Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

I suppose we're not the only ones having some pretty cold, snowy weather. But, here in the NW it is not typical for us to go down into the teens at night and to have 4 to 6 inches of snow. It only has to snow an inch or two for the schools to be closed because so many people live in rural, hilly areas where the buses would have trouble navigating the slippery roads. Our snow plows come only once the snow has stopped......we're still waiting.

We're inside staying warm and cozy, but I worry about all of the horses out there who don't have shelter or whose water is freezing over with these low temps. Our horses are in stables and have blankets, but it's a real challenge to keep their water defrosted. I'm still wondering how I'm going to get to the stables, even with the studded tires on my car.

Cold weather can be rough on older horses and I'm concerned about my 28 year old mare who lives at the neighbors. She too has a stall and wears a blanket, but it gets harder and harder for her to tolerate these cold winters. Sometimes having the blanket on is worse because we tend to leave it and not brush the horses adequately. Having a thick coat of fur/hair beats a thin blanket that flattens the protective natural coat. Giving horses enough hay to generate body heat is also important and it is always a balancing act for me with my laminitic horses. Too much hay and they get their blood sugars out of whack with the negative consequences, and too little hay and they suffer the stress of being cold during the long dark nights.

It really is beautiful to sit here at the window and watch the snow come down and it'll give me a chance to finish the last of my Christmas cards and wrap some presents and baskets. I just may have to call my friend and see if she can get out to the horses for me today. "Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we've lots of places to go (but can't get there), Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!"