just went in me...it may have been how nice it was not to be doing them even. Lost the plot. Had a few after works drinks and then basically told my partner couldn't do it anymore they were all going back (mine are on forever loan so whilst that wasn't the deal I can make it happen). Told him I was cancelling the stables id failed blah blah blah.....

He was absolutely THRILLED.

Now I've sobered up seen 3 hours without rain this morning I've totally changed my mind. Made a comment about stables this morning and other half just said 'well you don't need those anymore do you because they are going back'

Cue me now between a rock and hard place and he's not going to be happy if I try and retract the meltdown.

So proceed with caution. Easy to regret a meltdown day. January isn't a month for rash decisions as Dorsetladette correctly says.
 
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 noses 🙈 ended 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!
 
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 noses 🙈 ended 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!
Not falling is a win. Robin (AKA satan's love child) would have taken me clean out and run off with the bucket.
 
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.


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.
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.
 
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.

Winter 2022 was the worst here we’ve ever had for storms and rainfall in the 18yrs been here (west Ireland) - there were 9 storms coming through that winter pretty much weekly, that were destructive highest winds ever known here, and caused constant flooding.
Every other winter in comparison seems easy compared to that!

This weeks storm wasn’t bad for winds, there was 36hrs of constant rain that had our driveway flowing like a stream - all that water comes off of a main track above that’s 1km long, and all the water used to end up on our land/bog….until we spent a year with a massive digger and drain stones redirecting all the run-off! It’s so nice to see it all flow into the made drains.

It became clear here that winter is just a case of keeping them warm, dry and well fed rather than aspire to do much with them due to the winter Atlantic weather hitting us directly. It’s not the horse journey I had in mind, but it does keep me sane to know there’s a limit to what we can do when Mother Nature dictates.

Some fun can be had in the mud though! Loved hearing your funny stories up thread 😁 one year a path I had made for the horses to get to the fields was quickly turned into a churned sloshy mud slope, so I took the back board off the trailor and used it as a surfboard to smooth out the mud…worked a treat!
Back then I was forever moving tracks for access for them, until we built a mega-hardcore all season path.

My tulips in a pot have started sprouting, so we may be well on our way out the dip!
 
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