Tag horses in winter

Winter Pasture – Jan 2017

Lynn Scott Leave a comment

A New Year and New Pasture Problems.

The first half of January 2017 we got a bit of new snow and cold with night temperatures in the minus twenties and thirties. The horses continued to do remarkably well out on the pasture. Dry and cold aren’t really much problem for horses.

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On the really cold days when the wind is blowing they are usually lined up along the windboards. The day this photo was taken it was cold and windy.  In the photo they look warm and comfortable. And when you go stand where they are, it is much much warmer and no wind. They soak up the sun’s rays. Their coats even feel warm on the sunny side. Continue reading “Winter Pasture – Jan 2017” →

Winter Pasture – A Cold and Dark December

Lynn Scott Leave a comment

A cold and dark December. Certainly not the first but it’s been awhile.

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I could have lightened these photos but because the days are so short it seems we are always doing chores in the semi darkness so many of the photos were taken in the semi darkness. Even at midday the sun appears weak and far away and the shadows long.

The nights are cold and there just isn’t enough heat coming from that far away sun to warm the days. Some years colder than others. This December it got cold.

20170111nhblogwinterpasture14 Continue reading “Winter Pasture – A Cold and Dark December” →

Winter Pasture – Late November 2016

Lynn Scott Leave a comment

The daytime temperatures were just above freezing up until the very end of November. The nighttime temperatures were around -8. Nice comfortable weather for horses if not perhaps a little warm. Some of the warmer days they even rolled in the snow to cool down.

The kind of days that make working with the young horses particularly fun. No bugs and just a light jacket.  The snow was gradually decreasing, the paddocks were a bit icy but not bad.

20170103NHBlogWinterPasture1.jpg Continue reading “Winter Pasture – Late November 2016” →

Winter Pasture – Nov 24, 2016

Lynn Scott Leave a comment

I hear rumblings from some horse people that they think turning horses out on winter pasture is not good for the them. That they are cold and uncomfortable.

I disagree.

With a few protocols, of course.

They should be checked daily and frequently have their ribs and backbone felt, they should have fresh warm water, and they need shelter from the wind such as windboards, forest or sheds. They need to have some fat reserve heading into the winter and the pasture has to have adequate good quality grass. They need to have been exposed to the weather during the fall so they develop a good coat. Continue reading “Winter Pasture – Nov 24, 2016” →