Excitement in the Snow

Riding in Deep Snow

We had yet another snow storm and I was out snow blowing the driveway when Cierra and Pam came to do the afternoon chores. I was just finishing up so went out to help them, with a plan in mind ..... I asked Cierra if she wanted to try taking a trail ride. I didn't know how it would be with the snow being so deep. But, Cierra is always up for a challenge so with Pam's help, we quickly did most of the chores and while we were saddling up, Pam shoveled out the gate to the pasture so we could get to the trails. It was very cold today and windy. But, I happened to have the day off, and though the snow is deep, it's very powdery so we just had to go for it. Marie and I led off across the field but once into the woods, Tinkerbell took the lead and plowed bravely though the deep snow. Because it is so powdery, it really was not bad. It was deep enough in many places that we our feet were dragging in the snow. The horses really didn't seem to mind being out and it was so beautiful in the woods. It was getting close to sunset and the sky was such a pretty pick though the trees. I wish I'd gotten a picture that showed it. When we got back, I dared Cierra to stand up on her horse and jump into the snow. And she did!! Snow jumping Though we didn't ride far today, we had so much fun and we for sure have two of the best mares ever to put up with us. 

Crazy Paint Mare

Just days after the blizzard we were hit with yet another significant snow storm with high winds. I shut the barn up once again for the night. The snow is really deep now and I knew it would be yet another day of clearing snow. While I was working in the barn this morning, India, the cat was following me around and finding cozy place near me to snooze. I'd brought my camera out as I knew the horses would likely act silly when let out of their stalls. It was uneventful with most of them but thankfully, Tinkerbell didn't disappoint me and gave me quite a show.

Fanny, not so impressed with the deep snow. 

Marie, with no opinion I could tell of about the snow

Thistle helping me with the savings

The Blizzard

Oh my but did we ever get hammered with a doozy of a blizzard. I rarely ever shut horses in their stalls. But I knew I was going to with this storm. With the high winds, if the stall doors were left open, I'd be shoveling snow out of the  barn for days. But, it wasn't as easy a plan as I thought it would be. Fanny and Coal share a stall normally. It has a door on each side so no one can get trapped in if the other get's a hair across their butt about something. Horses being horses and all. I can close a divider in the stall to separate it but in an effort to give them the most room I figured I'd just put Fanny in the spare stall. HA! NOT! She was having no part of that and pitched a complete fit when I put her in there. Ok, on to plan B. I switched her and Coal. Nope, Fanny was having no part of that either as she could not really see Coal well in the spare stall. Coal was ok at first but after Fanny fussed long enough, he started to get worried. Ok, plan C...... I put Tinkerbell in the spare stall and Coal in Tinkerbell's stall. Tinkerbell was perfectly happy in the spare stall. Coal was happy in Tinkerbell's stall. Fanny was still not thrilled but now that Coal was right next to her in full view at all times, she decided she could deal with it. She did, however, keep herself glued right to the wall between them. Marie had to stay where she was as she lives with Thistle the goat and I'm not sure any of the other horses would be ok in a stall with her.

When I got up Monday morning, the storm was in full swing. I headed out and the snow was not too deep, the wind was bad and it was snowing hard. I had no trouble getting out to the barn. All was well with the horses, goat, cat and the one lone guinea hen that had come down, or been blown out of the tree they perch in at night. I cleaned the barn putting each horse on the cross ties as I cleaned their stalls and was able to get out to the manure pile to empty the muck buckets. I am so thankful to have water in my barn after so many years of lugging it from the house. I went back to the house when I was done thinking the storm was not such a big deal. I went back out again around 3:00 pm. My feelings about the storm changed real quick. It was not letting up at all and now the snow was getting deep. Very deep where it was drifting. I waded out through the snow and managed to get to the barn. Again, the animals were fine and I cleaned stalls again. I did not even attempt to get to the manure pile and just left the filled buckets by the back door. I went out one last time at close to midnight. The snow and wind were finally letting up the the snow drifts were so deep it was quite a chore wading through them. I had to stop to catch my breath at the gate. I cleaned stalls yet again but needed to dump the manure. I knew the wind had blown the ground clear around the back door had no problem opening that up. And the ground was nearly bare for about 10' out from the barn. Then were was a big drift and deep snow to the gate by the manure pile. I decided to shovel a path and also decided I'd put Tinkerbell and Marie in the paddock to stretch their legs while I shoveled the path. They have not been turned out together before but I'd be right there to keep an eye on them. They were very happy to be out and Tinkerbell plowed through the snow jumping and bucking like a crazy thing. Marie ran too. They were fine together. Tink pushed Marie around a little but no fighting at all. I let Coal back in with Fanny. Coal waded right outside into the deep snow. Fanny didn't want to go out but couldn't stand to let Coal out of her sight so finally waded in after him. I got the path shoveled and the manure dumped and decided to shovel out Tink's door as it only had a partial drift against it. Then I decided I'd better dig out Coal and Fanny's 2nd door too. That had a big drift in front of it and took a while to get open. Well, if they were all going to be let out I had to shovel out Marie's door too. I was a lot of work but I was able to go to bed and sleep better knowing they were not locked in stalls for a 2nd night. It's just a thing with me. I hate keeping horses in stalls. My flashlight battery died when I was using it to see to shovel out Marie's door. So, I had no light going back to the house and walked into a waist deep snow drift. Literally, waist deep. I though I was going to have to call Fred to come rescue me! Tuesday was spent clearing snow. All we have at the moment is a walk behind snow blower. The snow drifts were in many places much taller than the snow blower so it was slow going but many hours later, we were cleaned up and back to normal.... for the most part anyway.

Frozen boots and a Snow Filled Ride

Cierra invited her friend Joey to ride with her a week ago. I poured rain that day and was postponed to this weekend. The weather was once again kind of iffy. But, snow instead of rain. Cierra and Joey decided to give it a try anyway. We didn't know how the footing would be on the trails but I knew Cierra would come right back if the horses showed any signs of having any trouble. Joey has never really ridden before. Just one other time here he got on Tinkerbell in the paddock. So, Marie was chosen for his first trail ride. I was busy chopping ice in the paddock near the doors to clear them out and mostly left Cierra to get the horses ready. The hoof boots Cierra uses on Tinkerbell had been left in my trailer after our last ride with Linda Temple and were quite frozen. Cierra and Joey had to really work to get them on Tinkerbell but they managed. Marie had winter shoes on so was all set. Then we realized that we didn't have any riding helmets that would fit Joey. After some thought, I realized that one of Fred's motorcycle helmets might work. And it did! So I told Joey he was now good for up to 80 mph. 

Cierra got Joey mounted up and stirrups adjusted, hopped on Tinkerbell and they were off. I stayed out working away at the ice for quite a while. One of the horses I'm boarding for the winter was VERY upset about Marie leaving. Coal has quite fallen in love with Marie. I was just heading back to the house when I hear Cierra and Joey coming back on the trail so I waited by the barn and snapped a last picture of them coming out of the woods. They were smiling so I was pretty sure they'd had a good time. I was too cold to g back to the barn and I knew they would take good care of Marie so I headed in to the house to warm up. I was so glad they were able to get out and ride. Below are a few picture I took of the other horses today.