Winter Blahs

As I sit writing this post awaiting yet another snow storm followed by frigid temperatures, I can't help but wonder how we, as horse enthusiasts, ever survive the winter months.

I know I will probably offend some people when I say how much I detest winter but, if my passion was skiing or skating or snowman building then I would be the happiest person in town. But, they are not and I am not! Being a horse owner during the cold New England winter months is a challenge. I, like many horse owner's in Connecticut, do not have access to an indoor riding facility. Our barn has a lovely sand ring with amazing footing that makes for a great ride, usually. However, the recent deluge of snow, then ice, then rain then more snow, more ice and more rain accompanied by bitter winds has left our ring's footing only ridable on a very few select days. And this makes a horse owner very unhappy. The saying that "A bad ride is better than no ride at all" rings so true!

And then there are the clothes, both human and horse. I counted the other day. My horse does, in fact, own more winter clothing than I do! The discussion in the barn usually goes like this, "Äre you putting on the midweight blanket with the liner or just the heavyweight or do you think you should put on the liner with the heavyweight too? And maybe you should attach the neckpiece to the heavyweight because I hear it's going to be really windy and cold. But wait, it might rain too so maybe you should put the rainsheet over the midweight, or the heavyweight, or over both in case we get sub zero temperatures!" I know it's crazy talk but believe me, the horse owner does not sleep well at night if the horse isn't dressed properly!

Of course the horse owner must be warmly attired, as well. This includes double socks inside of winter boots, long underwear under what adds up to about 5 layers of clothing, before the coat, and a hat and gloves. Once dressed properly to withstand the cold in and around the barn (which takes a good 30 minutes!), one is generally not able to move very well. Really, how are you expected to put a heavy blanket (or 2 or 3) over the back of a 16 hand horse when you can't even raise your arm above your waist? Inevitably, you have to begin removing layers and gloves in order to dress your horse. But then your fingers are so numb that you can't buckle the straps on the blanket and your legs and toes are so frozen that they have no feeling so how are you going to walk your horse back to the paddock without slipping and falling on the ice?

I could go on and on with complaints about being a horse owner during the cold winter months. But I won't because truly, and I mean this with the utmost sincerity, I wouldn't have it any other way. My horse deserves to be treated well, taken care of, spoiled, even as do all of the other beautiful horses in the world. Horses are majestic, kindhearted animals who give so much to their humans and ask for so little in return...a winter's reprieve from riding, a nice warm blanket and a few carrots maybe.