Winter starts here!

P

Pearlsacarolsinger

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We have been delighted to be able to leave our horses with access to the Summer grazing until halfway through November, this year (it was September last year, if I remember right) but last night we shut the gate. We were expecting and got, rain with the possibility of sleet and snow to follow. The gateway can get quite dangerous when the ground turns to quite deep mud, despite mud control mats. We are rethinking how they have been laid but anyway, want preserve the surface of the grazing for next summer.
So reluctantly, winter starts here. When I looked out of the window as I got up, the horses were standing in a patch of sunlight at the bottom of the winter field so at least it's not too bad yet.
 
Our boys are still on their track at night, just getting started on the winter grass during daylight hours. Much the latest we've started on the winter fields, thanks to plenty of rain on well-drained ground. Our largest field is on gravel and grows poor grass normally but this year the combination of light grazing to stop ergot forming/in firework week, plus enough rain, have really thickened up the base of the grass. It gets rested now and I'll look at it late winter to see if it can take another few weeks' grazing.
 
We had a horrendously wet September/ October here so the summer fields where I currently am on part-livery were an absolutely awful so we moved onto the winter regime at the beginning of November. I’m actually moving yards one reason is because of this. There was a steep slippery hill to go down to the fields which was treacherous.
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We haven’t had any rain for weeks we’ve been really lucky with calm sunny days for most of November. It’s been lovely, though my pony is on box rest so no riding or turnout to enjoy it! 🤷‍♀️
It’s just started to turn colder this past week so we will see what the coming week brings.
 
Friday we moved to winter routine of horses coming in at night. It’s unheard of for us to still have them out in November. The last few weeks had been awesome for this time of year but the summer fields would not stand up to the sleet we’ve had over the weekend. Ponies were very pleased to get into their stables.
 
We've got rain this evening, with a biting wind! Horses are slowly eating into the track in their field now. Supposed to have a 3rd arriving next week, so we shall see how the grass tastes and how the ground stands up to that! Both naked as they are very hairy, and both still preferring the hedge to the shelter 🙄 I have had my new 4G camera installed now, and am having a great time spying on them thought the day to see what they get up to!
 
Ours have been on winter routine for a month or so now, when that biblical rain happened - but albeit we have sandy, well draining fields, we do have 10 on 10 acres so it has to be managed. Our fields look great and this weather has been lovely too, the woods and trees look gorgeous! Trying to make the most of it before the rain/ice cuts off a fair amount of hacking as we have chalky slopes to navigate.

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The forecast changed from being -2 overnight here tonight to being -10 overnight tonight in the past 24 hours! Luckily I noticed and have spent the last hour draining things that need drained and filling water containers for storage inside because there's no way my tap will be flowing for at least a week going by the forecast 🤦🏻 On the bright side the ground is still dry enough for them to be in the field they can only normally use mid-summer!
 
Yep same here, mine have come in tonight as it's been wet/horrible all day and due to freeze tonight.
We've had such a lovely mild, dry autumn and they've stayed out 24/7 till now bar one night.
If we go from what we've had to a dry, cold, crisp winter I'll be delighted! What a difference to this time last year 😊
 
Mine are in tonight because it’s been raining here this afternoon for the first time in weeks and the ground is slippery on top. I have one on small paddock rest and he’s been doing well but thought he’d be safer in tonight. I’m hoping to not bring them in at night quite yet (although it was the beginning of December last year). Still hoping to just bring them in as and when with the weather but we will see. If I could make it to January before bringing in at night I’d be happy as it makes the winter so much shorter!

So far this winter has been much better than last year and we’ve been really lucky as looks like further south it’s been quite wet but barely anything here.

We’ve got heavy snow forecast here tomorrow night though so I might not be saying the same in a couple of days time!
 
First night in for mine tonight. I've just popped back to check on them and small cob, who is on a diet, had already eaten all of her hay and straw net and the emergency bucket of straw chaff and was frenzied when she realised I wasn't there to give her breakfast.

I had to give another small hay net. I'm going to have to rethink the diet plan, she can't be without food from 8pm til 6am!

The other 2 aren't keen on being in but are happy eating.

It's only supposed to just dip into minus figures here and stay dry so shouldn't be too bad.
 
This time last year our mud control mats were caked with mud and the mud to the edge of them was deep and gloopy.

These photos from Saturday (with Lari leading in the herd) show how amazingly dry it is compared with last years weather. I am dreading the wet rainy weather coming but feel very grateful it's been such a long time coming this 🍂 🥮
 

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We’ve accelerated clearing up the cuttings from the roadside hedge which OH has just trimmed. It had been fenced off it while the work was in progress. There’s a cosy corner that’s sheltered from northerly winds by a long stretch of holly, and they often stand there.

They can always shelter somewhere as they have two field shelters which they also make full use of, but glad to have this spot back in use just in time.

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AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
Ours have been on winter routine for a month or so now, when that biblical rain happened - but albeit we have sandy, well draining fields, we do have 10 on 10 acres so it has to be managed. Our fields look great and this weather has been lovely too, the woods and trees look gorgeous! Trying to make the most of it before the rain/ice cuts off a fair amount of hacking as we have chalky slopes to navigate.

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Beautiful photos!
 
It's been very dry here in Herts with no mud but it's raining now and it's forecast to rain all night. I dug out thicker rugs and my thermals at the weekend ready for the cold spell this week. :(

We're in our usual autumn fields at the moment (day time grazing only) and I expect we will move to the winter fields a week or so before xmas as usual. The winter fields have plenty of grass due to the warm autumn.
 
Gee whizz it's baltic up here now. -4c last night I think at highs of 2.5c today. Youngster is becoming brat as no grass to eat in the field as everything is white with frost so wants to play/annoy everyone else. Older laminitic boy thinks he's being forced to go on some kind of starvation as grass is too frosty but needs to get out and move!
 
I can’t believe how cold it’s got so quick!

Snow forecast here tonight and most of the week. My little fell looks like a Pom Pom 🤣 she’s really fluffed up, so upped her forage and she’s in over night (livery yard rules) and our big summer field will close at the weekend. It’s going to be a long cold winter! But I’d rather it be cold than wet 🤷🏻‍♀️
 
It’s forecast heavy snow all night here - I’m in the midlands and it’s saying we are meant to get the worst of it but we will see… horses are all tucked up in bed with super huge haynets so I don’t have to go back out later once it’s started. I was going to reclip my mare yesterday but couldn’t bare to do it just before this cold snap even though I’ve got plenty of rugs so left her hairy like the others 🤣 🤣 doubt I will be riding much this week looking at the forecast anyway…
 
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