I was so proud of myself. I would go out several times a day and chop the edges of the pond so the horses would have no problem getting water. I would often watch them when they came to the pond and if a thin coating of ice had formed one tap with a hoof would produce water and they would drink. As the number of days below freezing began to build into the double digits I would go out even more often to be sure the edges had water, or at worst the ice was very thin, paying little attention to what was going on with the ice beyond the edges. It was getting thicker and thicker. And then one afternoon I left to run a couple of errands, returning about two hours later to see the ice on the pond completely trashed, like the photo above – except all that smooth ice in the photo was water. And the chunks were floating. This photo was taken 24 hours later.
I panicked.
I jumped in the Gator and raced off for the barn. Five of the six horses were standing just out front. Cash was unusually close to Mariah, sort of rubbing on her butt. Sure enough as I hit the brakes I could see a coating of ice on Mariah’s back and she was shivering uncontrollably. The temperature was in the mid 20s. And it was windy. I ran up and looked into her eyes. Not happy, but seemingly lucid. I scraped the ice off her back trying to act softly, calmly, but I was freaking out inside, and couldn’t decide what to do first. I reached for the cell phone, then remembered it wouldn’t work. The cell is good for nothing but text at the house. Too far out in the sticks and buried up in a hollow surrounded by hills. Beautiful but really inconvenient at a time like this. It seems that not a day goes by that we aren’t slapped in the face by something we’ve never dealt with before. That can be fun to figure out when life and death aren’t involved. This was not fun. Then I noticed there was blood on her back left leg around the ankle. I looked closer, and she pulled it away. It didn’t seem too serious but I wanted experienced hands on it. I blew in her nose, pushed Cash closer to her and raced back to the house as fast as the Gator would carry me to call the vet. He wasn’t in. I spoke with Casey, his vet tech. She told me to get as many blankets as I could carry, get her out of the wind and get the blankets on her. Then see if you can examine her ankle. Meanwhile she would find the doctor and text me the result of her phone conversation. She knows my cell phone’s limitations.
Kathleen and the twins are still in California until the twins graduate from high school. That’s where most of our blankets are. There’s only a limited supply in Tennessee. I found an unused furniture pad from the move. It wasn’t the old quilted kind. It was a thick composite of fibers, sort of like press board, except fabric. It turned out to be a magic. I found two smaller lap blankets and couldn’t find anything else so I snatched a comforter off of Allegra’s bed, tossed them all into the Gator and raced back to the barn. I put a halter on Mariah and led her into the shed on the side of the barn. It’s roofed and half of it is totally shielded from the wind. When I came at her with the furniture pad she wheeled and backed away. At least she’s moving well, I thought. I balled it up as small as I could make it and let her sniff it, then began rubbing her face with the ball, then her neck, her back, slowly unfolding it until she was wearing it. Next came the two lap blankets, and finally the big heavy comforter. My hands pushed and pressed and rubbed and rubbed. Hard. Trying to soak up the water. She was offered her favorite Bermuda but she wouldn’t eat. I kept thinking about the the pond. It looked like a bomb had exploded in it. I couldn’t imagine what Mariah had been through. Well… yes I could, but I kept trying to shake it off. She must have been petrified.
Casey’s text came in. Dr West wants to know if you’ve been able to examine the foot. I tried again and she pulled it away. It’s obviously sore but she’s moving on it well because she won’t let me close and I don’t want to stress her by tying her or chasing the foot around right now. Can Dr. West come out?
Yes. Tonight. But he has to finish where he is.
Any idea as to time.
No.
I couldn’t leave because there was no way to safely secure the blankets. So I kept rubbing, and talking to her. Slowly, seemingly ever so slowly, the shivering began to ease, and had stopped entirely by the time Dr. Bobby arrived. I told him what a wreck the pond was, guessing that, for whatever reason, she had stepped out onto the thicker ice, slipped and slid toward the middle of the pond trying to keep her balance, then fell and the impact of the fall probably broke the ice. Then she flailed her way back to the edge, breaking ice as she came.
