Winter Wonderland

Snow! We got snow! We've got LOTS of snow!!!

Another snow storm swept across Colorado this week. While it is both beautiful and picturesque for December, it's a bit of a hassle at times. More time to feed horses. More time added to our commutes. Time spent to shovel again (and again).  

But sometimes...

It's time spent to admire the way the wind works it's magic. The mighty drifts that remain the day after show the path of the storm. The swirling and twirling path of the usually invisible wind. 

The snow is fun and challenging for even an old dog.

The wind and snow minds no one. 

I am always amazed at where I find snow the next day. Penetrating the tiniest whole or slight crack. Or just letting it's self right in the door.

Not to worry. Even though the snow creeps in, the horses are still protected and can get out of the wind and elements. 

Though, they tend to like to be outside. It has to be really, really bad for them all to take shelter.  Especially that blonde beauty. She is without a doubt the last horse to seek shelter in a storm. I have had her since she was a yearling, but you can't take the natural, wild instinct out of that mare. Once a mustang, always a mustang.

I don't blanket my horses anymore. I haven't for years. I keep an eye on the old lady, PC, but she is so furry this winter. She looks like a woolly mammoth. Her head and legs looks twice their size covered with all that hair.

In fact once the snow starts falling, all of my horses will stand outside in the snow. Horses actually prefer being outdoors even in the coldest weather and do fine if they have some kind of windbreak, or a field shelter to get out of driving snow or rain.

Long winter hair traps a layer of warm body heat between the skin and the cold air. Cold weather causes the hair to stand up, trapping and retaining body heat. Often an ice layer or snow will collect on the horses back. As long as that layer of snow and ice is not disturbed, the horse's trapped layer of warmth will continue to conserve body warmth. I learned years ago that you never brush off or wipe off a horses back covered in snow. Once the hair coat becomes wet down to the skin, the hair lies down and loses its insulating ability. Instant shivers.

A little extra flake here and there. They are happy as a clam.

 While they eat... I go back to taking more time for shoveling.