Some people look forward to the first Big Snow, but most of them grew up somewhere warmer or ride snowmobiles. Ours arrived over the past 24 hours and did not stop until it climbed up walls, buried my car and kept the horses captive in the barn.
Horses love habit. When I finally dug our car out and crawled to the barn slowly, aware that both the Governor and the Mayor had declared a Snow Emergency, a row of noses whickered me down the aisle to Archie. The snow and wind had slowed enough to encourage me to dig a path to a nearby paddock into which I dumped a flake of hay. Archie spent a couple of hours there eating the hay but when I went to get him the only hoof track was in the gate and at the hay. Two feet of snow is intimidating to a five foot plus person like me, but is apparently also off-putting to a tall horse. When I went to get him, I could just see Archie's ears facing the barn over the snowdrifts. "Bring me in" came over loud and clear. So I did. Once we got there, Archie thought he should walk out the backdoor to his 'real' paddock, which was a no go due to three feet of drifting snow.
Here's what humans are supposed to do when horses in their charge are stuck inside:
1. Don't make them be stuck inside. Turnout blankets are made for all-weather warmth and comfort. A heated water bucket, flakes of tasty hay and some company are well worth braving a few hours of blowing snow.
2. If outside is not a choice (in this case there was no way to walk to the paddocks without sinking in drifts), provide lots of hay and water and if access to indoor arena, a good ride or lunge. If no indoor arena, a hand walk or a snowy canter through soft powder for a change of scenery is mandatory. The world in monochrome can be weird to an equine so be prepared for a shy. Bundle up.
3. Think about studded snow tires on your horse's feet. Borium-nailed winter shoes protect on ice and make winter rides slide-free. Put a layer of fuzzy boots on all four legs to protect them from strike. Put steel toes on your fuzzy-lined two feet, same reason.
4. Play music. No honestly. Just imagine being stuck in a stall all day with a bunch of stuck in the stall all day horses. We all know people who leave the radio on for their dogs--who says horses don't love salsa?
5. Provide clean bedding and lots of it. There is nothing more annoying to a horse than to be incarcerated for hours in its own poop. Plus it's totally comforting to make a nice bed for the nice horse.
6. Warm is good. Soak those hay cubes in warm water, make a mash out of the grain that you've cut down on, cut in apples and carrots or a splash of fruit juice; provide a warm drink in the water bucket.
7. Breathe. Winter is awful for about six weeks. Pretty soon it's the February thaw and spring is coming.
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