He checked her leg while I rubbed her face. It was just a superficial scrape. Nothing internal. Nothing bad. He listened to all her body parts and examined her thoroughly. She just might be the luckiest horse in Tennessee, he said. At one point he raised the blankets around her butt to show me the clouds of steam coming out. Her heating engine is working well, he smiled.
I thanked God for a strong, healthy horse.
You’ll need some real horse blankets for the night. Ones that will stay on.
I don’t have any.
He called Casey. She would lend me two. I should sandwich a couple of the ones she had on between the real ones. They shouldn’t come off until she was totally dry and the sun was out, which was, in fact, supposed to shine the next day before the snow started that night. When I re-organized the blankets I noticed that the furniture pad, which was next to her body, was very wet on the bottom, but not wet on the top, and the lap blankets above it were soaked. That’s why I called it magic. It was wicking the water away from her body and into the blankets above. After putting on the first real horse blanket, which seemed to take hours because I had never strapped one on before, I inverted the furniture pad next, dry side down, then added the second big thick horse blanket. The furniture pad is from UHaul and is very inexpensive, just in case you want to have one handy.
I thanked God for her warmth. For Dr. Bobby. For Casey, and her blankets. And for the fact that the pond was only five feet deep in the middle. I had considered digging it deeper.
Now the entire pasture with the pond is off limits. All gates closed. Their water source is a “freeze-proof” spigot in the barn into a tub with a heating element in it with the wire running through PVC because Mouse would try to eat the wire.
Mouse and the new tub. Note the snow on her back.
For someone with no contractor skills whatsoever this tiny task was like building a house :) But it all worked great until about the 14th day of below freezing temps. I think the low was 12 degrees the day the “freeze-proof” spigot froze. Since then I’ve been filling three tubs of water three to four times a day in the kitchen and hauling them down to the barn. The last one usually around 10:30 pm. It’s 17 degrees as I write this and 10:12 pm and here I go again to the barn.
But Mariah is fine. She got to be naked once again around 1 pm the next day and rejoin the herd. The photo below is the day after that. In the snow.
Now here’s the stinky part of all this. A mere hours before this all happened, Debbie Madras, a subscriber to our blog, had sent an email after seeing me with a hoe breaking up the pond edge in an earlier blog. She said: Do NOT let your horses get out on the ice and fall through. And I had politely said to myself: No. I wouldn’t. Of course. I have it all covered. We’re good.
My dad used to tell me that teaching and preaching notwithstanding, some of the best lessons in life come from the experience of being there and dealing with it. He was right of course. We certainly learned a lesson on this one. No horse of ours will ever fall through the ice on a pond again. What my dad didn’t tell me is how serious the mistake could be of not making the forced effort to think it through in the first place, and planning for the worst. And it will be a long time before I forget what might have happened if I had gone in the back door as I usually do and had not seen the pond.
The photos below have nothing to do with this story but in their own way they’re a part of it.
Josie, Benji’s Australian Shepherd sister, plays in the snow
The third day of snow. Study will reveal the herd on the hill
behind the trees. Mariah is the most recognizable.
OMG! Your life with your horses in never dull Joe. Praise the Lord you went in the front door – funny how our God works sometimes. About heat tape – I have a friend who’s barn burned to the ground a few weeks ago – three of her horses were lost (they were the ones stalled for the night). They think it might have been the heat tape she had around her well pump…although they never determined for sure the cause. So just be careful!
Also, my husband has wanted to build a pond – “a 13′ deep one!!” – his eyes gleam with thoughts of running a backhoe. He thinks the horse would like it. I have actually thought about them falling in and not being able to get out (during the winter months). After your story – 5′ is good enough for me!! He will just have to dig 3 of them. :o)
The submersible pump and fountain are great ideas!! Hmmmm…
Full moon and clear (FREEZING in Upstate NY) tonight – but so cool to look out and see my guys. Two of them are white – they almost glow! Simply gorgeous….
Blessings,
Jane (the “what’s in this food!!??” lady :o)
Joe – I just finished reading your book “Soul of a Horse”. I read it in 2 evenings….couldn’t put it down. I hope to someday share that special bond with a horse. Looking forward to more! Thank you!
