snowed in

[Norah]

Hi , we have had over 2 meters of snow over the past 2 weeks ....record snowfall

The poor horses can only look at the large pasture from a small balcony attached to the stall ....yesterday I finally dug out a "round about" for the ponys to stretch their legs .... anyone have ideas for keeping ponys from going stir crazy in the snowy winter months ?

 

[Riverrose28]

OH my that's a lot of snow! We just had our first snow of the year yesterday, just a dusting, but last year we had alot, but nothing like what you have. Hubby took the tractor out and made them a little area to go out in.

 

[Jill]

WOW, that is a lot of snow!!! We had a big snowfall 2yrs ago, maybe close to as much as you have, and it was one for the record books, too. We got snow yesterday, but only really a dusting. I was hoping for more (I'm probably crazy!).

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Did you dig that by hand?? Homeric!

At least the snowbanks act as insulation from the wind.

What do you do for slipping?

 

[Norah]

yes I dug this by hand

. I used my poop rake ( plastic one I might add) The plastic rake is lighter then the shovel so its easier on the back ... I think next year i will buy my own snow chopper ...as hubby wont let me use his

For the slipping I use my dirty stall shavings - the poop , and add salt . The horses know when they are in a bad situation and seem to take it easy. I feed hay outside and separate the 2 mares for feeding pelleted feed inside the stall , worst part is that one of them is a new modern mare , and i cant see her trot until March when the snow finally melts .... its like waiting endlessly for Christmas . But the view sure is nice from our windows

 

[Reignmaker Miniatures]

That IS a lot of snow

When our snow gets deep (usually we have 3 feet more or less by now... this year maybe 8 " since it keeps thawing and raining) I just feed extra hay so they can occupy themselves and they are happy to wait out the winter. We also dig them some pathways (I like criss cross paths so they can play 'duck duck goose' lol ), but not by hand. I'm too lazy for that

We have a skidsteer loader that makes nice areas for them to explore.

 

[Eagle]

wow!!! now that is what I call dedication

shovelling all that by hand

I would give your hubby a kick up the butt and take his snow chopper, lol but I am evil

What a wonderful job you did, I am sure the horses are very grateful

Mine usually get snowed in for at least 3 months and they are fine about it. Strangely this year it hasn't snowed yet

I just scatter their hay all over and leave them out for a few hours in the morning and then again in the afternoon. The only problem is the snow balls in their feet, the only thing that really works is duck tape across the bottom of their feet.

 

[chandab]

While not quite that bad, here was one of my smaller pens two years ago:



You can see the fence line along the left behind the shelter, that's a 52" mesh panel fence. Much of the snow was even worse.

And, here's inside his shelter:



I've since rearranged the wall in front, and it no longer fills with snow, just a light dusting, sometimes.

My half-Arab gelding had to be moved out of his pen, as there was no place for him to go, so we moved him I think down to the calving barn til calving time by then the worst of winter was over so we used the tractor to clean his pen.



I didn't get pictures of it, but this pen was even deeper last winter, but with no place to move the two minis now living in the paddock, we took the snowblower to it. [i lost my half-Arab boy summer 2010.]

 

[mini horse mania]

Wow...and I was just thinking how much I hate 40 degree weather....I feel so sorry for you....and your mini sickles..lol...I could have NEVER dug that by hand...looks like you have a snow fence.....

 

[Tab]

I'm almost afraid to say it but our Winter has been fairly mild (so far), knock on wood. We usually get hit after hit of Lake-effect snow. There is still time! That is a VERY impressive picture, and if you don't look close the horses look big. Even without them being biggies, it is still an impressive load of snow. Don't get buried. Great pic!

 

[lucky lodge]

Omg that is a sh#t load of snow ..am i glad i live in australia

 

[~Dan]

Great pictures!! Very pretty landscape.

Tab, I too have noticed that we have a lack of snow!! I live about an hour away from the Pennsylvania border and 15 minutes from Lake Erie, we usually always have tons of snow! We have however, this year, only had one day of measurable snow fall

Crazy!!

Dan.

 

[rimmerpaints]

WOW!!! SO glad that isnt my house sorry I hate snow and cold!

 

[Tab]

Great pictures!! Very pretty landscape.

Tab, I too have noticed that we have a lack of snow!! I live about an hour away from the Pennsylvania border and 15 minutes from Lake Erie, we usually always have tons of snow! We have however, this year, only had one day of measurable snow fall

Crazy!!

Dan.

Hi Dan, You are probably only about 2 hours away from us. The lack of snow in our area is highly unusual for this time of year. Some love it and some hate it. I'm loving it! Makes chores loads easier

 

[Bess Kelly]

I believe snow is only good on a postcard pic!

Thus, I live where we generally get very little. I hate to even say much more as it's only mid Jan and there is still time/a chance that we will get hit. In fact, some of the worst snow storms in our area have been the first few days of March. Freak storms. OK, let me say that 24" is a HUGE storm for us. I'm in VA, 50 miles inland from VA Beach, and about 10 miles from NC border. Last night I had to plug in my heated tubs as it was to be only 18 this AM.....tomorrow we are slated for approx 60 degrees

I am sooooo enjoying this milder winter !!

It is the 4th day I have had to plug in -- yes, so few I have easily counted them -- and would love this to continue.

So sorry for those of you who have this much white but, better you than me.

 

[Katiean]

We just had our first snow or any moisture since the first part of November. We got about 1 1/2 inches of snow and that translated to .08" moisture. We have been having to water grass and plants to keep them from dying. Anyway, we had about 7 feet of snow over 2 days a few years ago and I would go out and "stomp" down the snow. I had to clear off the back deck so I could get out the door. But, once out there I did start with some shoveling. But, I just put on my muck boots and some good socks and stomped down big areas of snow. The still went up hill to get out of the stalls. But, they could get out and move around. I too used the soiled bedding to keep them from slipping. Good Luck!! I feel your pain;-)

 

[bevann]

Here is DELAWARE our weather this year is rather warm.I'm loving it.A few days of 30s&40s but lots of upper 50s&low 60s.We have had only a small amount of snow 1 or 2 inches&it didn't last long.I'm not complaining.I don't care it I ever see snow again except on TV or a postcard.Feb of 2010 we had 36 inches on Sat&another 24 inches the following Wednesday.Couldn't even get out of the house due to drifts at the doors.We are very flat here&the snow blows really bad.Just getting to the barn was a major all day task.Had to hire Hispanic help to shovel for 8 hrs daily for almost a week to keep almost flat sheds from collapsing.electricity was off for almost 24 hrs &the gas logs I used for the first time sooted up the whole house.What a nightmare.No snow EVER for me again I hope.

 

[Marty]

I would die die die if I ever woke up to that! Actually being raised in Connecticut we had plenty of snow like that but I thought it was fun and it never fazed me at the time. But now I would die die die.

I give you all such credit for getting out there and shoveling the paths for the horses. As far as going stir crazy, I don't really know what you can do in that situation. When mine are stuck inside due to weather, I do power groomings which they love and look for toys I can throw in to the ones that would play such as a ball or milk jug. Lately I've been doing a tiny bit of trick training in the middle of the hallway.

You guys ever think of moving to Florida?