really exciting things about winter

[MookySpinge]

am trying to think of some, to ward off the creeping sense of doom that is 'to rug or not to rug', bandaging puffy legs every night and new shoes every three minutes am already in mourning for summer

oh there is the fancy dress competition for Halloween! he might make a good spider, if I stuff some brown tights and sew them on to a saddle cloth? fix some fangs onto bridle?

cheer me up with your plans for hunting and other wintry thrills?

Apart from frosty/sunny mornings we can stop worrying about laminitis.

No fly masks, fly repellent, sun cream, windgalls, sweet-itch (for those affected), midge bites, sweaty hat-hair.

If you fall off the ground is a lot softer.

See? Lots of good things about winter. Hmm, you're right, I'm not even convincing myself.

oh yes, hooray for the soft squishy landings in mud!

and there is the bonus of increased liveliness on chilly winter evenings?

Short dark days.

Ground is only soft until the frost sets in, then it is rutted enough to break your ankles as you stumble over it to break the ice on the water trough.

Feed bills soar and you gasp at how hay got to be so expensive.

Not helping much am I.

But think of those lovely sunny, sharp frosty mornings that make you catch your breath then make you feel good to be alive. Although as Pixel says, then you can't turn out anyway if prone to the dreaded L.

Mitchy, is it the mud sucking his shoes off? Can he not go barefoot or do you do a lot of roadwork?

Owls, I think the increased shoe-usage might be due to Mitchy's horse's habit of door-kicking and floor-scraping when stabled.

I thought we were supposed to be trying to think of good things about winter. Try and keep up.

I must admit I like the crisp weather too, (despite ankle-crunching ground) because of the way the horse's coats look so clean and fluffy and glinting in the sun, and they feel all soft and warm under their rugs.

I love it when all the chores are done and you can go home knowing they are cosy and fed and contentedly chomping hay.

yes he scrapes them away, he'd be in a puddle of blood if he went barefoot at the front

it is lovely making extra deep beds though isn't it and wishing they had furry paws instead of hooves so you could curl up with them at night

am going to try bits of old carpet on the door and at the front of the stable when he comes in - hanging on as long as possible though

it's been a fab blustery day today anyway

Pros -

If it rains enough I'll be able to canter again.

If I can canter again I should be able to go hunting by Christmas.

We can start showing the connemara.

DD (6) is just starting doing FYFR and the shows coming up (like the one today nr Huntingdon) will be easier for her as the classes will all be indoors

Can leave NZs on all time rather than having to take them off in the mornings and putting them back on at night

Cons -

When clocks change it is difficult to feed and check them in the dark

Eventually they will come in with all hassles and extra work that entails

Ooops, sorry yes you're right Pixel need to think positive. Errrr..... mmmmm...

Winter. Good things..... there must be some.....Can't be this hard to think of any surely .....

Ok. Sorry I give up! Although must say (in my totally pathetic defence) I am traumatised by the thought of Mitchy's horse dressed as a hugh arachnid! Noooo please have mercy

I see we ran out of inspiration on this one then!

Well I've had a rude awakening this week. We promised ages ago that we would look after another lady's horses when she went away, not realising it was the same week my mum and sister were both away. Which leaves little old me to look after five horses by myself. I've got three fields to poo-pick and the fact that I've been doing it in the pouring rain is adding insult to injury!

I want to go back to last week when I was still wandering round the field in shorts and t-shirt.

In fact, I should be along there now, braving the elements, but I'm hoping my new stirrup irons will finally arrive this morning.

Good thread, I need to think of a few positives too.

Not having to worry about fat ponies on too much grass.

Clipped horses wrapped up in thick rugs. I love the look of my horse when he is clipped

Hunting (slightly controversial)

Beautiful clean stables with thick banks and sweet smelling haynets.

Hacking out over the hills in the early morning light wrapped up warm and cosy

Mucking out being a useful way to keep warm instead of a tedious miserable chore

Easier to work in the cold than in the heat

Hard feeding again - and that lovely wickering noise you get when your pony sees you with a big feed bucket of nuts for him.

Hope your irons arrived!

Want to go hunting, poss on a proper horse though? No offence to own horse!

It IS nice to see a deep cosy bed and massive haynet and have a kiss goodnight - how did my champion show jumper turn into such a hairy, skinny beast so soon though?

I should start getting some fibrebeet into him, keeps the weight on ours a treat in the colder weather.

And no they didn't arrive, they were supposed to be here monday and still no sign. Not that I can ride anyway, bloomin' weather.

Oh yes we'll start that again soon - I like the magic one they use here at my house sitting job, it soaks in MINUTES! Easily thrilled, that's me .

Just stocked up on blue chip, asked about the cheaper alternative that Alice recommended but the blue chip rep was behind me in the queue and gave me some money off vouchers! It's a good omen

Money off Blue Chip? Gave up my addiction to it recently Tried to get that one Alice recommended but no luck round here.

Pixel, what stirrups did you go for? Ours do need replacing and am thinking of adding them to my ever increasing shopping list at the HOYS. I've noticed today the leathers are looking a bit the worse for wear as well.

I ordered ones like these. I thought they might help with my dodgy hip too.

I've got some like that! Bit bigger than those, but they are fab especially as I broke my ankle years ago and it's still a bit dodgy sometimes. Nobody has stolen those irons yet either ;)

hope yours arrive soon!