Watch For Hypothermia When Temps Drastically Drop

With the drastic swing in temperatures horse owners need to keep a close eye on their horses to help prevent hypothermia.  Go to http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/watch_horses_for_hypothermia_when_temperatures_drop to read more about prevention . . .

Who Will Name The Budweiser Foal?

I'm looking forward to the Super Bowl - in particular, seeing the Budweiser commercial . . . .

It's always fun to see the commercials that feature their Clydesdales.  My favorite is still the one where the young horse aspires to be like its peers and practices kicking the football.  This year's appears to have great emotional appeal - featuring a colt and prompting views to name him.

"Little Bud", anyone?-->

January Thaw Can Be a Horseowner's Nightmare

While it always seems nice to hear of a 60 degree day in the middle of winter, most longtime horseowners (especially those who keep their own horses) will tell you its a nightmare.  Mud and wet coats (which lend itself ti cases of rain rot, etc.) are some of the problem . . . .  Even worse is the swing in temperatures, which can be tough for horses with arthritis and can throw mares off with their cycles.

I would just as soon have it stay in the 20s then this.  We spent the weekend cleaning up our hay barn so the area I have to either hand walk our horses, or to ride a small circle, is larger.  By the end of the week when temps drop back into the teens - this will be the only option for working horses around here.  Cement hard ground outside (which it will be after all of this rain and then a 40 degree temperature drop) is a sure recipe for sore feet . . . and a good reason to think more about building an indoor arena.

It's Soooooo Cold Outside!

Winter is finally here for us in southwest Michigan.  The sub-zero temps and wind chills don’t bother me much, actually I’ve looked forward to having a couple of these days -when I’m not tempted to ride or work horses.  Still, chores take more time . .  . shuffling horses so everyone gets some time outside, keeping the run-in doors dug out, and monitoring water pails.  Fortunately, we have hot water in the barn, which we add to our horses’ pails every couple of hours.  It keeps our pails from freezing and keeps our horse drinking – something that’s very important in the winter so horses don’t colic.

Winter Riding

The past few weeks have been great riding weather 50s, with little wind, and a lot of sunshine . . . I course I knew it wouldn't last.  This weekend has been cold and cloudy with some spattering of snow.  I can only hope that we have a repeat of last year with a mild winter, but the Farmer's Almanac is predicting cold and snowy. 

Winter riding in Michigan can be a challenge if you don't have an indoor arena.  I've managed to be able to ride most winters by keeping a good sand base in my round pen, and not rooting it up too much when we first get snow.  I wait until the temperatures get consistent and then use the pen - that way when the temps dip you don't get a a lot of uneven frozen footing.

The last of our pasture . . .

This time of year is always hard to see . . . .   The past few mornings have been in the mid-20s hear southwest Michigan, and I know it's only a matter of time before the last of the pasture dies off from the overnight frosts.

Because of the draught, and then the heavy rains in September our pastures came back heavy for the fall.  This year will be one of the firsts where more horses probably won't have it grazed down before I pull them off of the field in a couple of weeks . .

It's hard to see the grass get wasted - when hay is still so high.  I'm trying to tell myself it's better then seeing my pastures overgrazed when winter sets in; and I know it is, so I'm hoping for really good pastures next year.

I Will Never Lose My Knife In The Barn Again

Last week I lost my barn knife.  Normally, it is slid in between the siding and a frame board in the aisleway of our barn - right next to the scissors.  I am a real bug about making sure everything in the barn has a place and is put back there after every use.  Usually I am very good about the scissors and the knife - putting them back the minute I cut open a bale of hay or a bag of sawdust.

Well my mind was on about 100 things and when I was cutting hay I simply stuck it into the bale next to it so I could throw hay to the horse nearby in the run-in stall.  The next time I went to get the knife I felt my stomach sink as I walked to the spot where I normally keep it and saw it wasn't there.  Since it's actually a sharp kitchen knife I paniced - thinking it was in the bedding in one of my horses stalls and that they would cut themselves up on it . . . . .  I searched frantically and thank heaven, I found it stuck in a bale of hay. 

That will be the last time the knife gets lost.  I tied a blue bandana on it.  Know, even if I'm careless and leave it lying somewhere I'll be able to find it.

This just goes to show you that even when you are careful you can be careless and this is when accidents happen and horses (or yourself) get hurt,