Winter is Coming!!! (For prepping squirrels)

Well I’ve got a new hopefully more reliable hay supplier organised. We’ve made it easier to hang haynets from the tree. Might trial using wooden hay box but mare rubs in everything so maybe not! Last years super wet weather and mud got to this stage. Could have been worse!
 

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Miss_Millie said:
Anyone else got a weather warning for rain today?
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Yes ☹️ Here in Oxfordshire it rained heavily overnight and is currently coming down in stair rods. Supposed to be thunder and lightening at the moment so just waiting for it to start. Tonight’s forecast is abysmal and tomorrow’s even worse and although I wasn’t planning to I may have to get the horses in for 24 hours. It’s far too warm to rug them but they have really good natural shelter to stand under.

The ducks are happy and the pond is filling up nicely but the dogs may just get a quick leg stretch around the village.

I think late summer resumes on Tuesday but having just checked it isn’t going to.
 
Our weather says rain nearly every day for the next two weeks. Yuk.

I have clipped the 2 fat ones now, hoping it'll help get some of the blubber off.

Hay has been tested and is high fibre, low sugar, average protein and low nutrients. That's fine, I'll feed a balancer. I'm going to mix with straw and have secured a supply but I do wonder whether it's a bit dusty.

I haven't painted the stables yet, the swallows did a second clutch of chicks so I couldn't knock the nests down and not convinced it'll dry if I do it now.

My new shed has missed 3 delivery days and turns out it was a scam company using a legitimate company's name. Will be refunded on my credit card but still means I don't have a shed and no chance of delivery before November.

The forecast is for a dry but cold winter, I really, really hope so.
 
Here I am again to ruin everyone's summer :) with my annual prepping thread!!!!

For those of you who want to remain blissfully. burying your head in that warm, summer sand.... move along :cool:

For the rest of you prepping people, join me with your lists and moral support as we try and organise our lives 🐿️🐿️🐿️

This year will be different again for me. I have new stables going up which should be ready for Bonfire night, which is traditionally when I swap over to winter routine. They are going to be big, open fronted, well ventilated stone stables, which will be amazing but I will be interested to see how warm they are. The youngster certainly will need some stable rugs, so I am keeping an eye out in the sales.

I have decided on trialling straw pellets, with a shavings top this year as straw is in such short supply and it will hopefully make life easier now I have a big girl job and need to be organised, even more so when Ray comes back from the breakers and I have 2 in work. So I need to order that in.

I need to go through my haynets so I have sufficient stock for filling at the weekend and get rid of those that I don't use. Likewise... my rug storage is just an explosion!

Clipper blades - as per usual, again I have not sent them off in spring as I always say I will!!!

Hay - will hopefully have enough in left from last year, but I have about an acre of fencing to do as I am grazing the hay field.

Trailer needs to go for a service.

Housewise I have loads to do but very little motivation! I have started to sort the log stores yesterday... which obviously set me off on this thread!!!!

What do you all need to do?
 
Jobs completed
New 24 x12 field shelter is up, just need to pop the ground anchors in.
Said field shelter has just been creosoted.
2 more pallets of Jelka mats arrived and laid.
2025 straw all stacked and ready in the barn- 80 small bales which should see me to this time next year.

Still to do-
Clippers need a service but I clip all year round so need to book them in for after the next clip.
Hay steamer needs a power wash out but again is used all year round so a bit of planning required.
New gate to be installed in one winter field- will wait until the ground softens up a bit for that as need to put 2 new gateposts in too!
 
Erm, I've acquired two IBCs and some mud control slabs. Oh and drawn a pretty chalk board plan of the fields with who will be in each and what needs to be done to rested ones. Does that count? 🤣

Have plenty more to be done but not till after Burghley. That's winter then 😁
 
Shoei said:
Here I am again to ruin everyone's summer :) with my annual prepping thread!!!!

For those of you who want to remain blissfully. burying your head in that warm, summer sand.... move along :cool:

For the rest of you prepping people, join me with your lists and moral support as we try and organise our lives 🐿️🐿️🐿️

This year will be different again for me. I have new stables going up which should be ready for Bonfire night, which is traditionally when I swap over to winter routine. They are going to be big, open fronted, well ventilated stone stables, which will be amazing but I will be interested to see how warm they are. The youngster certainly will need some stable rugs, so I am keeping an eye out in the sales.

