This is what we woke up to this morning. How awesome is that? Kathleen has been here since the 24th and she goes back to SoCal tomorrow. I wanted so much for her to experience the joy of waking up and seeing her new home covered with snow. And here it is. God is so good :) Y’all enjoy!
It was 24 degrees when these pictures were taken. It’s going to 12 degrees tonight. Oh how hard is it to say: plenty of hay and they’ll be okay. I know, I know. You guys in the upper climes are giggling. Just remember our latitude. And Jimmy Buffet’s line: Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes…
Once again… have a great year… alla y’all!
Joe
Hi Joe and Kathleen, and Happy New Year! I’m always so delighted when I check in and find a new post. The horses look so happy in their new place. Isn’t it wonderful how snow makes everything look so pure and fresh? We left NW Nebraska about 15 months ago, but I remember how my horses always seemed just fine with the snow and the sub-zero cold, and that they almost never went into the barn–which was optional for them. (Our Siberian Huskies were positively in Heaven when it snowed!)
Anyway, I wanted to pass along an idea that might help out a few horse owners who aren’t fortunate enough to have their own pond. We used a couple of metal stock tanks to water our horses, and with the NW Nebraska temperatures, you can be sure there would be frequent freezes–nearly every night during winter. A lot of people in those parts run heaters in their stock tanks, but that gets really expensive. What we did was use a submersible pump (such as you’d put in a small plastic pond or fountain) in the tank. It kept the water moving all the time, so it never froze on top, and it used a tiny fraction of the electricity a heater uses to accomplish the same thing. They are also fairly inexpensive to purchase. (I don’t remember the specs, but ours was a pretty small pump that cost about $60-80, I think.)
Hee Hee, I am always amazed at how much fun my three horse have in the snow. I swear they like the deep parts the best. I just this minute looked out my kitchen window to see if they were at the run-in or out farther. I still have to remind myself that they are okay despite the cold and snow (Upstate NY near lake Ontario). Wish I could share my own photos – not sure how or if I can here ???
Blessings to you and yours this new year. I am asking the Lord for a better year than 2009. Lost my Dad in Oct. & my neighbor’s barn burned to the ground Dec. 29th with three of their 8 horses stalled inside, the best barn kitty ever, all their hay (75 round bales), all their tack, farm equipment, and memories. They will never stall a horse again. It has been too sad these last few months.
But I trust God has a plan :o)
Looks oh so cold to me but beautiful and your horses seem to be playing like kids in the snow. Thanks again for sharing.
Joe & Kathleen,
Great pictures – the horses look wonderful. It appears Noel has
fit into the herd, right?
Its been between 10 & 20 (above zero) real windy & flurrying here
in NY. THIS is winter!
When I walk my dog around the field am & pm – I probably appear
like a large lump – I’m so bundled up. However, Cougar (dog) loves it.
Happy New Years
Maggie Frazier
I just had to add my own Minnesota 2 cents, too! I do not blanket my mare, but when I returned from 2 weeks in Florida, my mare had been blanketed by the barn owner where I board her — with 2 blankets — and was shivering. So, I removed both blankets (despite the -17 temps) and when I returned in the morning, my mare was fluffy, much happier and wasn’t shivering a bit (the temps were -9 at that point).
I read Soul of a Horse while on vacation and loved it. I’m passing it on to my husband who is not (yet) familiar with horses. We are currently building a new home and barn on 35 acres in Colorado and I can’t wait to have horses “in my backyard.” Thanks for the tip on the Calvary Stop, too — ! Looking forward to incorporating that into my riding repertoire very soon… :)
WOW! Snow : shock: I’ve never seen snow!! well only when I open the freezer …. lol Don’t your horses feel the cold? Breaking the ice looks like fun Joe…NOT.. It’s the middle of summer here. Being sub tropical we have the wet season with temp around 30 celcius. Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos of your beautiful horses playing in the snow. All we get here is a HOT Christmas and new year, it’s all I’ve ever known. Love your new place.
I hope you , Kathleen and all your furries a wonderful new year..
The pictures were beautiful and thank you for sharing. Joe, what were you doing at the pond?
You were right in that I giggled when you spoke of the temperatures you are experiencing. I woke up to -25 this morning with a wind chill of almost -40. But I did the same as you did, fed more hay, a warm mash to keep the horses systems operating and was in awe at how the cold did not seem to bother the horses near as much as it was me.
I am glad Kathleen was there to enjoy the beauty of a new snow fall.
Happy New Years to you all!