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[RC] dealing with the cold weather - Laura HayesIn response to Mary Golden's post regarding weather and horses, I too am in NY, but along the snow belt, in the Western part of the Southern Tier. It is cold, snowy and icey here with some pretty bad winds, and temps around 0 C most of the winter. I have my horses in fields with large run ins (28x30)attached to the barns - the run ins are very cozy but ventilated with only one wide door in and out. I find the key to keeping one alpha horse from blocking the others and not allowing them in, is to have smaller groups of horses. I realize this isn't always practical, but I have watched the dynamics of the group and shifted it so that they seem to get along better. I am fortunate to have three such situations for four horses and two ancient ponies. Having too many horses share even a large run in could be trouble for one or two all the time. Our water, which is in an automatic heated waterer in two enclosures and a tub with a submersed heater in the other, is inside the run ins, so one horse left out can be a problem. I have put water in buckets and left it outside for new horses just in case the boss mare wouldn't let them in, but eventually they are seen going in and out. I did give my old retired endurance mare to a friend this winter to keep as the newer mare was really being hard on her and wouldn't let her in. The old girl went to a place were she can go in her stall every night, and she is happy. In exchange, we do the vaccinations and foot care for the friend - handy, eh? Winter can be hard on them - my old hackney pony is looking a little rough, so I made him a stall in the corner with gates and have been giving him extra grain and beet pulp away from the others. One key to having multiple horses is to observe each one and make sure they are getting what they need. It is easy in a herd to have one who is lacking and not make special arrangements for them. I have never dealt with frostbite, I think the key is prevention - a place out of the wind and freezing rain is imperative. As a cruelty investigator, I know there is no requirement for shelter in NY state for any animals, dogs or farm animals. We tried to get a bill passed, but no dice - the farm lobby was too strong and objected on the grounds that the humaniacs would go after every farm in the state. I understood their stand, but as an investigator who understood farm animal practices, I felt that I could differentiate between healthy animals who were outside ok and those who's nutrition and health care was marginal and needed shelter - I may have been the exception and that would cause trouble for the farmers. Tough call, especially for dogs, who are quite often left tied out without any shelter or bedding. Laura Hayes AERC#2741 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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