Just read your book and it made so much sense to me. I am newly into the horse world, with a wonderful farrier who believes in barefoot horses. Herd consists of a somewhat naughty donkey, an old rescued Arab/Appy cross and a recently acquired TB who had tendon injuries when he came to me. First thing we did was get shoes off and start trimming and it’s working. Fed them their hay in little piles all over the place today, and they were thrilled!
After I dropped the piles I just with my back to everyone, and one by one they came up behind him and nuzzled my hand, which was behind my back. Nothing better in this world!
Hard to move from endless sunshine (except for fire season and winter when it rains) to snow, ice and winter. I’m glad your girl made it out of the pond and wasn’t injured.
Hi Joe, I read your book(The Soul of a Horse) 2 weeks ago and just loved everything about it! I am so glad your Mariah did well. God is good!
We live in WI and the weather is pretty cold right now. I am not a winter person at heart but we are prepared for what it throws at us. No choice in that matter. The wet weather you are having is just as bad. Mud and slipping and sliding for the horses and the humans.
Oh, we heat our 50 gal.water tank with the heating element that goes into the hole where you empty the tank. Our cords come outside the fence and we have it taped to a post. We got it at our Fleet Farm.( since folks were saying how they heat their water, I just thought I would mention it.) I have seen them for sale on line,too. I am sure you have it all in order.:)
Can’t wait for your new book.
I am sorry to read about the loss of your foal. It had to be heartbreaking.
Love your website and will refer back to it often. Take care! Beth
There’s nothing like a nice soft comforter :)Am I right?
Gosh Joe, I was reading this while holding my breath. I’m so glad you and your horses are survivors.
I have an idea (it probably won’t work or someone else would have suggested it, but it works in my head so I had to write it). I was thinking that if a temporary fence was installed about a foot or two from the outside edge of the pond in a concentric circle, wouldn’t that allow the horses to safely break the ice at the edge without allowing them to foray into the middle of the pond? This fence could be put up to sort of winterize the pond and taken down in the spring.
Once you experience a whole year of weather and mishaps think of how good at averting problems you’ll be next year!
The problem is we are told this is the longest period with below freezing temperatures in decades. Doesn’t happen here. So when you plan for the norm, basically here you’re going to be ok. I’d rather just shut down the pasture when necessary than go to the trouble to build a fence inside the pond. Right now we’re in the 50s and back into the WET weather! – Joe
Hello Joe and Kathleen,
have just finished reading your book – wonderful stuff!! Thank you for sharing your experiences with the world – you just never know how its going to help somebody (human/horse/other) do you?
I’ve spent the last hour perusing your website and the last half hour crying my eyes out at the tragic loss of your sweet, beautiful Malachi. I’m so sorry for your loss – may you be comforted by his memory for the rest of your earth-walk and rest assured you’ll meet again someday.
It’s funny how the universe sends us signs – your book being mine.
I’m going to be 49 this year and I’ve always had a desire to be with horses but never had the opportuninty or the money!
Went on a 5 day foundation course a couple of years ago(run by Kelly Marks who is Monty’s protege over here in the UK)and had an amazing time. Joining up with a beautiful big boy called Dan is an experience that changed my life. That was the first time I had been that close to a horse – leading him into the round pen and then having that join up – oh, wow!
Kelly was a star – a brilliant guide and mentor as were the members of her ‘team’ – horses included. Kelly looked me in the eye on the last day and said, very softly, ‘never give up on your dreams Debra’- and I haven’t – except, recently I’ve been feeling like it would probably never happen – me with my own horse etc etc and then I found your book and I just can’t tell you how inspired I am. The way you are with your horses is just how I feel – my mission this year is to learn to ride.
I’ve only sat on a horse once – got to be confident on the ground first!
We had a treat on that course – a farrier-turned-barefoot guy who explained the horse foot dynamic and he also said he hadn’t met a horse yet who couldn’t make the transition.
I’ve since seen a couple of trainers who are excellent horsemen – Mark Rashid (incredible)- from your side of the pond and Tom Widdecombe – he and his wife are great with our equine friends.
Oh I could go on and on but suffice to say – Thank you for insiring me on my journey with the horses – I’ll be watching this space!!
with love, Debra
I posted this comment on your last entry, but with so many people talking about how to water their stock in this posting, I think it bears repeating. We used this method in NW Nebraska, where temps get down to -25 several times each winter:
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.)
