this winter is exceptionally tough isn't it?

[Mitchy1nge]

I'm not imagining it?

I don't own a horse, but live in an area where many do and yes it's been shit. Everywhere is just a sea of mud, their can't be a usable bridle path anywhere.

Yes it certainly is - the ground is either sodden or rock hard, it's either freezing and dry, freezing and wet, blowing a gale or just plain bloody miserable! Last night dhorse went to bed with 2 rugs and his bandages on, with snow blowing around his stable - it's a nightmare. He still has scabby mud fever on one leg despite only being on his 6th day out since mid Jan. We all need some sun on our backs and they definitely need some lovely spring grass - I can't wait for it to be over frankly.

I have never been as cold in horsey life as I was last night / this morning. Brutal winds! I'm really, really hoping for a good spring / summer. Not even super warm, just dry please! It's really been relentless the past 12 months hasn't it?! I'm DIY and have own field on farm, seriously considering somewhere with part livery option for next winter...

it seems extra cruel to have had so many good days last week, was hacking and schooling them both every day and feeling great - now I feel defeated and full of dread at having to Do Stuff I only have one to muck out, is hardly much work but it all feels so gruelling and pointless

Am deeply pissed off with it. Like Mitchy, we'd just got going again and now it's shit again. And the lack of a summer last year just means that it feels like it's been going on forever

I feel so bad for y'all, were having lovely weather if a bit windy. Ironically I keep hoping it will snow once more before summer hits so we don't burn up!

Yep, same here. DD had got the two ponies going really well last week and now we're back to square one. I doubt she will ride at all this week, looking at the forecast.

And the wind yesterday and today. I don't think I've ever felt a wind as cold as that before. It was no fun having to ride in it yesterday morning.

I agree with you all.

Relentless.

Horrible.Our field had just started to dry up and is back to sloppy mud again.We had to cancel our lesson yesterday due to the blizzards and intense cold.We started lambing last week and usually have them out in the field after a few days,but the trailer got stuck in the mud and had to be towed out by a tractor,and now it is too cold/wet for them to go out even if we could get them out.I was under the dutch barn feeding them yesterday and the snow was blowing right in onto us. and it is snowing again now.Heartily fed up.

I' so fed up, really got the ponies going the last few weeks and back to no riding again. The grass has ran out so hay in fields which I hate doing as they then argue and squabble. Plus mucking out 4 every day with no end in sight and my old horse has had rain scald but refuses to wear a turnout out rug (will stand and weave all day) or stay in (will stand and weave all day!)

Yep. Its pants. Ours had just started going out last week... now all stuck in again. Its soooo cold!!

Will spring ever arrive?

I think hardly any summer on top of this is just awful :( just can't do anything!

It's dreadful! Had a long walk in deep snow today to get to the horses. There were huge drifts everywhere, even the shelters were full of snow and that has never happened before. Dhorse had icicles hanging off his mane and feathers! It took ages to do everything as we had to feed/hay/water those who's owners live too far away to get there as well as ours and it was blowing a gale the whole time (great fun trying to get a rug on one shivering little pony while it flapped in the wind and his field companion tried to take chunks out of us). Thank goodness dh was able to stay at home with ds as he'd never have walked so far and the snow was too deep for the sledge.
I've made enquiries about taking dhorse to another yard at Easter so I can finally get back some nerve into doing stuff with him (they have a school/jumps and off-road riding which we don't) and I've now read that bookies are taking bets on it being a white Easter. Noooooooooooo!

Yep , am with you all . I have to say that almost every year for the past 30 odd , I get to mid January and think 'why ? ' when every normal person is indoors , but never with as much feeling as I have done this year . What with breaking my leg , have done no riding, and then it was too wet, too windy , too icy , etc etc to start . Have decided to get to know the new boy over the next month or so, as saddle fitter is not out till April , put the others into maintenance mode , and wait for it to warm up . At least I just have to bundle up , go outside in short bursts and then run back in for periodic cups of tea .

I wouldn't mind , but last week I went out and bought a paddock roller ! Fat chance of using it now !

My fields aren't too squishy but my.God how cold is the wind!
Am pg so no riding anyway, unpacked my washed and repaired rugs that I thought I could save until next year.
Oh and had to wrestle with a runaway tarp that did not want to go back over the big hay bale. Put foot in tyre and fell over.
I love the furry little buggers though.

Really Mitchy understatement isnt usually your forte!

Its been absofeckinglutely diabolical!

This is my first winter sharing (started just before the first snow - do I have timing or what!)....what is driving me crazy is I keep on getting sick - Last week I had a bad cold, which triggered severe asthma, this week the cold has left me with an ear infection - which mercifully today is getting better, but the pain from the cold wind is unbelievable....I am hoping tomorrow will be the day to get back on.

Just put a photo on my profile of dhorse looking a bit keen to get his breakfast after a night in the snowy wilderness .

Pixel he's adorable!

Ooh I do like that horse of yours pixel!

Feels like it will all start being fun again any minute NOW. At least it's sunny?

mrslaughan - it's awful not being able to ride, but think how much worse it would be if you were off sick and the weather was lovely and sunny - at least this way you're not missing that!