Snow Balls, Sub-Freezing Temps, and the Joys of Running a Horse Farm in January…
So when someone mentions snow balls, the first thought that comes to mind (at least it was for me until recently) is children enjoying their unexpected days off of school due to large amounts of snow. Bundled up like marshmallows, they’ve gathered to build up their stockpiles of snow balls for the winter time battles. No matter where you go in the northeastern United States, you are sure to find at least one group of kids huddled behind impromptu igloo style “fort walls” with piles of small round white balls that fly through the air. Inevitably there are also groups of bored older “children” (aka tweens) that use their snow balls for more destructive means, such as attempting to use cars as moving target practice. But then, if you grew up in an area that got a regular amount of snow every winter, we all have done both. Unfortunately, as much as I wish that the snow balls I am referring to were these, they are not.
It’s funny how much, as a younger, non-horse farm owner (i.e. servant and/or the “help” for the horses - I swear that there are moments where I will be picking a stall while a horse is in and they turn to look at me almost saying with their eyes “Umm, are you done yet? And, by the way, you missed a piece over there. Great, you got it…you’re excused now, I’ll call when you’re needed next.”), I LOVED snow. I saw it as romantic and calming. A pure white blanket that would begin to transform this familiar landscape into a foreign land. Again, this was pre-horse farm. This was when I could sit inside, in the warm heated house and gaze out the window as the lazy fat flakes floated out of the sky making naked trees into a winter wonderland. I no longer feel that way.
No, now even going out to the barn for the daily chores is a chore. My routine (which occurs several times/day and, if you find that you misjudged and need to use the restroom, well, you’re sort of up a creek) entails the following (for weather that is below freezing, which the HIGH has been for the past 10 days!):
1. First layer: Either thermal long johns/leggings or winter breeches, winter thermal socks and a turtleneck
2. Second Layer: Sweatpants, windpants or jeans, possibly a lightweight fleece top or sweater depending on the temp and wind and another layer of winter socks
3. Third Layer: Carhartt overalls (lifesavers!), a heavyweight hooded sweatshirt and another pair of shorter socks
4. Fourth Layer: Winter coat, Muck Boot Co. mid-height boots, either my leather Thinsulate gloves (that allows me to actually USE my hands) or water resistant ski gloves, headband that specifically covers my ears, a fleece “scarf turtleneck” I pull over my head and on top of my turtleneck and, depending of the temp and wind, a fleece hat.
Needless to say it takes at least 10-15 minutes just to get DRESSED to go out to do the barn chores. Then we actually come to doing the chores. What would typically be a job that could be done quickly and efficiently without being miserable and losing feeling in your extremities, now takes at least 2x as long in the sub-freezing temps. For example, after mucking (which is a joy all on it’s own, only plus is the manure is frozen), we have to first melt any of the non-heated buckets. Once melted, we have to pour in hot water we lugged out from the house and attach the hose (which had been, hopefully, drained adequately enough the night before) to the nozzle that we have had to bring into the house overnight or it will freeze. Then we quickly fill all of the buckets, heated and non-heated without letting the hose and nozzle sit too long or they will freeze together. As soon as we’re done we take it all apart and drain the 25′ hose at least 2x so it will work again the next day. And that is just ONE of the multitude of chores that must be done everyday at the farm.
Then there are the snow balls… Not the fun, kids playing games snow balls. Noooo, these are (for all of you non-horse people) massive accumulations of snow, ice, mud, hay, grass and manure that freeze into the horses feet and to their metal shoes whenever there is snow on the ground. Many times the only way to dislodge them is to soak each foot in warm/hot water in a bucket. Take 5 horses and multiple by 4. And remember that it is, most likely, no warmer than 20 degrees out. Typically it is by this point that I can no longer feel my feet or my hands.
So, next time all of you non-horse people or those of you lucky enough to be boarding your horse, please think of me suffering out in the barn. It may look beautiful (at times I still think so, until I remember I have to go out into it), but it sure as hell ain’t fun! Oh, and once it does get warmer and stops snowing… You’d think I’d be thrilled. Well, all that snow creates a brand new problem… Acres and acres of boot-sucking mud (don’t get me wrong, I’ll take that over sub-freezing temps any day!). All I know is that it’s a very good thing that I love these beasts called horses, because otherwise I’d be questioning my sanity.