Joe
So glad Mariah came thru ok. I can tell your experiences are
educating LOTS of people who may be fairly new horse owners.
I learned something new every day that my horse was with me –
for 16 years!
Good luck with a mild February
Maggie
Hi Joe, Well you have had some experiences since you have moved there! I’m so glad Mariah is alright! It will be so nice when you have Kathleen there with you all of the time so have someone to help you and not go through all of this alone. I’ll bet she will be happy also. Love all of the pictures. Sure hope Spring comes early this year for you and your wonderful horses. Take care of yourself.
Joe, if Jackie is talking about heat tape, you have to be careful how you install it or I believe it will short itself out — please note ‘I believe’.
Best of luck to one and all dealing with the cold weather. Off to start the evening job of filling buckets.
There is a small happy note we could all add….we are not dealing with flies, mosquitoes, ticks, heat, and humidity.
Good reminder. I will keep thinking about flies and ticks :)
Joe, I am so glad Mariah survived! I can see myself making the same kind of mistake, having only had my horse 3 years & still soaking up all I can learn to take care of him properly! We have troughs where I am keeping Chaska – no natural water source. I think I will look for a creek on whatever property I look for when the time comes! So glad you are willing to share these experiences with us. We are all human & have to learn to forgive ourselves & that can be the hardest part of all. As long as we are putting forth honest effort & utilizing what we DO know,at least we are trying. I am definitely going to keep your Dad’s words in my mental files for future reference. Just when I think I have it all together, something happens to knock me right off my feet! Hang in there – someone told me the other day, that according to the Farmer’s Almanac, that if we make it through this month, February is supposed to be somewhat mild. Hope they are correct! I am just outside of Chattanooga, & it has been way colder than usual here for about the last 8 days, at least!
God Bless,
Brenda
Wow. February mild? I love that!! Good words Brenda. Thanks.
Joe just sent you an email with the cord. Also, will take a pic this evening of mine all set up and email you!
Hi Joe…so glad you didn’t dig that pond deeper. My horse Dillon and my younger Rocky Mountain decided to venture into a pond. Well, it was deep and Dillon sunk in some and couldn’t get out. When they found him he was almost drowning from exhaustion. He could hardly keep his head above the water.
So glad you found your lovely lady before anything bad happened!!
Yvonne
Hauling water is made easier & more effective by first putting a trash bag in the bucket, then tying it shut after filling. I don’t have to haul water very ofter (and I am grateful!) but this really helps with the slosh factor.
Thank you for sharing your journey.
Joe we have almost the identical spicket & PVC set up as you do and it kept freezing up and we were trying to do the bucket to the barn deal :( Then I went down with a hair dryer to defrost. FINALLY went to Home Depot and I would suggest you doing the same. They sell cords in 3′, 6′, 9′ and 12′ that you just tape to the PVC pipe, spicket or garden hose and plug it in. (Our set up has a garden hose from the spicket to the PVC), anyway since we have done this NO MORE FROZEN PIPES!! Life is much easier, we are in MO and our temps have gotten to below zero in the last couple weeks and still working! SO glad Mariah made it out of the ordeal with minimal injuries.
Thanks Jackie. This sounds TERRIFIC! I will check it out today. Do you happen to remember the what the cord is called? Or brand name? – Joe
I have been doing the same thing Kathy. I am also in the Texas Hill Country and I’ve been carrying hot water in a big trash can to break the ice. We have had very cold weather the past few days but thank goodness there has been no precipitation. My horses are in my back yard now while I am building a barn. I have a perpetual fountain in a rock back there. I have some pictures of the horses drinking from the fountain. The rock has been covered in ice but the water is still coming out of the top. They are resourceful.
Joe I hope Mariah is doing well today and over the shock.
Joe,
As others have said on your blog, thank you letting us share your first year in your new environment. Winter can be challenging regardless of where you live. I am so glad Mariah is OK. Letting the pond freeze is safer for your beloved dogs as well when they are running around.
