What do you suggest I get to have around the barn and for my horse for the winter.
Any winter preparations you do??
anything else you want to share would be appreciated ... thanks!
1. Buy enough hay to last the winter and get it put up, because once the weather sets in I can't get a truck in here to deliver.
2. Get snow plow service set up
3. Winterize the barn - fix any broken windows, window panes, loose fitting doors.
4. Clean all the drains - stuff stuck in the drains will get wet, freeze, get wet again, freeze more, over and over, until the drains are impassible. Then, they're either frozen for the duration, or take hours to clear. Even a little hay or grass will be enough to cause a freeze up.
5. Make sure all the hydrants are in working order, and drain the water back properly.
6. I also take up my mats and relevel my dirt floors, making sure there're no low spots to collect pee and suck over the winter.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
7. How could I forget? Get bedding stocked up for the winter. It's easier to have delivered than hay, but I still like to have plenty on hand.
8. Check all the fences in the winter paddocks.
9. I have a separate manure area near my barn just for when the snow is deep. Make sure that's cleaned out and ready to go.
10. Check all barn equipment. Fixing a flat tire on the wheel barrow in-30F weather is no fun at all. Do it now.
11. I do not blanket the horses if they are healthy. I do not shut the doors until the weather is below 10F. This encourages the horse's coats to get as long and dense as possible, so that when the weather gets to-40F ( which it does every year) the horses are as warm as toast.
12. I do not shut my horses into stalls unless it is really windy (blowing a gale) and blowing directly in and through the barn. The rest of the time, they can come and go as they choose.
13. Get heated water buckets/troughs - they are so worth the extra money if you live in an area where the water buckets freeze night and day, no matter what you do!!!
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com 14. Buy yourself a good hat. Your mother's right; you lose up to half of your body heat through your head. You'll be warmer wearing a hat and no jacket than a jacket and no hat!
Heated water buckets ( I hang two in case someone can't get out because of snow).
Have more than enough hay to last through the winter
Have about 15 extra days worth of grain in case you get snowed in
Clean all blankets before you need them. Blankets are always great to have even if your horse is hairy. If it gets very cold then you will need a blanket. Especially if you own an older horse.
Several barn only winter coats (I love Carhartt and anything with fleece). Hats, gloves, several pairs of socks, long underwear (like winter under armor) and face warmers are awesome. You lose most of your body heat out of your head, and you always feel warmer if your extremities are warm.
Have a heater in the barn. You need to make sure that you keep it dust free and turn it off when you aren't in the barn. They make everything much more comfortable.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
If you have horses in pasture you need a water heater for the water tank. Either that or you need to break the ice out of it daily.
Get a water heater. My barn has a water spigot heating device that is powered by electricity. That way you always get water.
Always empty your hose so that water doesn't freeze inside and break the hose.
Make sure that everything around the barn is in working order. Fix doors that don't close, machinery that needs repair, and little things that will make life easier.
Wow, Zephania is the Queen of Winter! I'm impressed with that list and her preparedness!
If it doesn't snow where you live, then you really don't need to take any special precautions for winter. If it doesn't snow, then it's not getting below 32 degrees, and your horse will be just fine. If you feel like getting him a blanket, get a lightweight one. Make sure you either have enough hay stocked up, or have an understanding with your hay guy about how much you'll need before the winter is over.
Another thing I did not see mentioned here is late fall and early winter are great times to clear your pasture of any rock or debris not wanted there. The grass is short and it's easier to see all the crap that collects during the summer months. It'll possibly save your horse some injuries next year. My back fence line borders up to trees and this is also a great time to make repairs there too.
Blankets (your horses and yours!) and make sure you have warm clothes, I keep the hand warmers in my tack box for when im there and get really cold, all you have to do is crack them for them to work. I also keep or bring a spare change of warm clothes if I get too cold I can put more on or if I get wet I can change instead of being in the cold. I also being my horses bridal home so that its warm for his mouth when i got to ride and also I keep Pam cooking spray in my box for when I go and ride in the snow I spray it on their hoofs and it keep the snow from clumping inside their hoofs. If you have money to buy Mountain horse boots, do it. Its a life saver! You can feel your feet alittle bit, if not double on socks ! Good luck we will make it through this winter (;
