This has been a brutal winter. Here we are on the 28th of March, and it snowed today and the wind blew a gale that was miserable. We have had snow on the ground since before Thanksgiving. The subzero temps have been awful. Now that I am old - er, at 65 the searing cold makes my lungs hurt and even a small effort can leave me breathless. The really old times say that this is the way it always used to be. I agree. I remember some really long winters growing up and it sure explains why my parents and every one else with the wherewithal to go south for the winter did so.
I have no wish to go south for the winter because it would be difficult if not impossible to take my horses with me. I also have no wish to run into the various reptiles that thrive in the southern states. We may have the occasional cougar, bear, badger, coyote in our northern climes but not the reptiles. What really keeps me in the north are my horses. I have been horse crazed since birth and cannot imagine my life without them. If I ever get to a place where I cannot handle or care for the big full size horses, I will opt for minis.
Today was a good horse day in spite of cold weather, winds, and manure filling the barn because I could not push the wheelbarrow up hill into deep snow. My patient husband came down to help me start to dig out the barn. We are melted enough that Riley at 16.2 can no longer step over the fence if he so chose. We are still pushing up hill but the angle is now tolerable. DH fell off our roof 13 years ago destroying his back. His spine is supported by rods, screws and plates that hold the end of the rods together. He does a lot for a little bit at a time. He never complains about the pain or the limitations that the pain puts on him. He lost his carreer as a very talented general contractor. He loved building things and his idea of a fun day off was to go roof somebody's house or help someone frame a new garage. One day, he will work hard for a few hours and make progress on what ever project is at hand. That night and the next day, he is pretty much confined to his recliner till the pain stops. He is one of those folks who is disabled but seem "normal" to others. He isn't, and I was so appreciative of his help in the barn. I dug, raked, and levered out 3 inches of packed manure into the wheel barrow and he pushed it out, dumped it and brought it back to me. So, 1/4th of the barn is down to dirt now. 3/4ths to go!
The farrier came today and both horses had their hooves trimmed. Thank heavens that growth slows during the winter. On our normal day 3 weeks ago, the farrier called and postponed our appointment, first time ever! It went well. My horses are well behaved and are used to being handled. 45 degrees and windy but inside the barn is not bad.
I then decided that I would start our spring work. I want to take Riley to our weekly lesson for the first time since November - I have been riding lesson horses all winter - and I do not want the lesson to be the first time that I have worked with him in four months. I do not have an indoor arena, the trailer was covered in snow drifts, nor is the barn big enough to even do basic ground work. After the farrier left, I took Riley out to the round pen. More to follow. :)
