Is it over yet?

Ah, February, the longest shortest month of the year. Further south they are starting to think about Spring, but up in Vermont we are still firmly entrenched in Winter. This is when Winter really is feeling long especially when it starts in mid-November and doesn't let up, like it did this year. An ice storm last week, temps in the single digits and close to a foot of snow predicted for tonight aren't helping.

It is hard to stay motivated this time of year and it is hard on the horses too. Limited turn out due to frigid temperatures keeps them inside more and changing paddock footing often gives them less space to move around in when they are outside. We all know the importance of hydration and forage to keep them healthy during the dark cold months. So is movement. Turning out as much as possible is a huge part of that, but so is moving them around through work.

It is so easy to get discouraged by weather and a lot of people don't spend as much time with their horses in the Winter. Especially during the holidays it is difficult, and I find myself giving them weeks off at a time during December, but starting in January, I get back into the routine of working them five days a week.

Twenty degrees seems to be a pretty common cut off temperature for riders. A lot of people don't ride when it is colder than that. Some simply for the fact that they just don't want to deal with the cold. Others feel it is hard on their horses' muscles or lungs. They have a long airway and cold air is warm by the time it reaches their lungs. Warm up time may take a little longer, but no harm should come to them. Horses evolved to the form we see now during the last ice age. They are shorter, stockier and fuzzier in the wild than their domestic and "well-bred" counter parts to be sure, but they are essentially the same animal, and the cold is not going to hurt them.

I pretty much do something with my girls no matter the temperature. If it is in the teens I might ride bareback instead of in the saddle because at least that keeps my butt warm! Colder than that I might long line because it moves me around more and keeps me warmer. It is also a good opportunity to brush up on some of those skills that I don't usually work on and spend time with my horses doing something that might be more interesting for them too, than doing circle upon circle in the indoor. Dress appropriately and move around enough, and it really isn't that bad.

Don't give up on riding and working on different horsemanship skills in the winter. It may be tough, but it is worth it and will give you a leg up on the Summer season. Five more weeks until Spring!