InFocus

HORSE OWNERSHIP IN WINTER

iSpyHorses -- Mon, 29-Apr-2019

Nine tasks you carry out in the freezing cold, by force of habit and in a state of automaton

With thick gloves to protect freezing hands that now feel like they are in pillows, you delicately thread an elasticated cover strap with surgeon precision between the back legs of your 500kg companion who may or may not be that keen to stand still and cooperate.
You can navigate three feed bins with popsicles as fingers whilst delivering buckets essentially filled with your cold hard cash, and you are all the while avoiding the overzealous and hungry four-legged keen diners.
You drag yourself from the warmth and comfort of a heavy layer of duvets and your hot electric blanket, to stumble outside into the freezing cold, slide on damp gumboots then slosh, slosh, slosh, your way through the muddy track in the bucketing rain, to ensure your horse is warm well fed and content.
You safely secure the rogue cover that slipped during the night, to both sides of your spontaneously alert horse in 100kph winds.
You have developed keen night vision so excellent that you can see from a great distance your uncontainable pony 5 acres away, with your tape fences having been systematically walked through and now trampled on the ground.
You happily accept a mud and highlight hair treatment, curtesy of loose hay and missile mud.
You achieve level 5 ‘today in fashion’ with designer layering; scarf, scarf, woolly hat. Singlet, thermal, thermal, jersey, vest, waterproof coat, gloves. Leggings, trousers, bed socks, normal socks, GUMBOOTS!”
You expertly master the art of condensing what would usually be an entire 45-minute riding session, to 5 minutes, and this includes tack up, tack down, re rugged and returned to the paddock.
You have obtained vet level expertise on all things, mud fever, greasy heal and abscess related and apply necessary treatment in 2 mins before heading off to work.

Winter often brings out a horse riders inner superpower. What would you add to this list as a ‘can do’ equestrian dealing with your horses in the mud and rain?

Blog post written by Nikole Robson