I have decided on trialling straw pellets, with a shavings top this year as straw is in such short supply and it will hopefully make life easier now I have a big girl job and need to be organised, even more so when Ray comes back from the breakers and I have 2 in work. So I need to order that in.

I need to go through my haynets so I have sufficient stock for filling at the weekend and get rid of those that I don't use. Likewise... my rug storage is just an explosion!

Clipper blades - as per usual, again I have not sent them off in spring as I always say I will!!!

Hay - will hopefully have enough in left from last year, but I have about an acre of fencing to do as I am grazing the hay field.

Trailer needs to go for a service.

Housewise I have loads to do but very little motivation! I have started to sort the log stores yesterday... which obviously set me off on this thread!!!!

What do you all need to do?
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If you're looking to save time this winter could you look to get rid of haynets and use a hay bar on an equivalent? That was a game changer for me and also has the benefit of being better for their backs/ necks.
 
Just ordered mud mats for the winter shelter which got too wet last year.

I swear the winter field has barely grown since March though so I'm not thinking beyond September right now!
 
Squeak said:
If you're looking to save time this winter could you look to get rid of haynets and use a hay bar on an equivalent? That was a game changer for me and also has the benefit of being better for their backs/ necks.
Click to expand...
I am contemplating this, but the bonus of nets, is I get covered in less hay when nipping in around work. I really like the big ones that Wilcox do as it looks like they could fit lots of hay in.
 
dorsetladette said:
Spoken to hay man and he is happy to supply at the same price as last year. (same price as year before too!)

Need to sort rugs and clean/repair a few and straw supply for bedding.
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Our hayman has just put his prices up by by £12 per round bale. We use 2 a week so thats an extra £24 per week for us to budget.
 
We've been cutting hay like mad so I have a plentiful supply for the horses and Sheepers... 230 small bales (pain in the butt to do, won't be doing them again!) and 50 large bales so far... Another 10 -15 acres earmarked left to do! Can you tell I'm worrying about a rubbish summer next year so making the most of this one?! Pinched a round feeder from the farm and brought it down for the horses in preparation. I need another layer of wood chip over the mud mats in the shelter, but I don't know if OH will have any going until he starts logging again in September/October, so I may be buying wood pellets in instead.
 
i love this thread…

my clippers didn’t get serviced last year and the blades didn’t get sharpened, so that desperately needs doing asap, ponies are already shedding like mad!!!

more rugs that need to be sent off to be washed, but i think i’ll wait until the fly rugs can go as their winter rugs have already been done (organised for once!!) with diva being on box rest, i ought to get a good few of hers done since she’s not using any at the mo.

that’s as far as i’ve got so far!!
 
Hay is sorted and that's about it so far!
Need to de cobweb my stables and wash a few marks off the walls.
Need to fetch some straw to make their initial winter beds
Need to source 2 stable mirrors
Will probably sell clippers this year as I didn't clip last year as he didn't need doing
 
I’ve ordered and paid for 12 big square bales of haylage to be delivered in September.
I’ve got enough hay to last until November when they switch to coming overnight and go onto the haylage. I use 2 bales a month in cold weather.
Straw has been scarce and expensive so debating on biting the bullet and putting my other 2 on shaving's/miscanthus along with my dressage horse.
My winter fields will hopefully have had a full 6 month break by the time they move. It was hell last year and it looked like the Somme by the end of winter.
 
Ah. Would be so nice to be able to plan. We have no storage only small area to cover hay with a tarp so can’t stock up. No idea how many horses we’ll have come winter as livery yard manager wants more liveries even though there’s not much grass. Having said that my boy doesn’t need it so I’m happy!
 
Now there's a good trigger for mild panic!:D I need to send off my clippers for servicing and blades for sharpening. And sort out the very dusty winter rugs. And try to lift a couple of the worst mats and clean under if/when I have a spare day.

