Winter is Coming
I sit on my front porch, coffee at my elbow, on a Sunday afternoon. It’s high fall here in Southern Virginia. The trees are glowing with sun-washed color and the sky is a blue I have not seen through the heat of a summer day. A warm front has come up and the air is mild. Indian Summer. I can’t imagine in only few weeks, or less, Winter will be ringing the doorbell. Now is the time to be planning our horse and barn chores. Here are three areas to be thinking about now.
Hay
We had a late summer dry spell and I have been supplementing hay to the horsey trio for several weeks now, so I have bales in the barn. But, I know it’s only a hay stem in the hay bin so to speak. I checked with my supplier, “You set for hay this year?” He said yes, he believes so but don’t pass on any other hay. Hmmm. Although a bit ominous, it’s good advice. The last thing any horse owner wants is to hit January and can’t find hay. Check with your local co-op or feed store for sources or ask other horse owners. Social media can be a good resource, too. I am hooked up to several Facebook groups and have seen some posts of hay for sale. (If the reader is a supplier, feel free to post your contact info in the comments) Each year, I keep track in a notebook how much hay I am feeding. This is an immense help when planning through the season.
Be sure your hay storage area is ready too. Address any issues with the storage area. Was there a leak last year? Any rain or snow blow in? Rake out any old hay and hay dust laying about. This collect moisture which leads to mold and rot. It’s also prime nesting for mice and bugs. If you use pallets, like I do, toss, (or re-purpose) any that are broken.
Water
Never forget water is just as important in the winter as it is in summer. The heat that drives a horse’s thirst is replaced by the dry hay. An average horse of 1200 pounds needs 7 to 10 gallons of water a day. I don’t know what I would do without a water tank heater. The handful of power losses I’ve experienced and had to chop inch thick ice from tanks was enough to convince me a tank heater is essential in a winter barn. I keep two so I always have a back-up and replace one every few years. Early every winter, I’d be mildly surprised to see how much water the horses drank, especially once the tank heater was in place. I imagined they enjoyed the warm water as much as we like our hot coffee or tea. In fact, a study at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1990’s showed that in cold temps, a horse would drink 40% more water when it was warmed. Be sure to drain your hoses after each use otherwise you are dragging stiff, frozen hoses into your bathtub to thaw. Skip the cheap hoses, too. They crack in the cold like peanut brittle.
Blankets
Before the cold and wet really hits, get those blankets out and check them over. Stitch up any small tears and check the straps to be sure they are sound. Most horse product suppliers will have early winter blanket sales, but I find the best deals are in late spring. So, if your blanket can make it through one more season, do it and start the piggy bank for a new one. Blanketing is a diverse topic. At one time I never blanketed. After all, I reasoned, horses managed quite well for thousands of years without us humans, strapping thick, cushy blankets on them. But, as our mare, Cora aged, I began to blanket to be sure she remained comfortable. She came out of the winters at a better weight and I realized the advantage of the blanketing better. So, now I consider myself a judicial blanketer. I wait until well into the colder weather to allow their coats to grow. It’s usually at the first cold, wet rain or snow that the blankets go on, and then during mild spells, I pull them for a day or so. Of course, if you have a clipped horse, blanketing is a completely different need and you are committed for the winter.
A few things for ourselves are important to get ready. Have a good flashlight on hand. My fulltime job means I am feeding in the dark. I even have one of those nifty headlamps. Be sure you have a good pair of gloves on hand. Two pairs are better because there is a good chance one will be drying by the woodstove at some point. Hats too. You never have enough hats. Dry boots will be your best friend. I splurged on a pair of Dublin Tall River Boots about five years ago. They were well worth the price and are only beginning to show some superficial cracking along the toes. My feet are warm and dry.
We all have different needs, horses and barns so everyone’s to-do list will be unique. Some time and planning now may mean watching those first magical snowflakes silently drifting past your barn door with quiet satisfaction and joy, not panic.