I think your safety ‘pipe’ for the electrical cord was brillant. How many of us have just run an extension cord for something and walked away?
I have to haul water most of the winter to the trough and to the barn because of our cold weather. I use containers with a cap on it–something you would use in the summer for a picnic for lemonade. Three of them fit on my sled and I drag them to where I need water. In the summer I fill them if a storm is coming so that I have water for the horses, and for us humans, if the power goes out.
The very best in 2010 to you, your family, and all of your animals.
A blog comment from Jackie (below) today tells of an electrical warming cord that can be wrapped around pipes and taped in place to keep the pipe from freezing. Home Depot is supposed to carry these. I’m going to check it out and if it looks like it’ll work on the pipe in the barn I’ll split a piece of PVC and glue it back around the pipe to keep Miss Mouse from eating it :) Jackie says they haven’t had a pipe freeze since they began using it.
G’day Joe : Geez what a terrifying time. I have seen videos on you tube of horses falling through the ice and the race against time to haul them out. Lucky Mariah got herself out. It could have been much worse.. Hard lesson to learn. Our major problem here is bushfires this time of year.Last year in Feb on black saturday in Victoria hundreds of horses and people died in the fires..Temps. down south have been up to 45 celcius in the last week.
PS. how about sending Mouse downunder for a holiday at my ranch?
She sure is a cutie…She’d fit right in at the Triple H. Ranch…
Can’t do that Harry.) She’s my mate :) But you’re welcome to come visit her.
Water hauling can be made a little easier if you can get your hands on those 14-pound Tidy Cat kitty litter containers after the litter is gone and they’re empty and rinsed out. They have a screw-on top and will hold a couple gallons of water each. They also have a nice handle on them. If you don’t have house cats, be a horse lover who makes friends with a cat lover. We have been saving these containers and use them for hauling water and also as pylons (partially filled with water to weight them down) for teaching the WonderMares weaving patterns.
Been using 2 Source Focus HF containers probably 4-5 gallons each and one Dr. Dan’s JAO container probably 10 gallons (almost too heavy to carry. All have lids and good handles. But thanks for the note. Today it gets to 45 degrees. Yay! Hopefully it’s a start to defrost both the frozen “freeze-proof” and the pond. Going to put the warmer-cord on the spiggot as soon as it defrosts to hopefully forestall it freezing again. When the whole rig is up and running I’ll report. – Joe
I know how hard it must be for you and Kathleen! I am working in CA this year while my husband tends to our home and horses in the Hill Country. They had the same freezing weather blowing through this last week and I was trying to coach my husband through blanketing our 20 month old filly who would have nothing to do with it. Needless to say she did not wear it and pulled her momma’s off quickly. I guess they were warm enough without!
I have smiled and cried sharing your stories, very relieved all is well, looking forward to the next lessons!
Wow, Joe you are very fortunate non of them fell into the pond and drowned. I can appreciate your concern and am glad you did not lose one. That would worry me to death. We have a had a very cold winter here also and have had to get heaters for the water tanks and bring the older horses in for the night. I have had a problem with Savannah, my Quarter horse with trying to colic. A friend said to give her a mixture of wheat bran, hot water and sugar. This will act as a laxative and get things “moving” again. Also to electrolytes to her food as this will make them drink more water. So far this is working. They are our “kids” and we must look after them. By the way, I am reading your book, “The Soul of a Horse” for the 5th time. When I was at the cardiologist office last week getting a nuclear stress test, the technician, who has horses, was very interested in your book as is getting a copy. Take care. Bob Long.
Thanks Bob. Much appreciated. BTW the pond is only 5′ deep at the center so I’m sure that helped her get out. I wouldn’t trade the pond for anything. The horses love it. It’s natural. Spring fed so it costs nothing. And it’s at the far end of the property so the pond creates lots of movement from one end to the other which is now becoming the most important element in most of what I read relative to hoof and horse health. Lots and lots of movement. In the wild the horse will move, on average, anywhere from 10 to 30 miles a day. They are genetically built to move. Theie hooves and bodies need the movement. The our pond (and hay placement in the winter) encourages that.