Otherwise I think I am there - lots of field paste in stock for feet, YO has a barn full of hay. I'd like to move my mud slabs to under the water trough but I'm not quite sure which field I'l be in this winter.

The only thing I think I might need to sort is how to rake/collect the huge amount of acorns that will start falling next month. Our fields are lined with oaks and they are rammed full this year.

eta: headtorch!
 
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I moved back from 5 day livery to DIY a couple of months ago.
I have a feeling I'm going to suddenly remember the pain of a DIY winter!
I have a freelancer lined up to help with bring in while I'm at work (yet to do the meet & greet yet, but have a reminder set up to arrange one)
Must dig out my head torches
Need to buy a few more hay nets so I can pre-fill
I can't remember which rugs got washed & proofed last year so I probably should check that
No idea what the hay plan is. YO wasn't able to cut as much as usual but she's not said whether it's enough...and if it's not enough is she buying more in or is it down to us to sort our own supply?
 
I love it. In theory!

I know its hard woek and last winter was particularly difficult for me as my live out two (elsewhere) had a serious resctricted grazing order slapped on them which, although they seemed fairly happy with the situatuion was a killer for me!

My hay is sorted, that's my main thing really. Straw for bedding, again pretty much sorted. I took the last of my big rugs that needed cleaning to be done last week.
Horses at home are in part of the day all year round so stables are already in use. I think I'm pretty ok really, just bady bady need the fields to grow!
 
Rugs all washed and reproofed and put away.
Stables and mats washed, and back wall painted.
1 new 0 fill turnout rug ordered as old one has died
New field safe headcollar ordered as other one only works on shortest setting now and is really too small.

Need to wash the trailer

YO has stocked up on hay already.
 
I'm stocking up on shavings and wood pellets. Also going to try and buy some round bales of hay, wondering if I can get three in my space before the prices shoot up.

Going to put my hay cube outside in the paddock this winter and place something over the top like a rubber car mat or a carpet tile to keep water out as I put hay in it before I leave the yard at night as I can't get down before work as I start too early as a rule. Lari will learn to knock it off with his nose, he's very quick learning things like that and I taught him to nudge the top trug off the bottom one last year!
 
little_critter said:
I moved back from 5 day livery to DIY a couple of months ago.
I have a feeling I'm going to suddenly remember the pain of a DIY winter!
I have a freelancer lined up to help with bring in while I'm at work (yet to do the meet & greet yet, but have a reminder set up to arrange one)
Must dig out my head torches
Need to buy a few more hay nets so I can pre-fill
I can't remember which rugs got washed & proofed last year so I probably should check that
No idea what the hay plan is. YO wasn't able to cut as much as usual but she's not said whether it's enough...and if it's not enough is she buying more in or is it down to us to sort our own supply?
Click to expand...
Bumped into YO today. No, we don’t have enough hay but it sounds like she will be buying some in so we shouldn’t need to source our own.
 
My usual hay supplier recently advised me that they will only be able to provide hay up to Christmas so I have been frantically ringing around trying to source more hay as in winter I go through at least 1 large round bale per week - and I am not far off doing that amount at the moment as we have no grass in any of the fields. I 'think' (touchwood) that I have found some-one who could let me have 20 bales and I am hoping maybe a bit more as I reckon I will need about 25 to be safe. I don't know what the quality is like but they are dropping 2 off next week for me to try. I did have another person lined up but they have advised that they cannot now supply hay but I can have some haylage so I will take that too. I have a feeling it is going to be a very expensive winter....
 
Decided to clip and rug my anxious field-kept pony this year, thinking that a few months of all that rug malarky will help to make him more tolerant to flappy things. So my winter prepping involves digging out old but good rugs I last used about 10 years ago and (a) getting him used to getting them put on and then (b) seeing if they fit and (c) reproofing the ones that do fit or (d) buying more, followed by getting him used to being clipped! I managed a bib clip on him last year after several days of practise, and my plan is to do an early bib clip, then gradually take off a couple of inches both sides and eventually end up with a version of an Irish clip!
 
I need to wash and reproof rugs but that’s pretty much it as we got a hay delivery already! Which I am very grateful to have done now as I’m worried there is going to be a hay shortage!
 
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