Monday was an incredibly busy day as we did our best to prepare for the forecasted blizzard that was to hit our area that night. Having now lived in Oklahoma for a total of four winters, and having learned a few lessons from the winter of 2009, we’ve decided not to underestimate the curveball’s thrown by mother nature that sometimes land on the Great Plain’s region. Having grown up in the New Mexico desert – granted we had a snow skiff on occasion – the snow, ice, and temperatures have been a big adjustment. Now, they were predicting some of the coldest temps Oklahoma had seen in quite some time.
I woke up early and took my time enjoying my usual coffee and oatmeal. Checked e-mails and Facebooked, and it was definitely cooler this morning than it had been over the weekend. We made sure each pasture and paddock had a good quality grass bale in it for easy forage. The water tanks were filled to the brim, and I rearranged 21 head of horses into different areas and groups to make sure everything would have cover through the night and following day. Well, actually 19 horses because two (I won’t drop any barn names) naughty yearlings picked this particular afternoon to pretend that they had never felt a human touch before. My mother, upon arriving home from her job in the City, announced that they too, were now in the barn. Oh really…? When I asked her method, she explained that they actually followed her through a side door and into a stall after a pail of feed. Should have known that would work - they’re both stud colts.
I was stripping down stalls and bedding them fresh when at four o’clock that afternoon – on the dot – the winds picked up dramatically, blasting frigid air down the center aisle and open doorways. I shut everything up tight, and we fed the horses and headed for the house. Of course, we have two mares currently under foal watch. The first is our new Thoroughbred daughter of Brunswick, bred to a stakes winning son of Rubiano. The other, who is a maiden, the Playin Stylish daughter I showed at the 2008 NCHA Futurity, and carrying a foal by our three-quarter brother to Peptoboonsmal.
For safety, my mom and I paired up for the two AM check. We bundled up, but not good enough, and made our way out into the howling winds. The snow was falling heavy and there was some very significant accumulation by that time. Even in the dark, we knew this was a storm to be respected. Both mares were quiet in their stalls, and we crawled back in bed to pillows still warm. Didn’t get to sleep for a time as our thoughts were on the horses outside, the snow swirling into their shelters. Not much one could do.
Chores on Tuesday morning were nothing short of atrocious. The photo at the top of this page was taken at ten AM. The precipitation was expected to stop, but the winds to intensify and drift the snow for the remainder of the day. One mare had been forced to stand somewhat outside of her shelter by a more dominant pasture mate and needed a chance to warm up in the main barn. Since my mother fancy’s this little mare, and mutual feelings via the mare, I headed out with a shovel to break ice while mom took the mare back to the barn. Down to the first gate – the chain had shortened in the cold and was solid in the latch. She was going to have to take the mare the long way around the far side of the adjacent pasture, and have a good walk back to the barn in a strong headwind. She was nearly to the next gate when of course, the other mares wanted to go too! Four very preggo mothers-to-be high loped to catch up with the pair, and then … they stopped. Then leaped? Snow drifts a horse’s shoulder high!
It’s now Wednesday evening. The skies were clear today, and only a mild breeze blew. Most everything was turned out to play in the snow, and only a few brought back inside for the temps will reach -5 tonight. It’s mare watch again … five layers, a duster, mittens, mud boots, and a ski cap pulled down clear to my eyebrows. I would imagine that I am quite a sight. I know that my mother and niece are because they dress similarly.
For awhile today I couldn’t help but think how the next two weeks of weather and winter mess will be putting a serious hamper on riding and everything else. My horses have been working good, and I did say to myself that they deserve some time off, but this isn’t quite what I had in mind. I’ll lose a little of the progress I’ve made, have an edge to work off the colts when we get back, but so will everyone else. Unless of course, they are fortunate enough to have a heated indoor arena and keep working their stock. If so, I would seriously wonder how to merit an invite… – C.s.
