Today

Today's 630 lesson is cancelled. Just too freaking cold for most sane people to want to drive out, and for the horses to get warm. I am willing to teach at 730 if anyone does want a lesson.

I have also definately added a 530 lesson on Thursday for make up lesson purposes, so if anyone wants to move their time up from 630 to 530 to allow others to ride later, that would be great.

I just came back in from giving them some extra hay, and the horses are all fine; the geldings were mostly in the shelters, but the mares were mostly out and about. Not sure if the barn and hill protects the mares better from the wind, or if they are just tougher/better dressed!

This morning and last night were a little bit of a shock to the system. I figured the worst part for me would be driving the Mule out back to dump the manure...I was right, but mostly because I was so bundled up I couldn't see very well and ran aground on a ridge of ice buried under the drifting snow! The back tires weren't even weight bearing.

Not to sound wimpy, but it IS a pretty long walk back to the barn to get a shovel for ice breaking purposes, so first I tried to lift the Mule off the ice (that was stupid), then I tried to chisel the ice with a screwdriver (less stupid, but not getting me very far very quickly either), before opting to walk back. The geldings watched my approach like I was a monster from the dugout, but once I retrieved the shovel, chipping the Mule free only took 15 minutes or so.

The entire time I am thinking...I wonder which horse I could harness up, slap on the ass, and haul this bloody thing free? (Wiley or Wolfgang were my top two picks)

Anyway, stay warm, keep safe, and know your horses are fine (albeit likely now moving on to fence destruction as is their favourite cold weather past time)

Karen