Many thanks Bob for the promotion. Horses somewhere thank you as well :) The pond is 5′ deep at the deepest. I had considered taking it deeper and now so glad I didn’t. Whatever works for Savannah to get through the winter but I would suggest over the summer research another mix that would accomplish the same result without the sugar. Both the hard sugar and the wheat bran, or rather check on the NSC of wheat bran. It might be fine. The wheat itself isn’t though. Not as bad as oats and corn but still high. Sugar and things that turn to sugar in the body cause so much havoc with the internal systems of a horse. All the way from insulin problems to laminitis, etc.
How frightening!! I’m so glad your cautionary tale had a good ending. My Mariah is nearly identical to your Mariah, by the way! Thank you for sharing your lessons with us…
Joe–thanks for passing along all your experiences, both good and bad. Today’s e-mail is a timely reminder that “every day is different” where horses are concerned. None of us, no matter what level of experience, should ever take for granted the way our horses act, react or treat us or their friends in the herd.
Always vigilant and on guard–truly majestic animals but dangerous to themselves and to us, always.
Keep learning and please keep passing on your lessons!
All’s Well That Ends Well. Relieved that both you and Mariah made it through that harrowing experience. After writing to you asking how the critters were coping in the frigid temps and if they were using the barn, I never expected to read a story like this. Keep blankets in your vehicles and flashlights too, one never knows what is around the corner.
Spring is ahead and the beauty that surrounds you will bloom, as will you.
I might suggest a horse fountain installed by next year – we use Nelson waterbowls (http://www.nelsonmfg.com/a700H_001.htm) – they are great, heated and easy to clean for both horses and cattle – makes it much easier to know they have a fulltime water source and less worry all winter long. LOVE your blog!!
Dear Joe,
You may not want to post this– I hesitate to say it. I want you to remember that you are not in California anymore. I am certain there are good people in your community that would rally around you in such a time as this. Small towns are wonderful in that respect- especially in the South.
I’m so glad Mariah recovered well. You must have felt very overwhelmed. Spring’s coming!!
Joe, I so appreciate you sharing your wonderful moments as well as your scary moments. I know I am learning from your mistakes. Keep it all coming in. Some of us are learning a lot.
Marilyn
Joe Horses can really scare us to death sometimes. They seem to always be into something. I am so glad that Mariah was not hurt real bad. I think you vet is right “she is one lucky horse.” I hope your future adventures will be less stressful for you, and your herd.
God bless your heart – you did good and Miss Mariah looks like she has also learned a lesson. So glad she is fine and hope this weather just warms up above freezing for awhile so these types of worries will end. Keep up the good work Mr. Joe! (I’m also one that seems to have to learn the “hard way” so glad I was able to live vicariously through you this time!)
Glad that all turned out well.
My horses and I live in the Hill Country of Texas, and we’ve seen record breaking temperatures the last several days. Like you, I’ve been hauling warm water out to the pasture. Somewhat tricky when doing that with a golf cart. About one-half of each bucket sloshes out before I reach my destination…hard to contain water with Press ‘n Seal….it tends to lose its “stickem” after a couple of good sloshes….but at least the guys have something to drink. I imagine that my horse-less neighbors think I’m nuts, but I truly don’t mind doing whatever it takes.
Stay warm and safe.
Ahhhh Joe, you ARE a brave man for making this huge move and huge changes in your life this year. And now to deal with the snow and cold and frozen ponds. ALONE!
Your Dad was a wise man saying that we learn from experience. My husband and I have been through many of those experiences in the ranching business. Just hope that you can hold on until Kathleen can be with you full time. It really helps to have someone else with you to make it through the winter and the trying times.
And those horses….so big and strong that they can kill us accidentally, yet so vulnerable and delicate in so many ways. Ya gotta love ’em for all they are, and for what we see in their eyes. A reflection of ourselves……..
Good luck, stay warm and keep up the good work! Spring is coming….Enjoyed your blog. LInda
Thanks for thekind words Linda. Right you are. When Kathleengets here it’ll be much easier, or at east better :). We’ve learned a lot in a short time. But the experience the years bring… well… take years. I’m sure most of your have been around horses for while have had the same scary crises and know what to do. There are times to call on the likes of you. Many thanks – Joe