This would be Vegas’ first real winter storm. A storm with LOTS of snow , high winds, cold temperatures (like -27 C with wind chill) and lasting for a few days.
I had put his blanket on when I heard the warnings and weather reports. I knew that he’s not ready for a good ole Canadian winter storm. I went to feed hay in the woods the night before in a futile attempt to try to keep my path open. They have to walk back to the front and through the field and the gate to get to the water. It’s a lot less windy in the woods so the hay doesn’t get blown away and it's a great wind break. They prefer the trees over the man made shelters any day.
I did roll out 2 round bales in the front field but it’s so windy there that they will not stand and eat for a storm…but rather seek shelter and honker down…and not eat…if given the choice.
Colics can happen because of this. It’s important to keep them eating during a storm. Keep stoaking the fire so to speak.
Sooo this morning at the beginning of the storm I saw them eating the round bales and then things got worse. The winds grew stronger and plenty of new snow, falling and blowing sideways instead of down. The horses left the round bales and went into the back woods to seak shelter from the storm. I decided to go out to bring hay to them and I pulled (on my toboggan) 4 bales into the back woods…whew what a chore with about a foot of snow on the path. My 11 yr old son helped me…I couldn’t have done it in one trip without him. We joked and rested often to let our heart rates relax.
Here Veggie is behind Daas and the horse you see from the side is 24 yrs old.
The horses are covered in their own snow blanket. They look cold to our human eyes covered in snow and icicles in the mane and tail that clink and rattle together when they walk but when you touch them they are warm and dry on the belly and underside of the neck. That’s where it counts. The belly houses all the internal organs. The skin on their backs (and the hair) have been conditioning themselves for this for many months.
Contrary to popular belief the snow and cold is relatively easy for healthy horses to handle.
The snow should not melt off the back but be insulating…better than a blanket. No one was cold.
Before dark I had to knock off the snow from the roof of my hay shed before the shed collapsed. That’s how much snow we had today…and it is going to snow and blow through another night. The horses heard me banging and shaking in the hay shed and came up to see what all the comotion was about and then they went for water.
I took more bales to the woods and used some ‘nummy’ hay (second cut grass). All the paths were already blown over. It was hard this time by myself, the hay kept falling off the toboggan but I made it. The horses were still looking the same…warm bellies and dry with faces full of icicles.
I took a few pictures but you can’t feel the cold or hear the wind or feel the snow stinging your face but it was. I was bundled up in my best winter clothes.
Alisha went home for the weekend. I wish she could have seen what the horses do in a severe winter storm like this. I’m thinking she may see another one during the winter here though.
It’s incredible how the snow really helps Veggie. I love having snow to help rehab feet. It’s soft and clean and hydrating but not over soaking like water would be. It’s a real bonus in the feet department but also in the body. Walking through the snow requires more balance with core muscles and articulation of the joints. His body is changing rather dramatically right now and his mind is engaged in the intense feelings that winter brings about. He is focused on the others and learns from them how to maneuver around in the snow, where and when to go to the woods, to the water … etc. Winter is proving to be good for Veggie.
