A Tough
Time of the Year
This is always a tough time of the year for me – the transition from fall’s waning to winter’s approaching, to oops not here just yet let’s have a little more fall, to yep NOW it’s winter! Fluctuating winter temperatures when you live in the City far from your horse can be a real concern and you worry – at least I do. I’m constantly checking the weather/ temperature/winds. (I have my phone’s weather app location set, not for my home but for the barn!)
A few days ago it dropped to 21º at the barn. Although Pins wears a blanket due to her age and physical condition, I worry will it be warm enough? Should I have put her heavier blanket on last time I was there? This is constant conundrum: with the heavier blanket will she sweat if the temp goes up? With the lighter blanket will she be cold? And then I worry some more.
And there’s ANOTHER concern. The winter before last, as I led her down from the barn, she slipped on the packed snow. Then she fell. I’ll never forget it. It was horrible to watch because I couldn’t help her. Then she struggled to her feet. We’re so lucky that she wasn’t hurt badly, and I vowed I could not let this happen again. Of course there’s no such thing as I sure thing but at least I can rest a little easier this winter knowing I’ve done all I can to prevent a reoccurrence. My farrier has prepared her feet well for winter with cleat-like things on her shoes as well as snow pads.