Sunday, December 6, 2009

Here It Comes Again


I’m feeling pretty smug today. We got our first snow, and unlike last year, the horses had their borium cleated snowshoes put on a full five days ahead of it. I waited until mid-December last winter and it snowed so hard that the farrier couldn’t make it out here. Then, each time we re-scheduled, it was like a guarantee that we’d get another blizzard. The girls didn’t get their shoes until the end of January and we had to slip slide down to the icy driveway because it was too socked in to drive up to the barn. I learned my lesson, yes sir.
After watching Siete run and fall one winter, I am a firm believer in this added protection.

I also planned ahead and bought myself a new pair of YakTrax. These stretchy rubber grippers fit over the bottoms of any boot and are my own equivalent of borium shoes. I wore out the first pair. They just disintegrated after four years of heavy use. So, it was a pleasure to pull on my new “pro” model Yaks which have an extra strap to secure across your toes for heavy trekking.

There’s a good layer of ice and some really disgusting soupy mud under this pristine cover of white, so don’t be fooled by the pretty picture.

By the way, my daughter and I ventured down to New York City despite the bad weather yesterday to a Director’s Guild screening of “The Princess and the Frog”, the latest Disney movie set in New Orleans. It’s delightful, so if you have kids, check it out. The projection and the sound were incredible, which highlighted how bad my local theatres are. The animation is hand drawn, and the colors are gorgeous. Great music too by Randy Newman. It’s a winner.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

My two with front shoes get their borium shoes with snow pads in about 10 days. My barefoot old guy does pretty well without - he's very careful in bad footing, and if it's really slippery I don't turn him out.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Those YakTrax sound kind of neat. I may have to get a pair so I can do some winter hiking.
The borium spiked shoes must be some serious traction for the horses.
Baby Doll hasn't worn any shoes for years, but she's not an 'active' horse by any means. To get her to run, I have to chase and 'whoop' excitedly for her, and even then, one lap around the arena and she's asking...no begging, to walk beside me. lol!

Enjoy your first snow!
The weather is calling for several new snows this week with 50-60mph wind gusts.
I went to the store and stocked up on lots of hot cocoa.....with marshmallows, of course :)


~Lisa

William Evertson said...

I'm hoping that your timely preparation will mean a light winter;-)

Trée said...

Nothing quite like the first snow.

Callie said...

" Ditto " Our one foot snow storm is beginning today!

Wolfie said...

We had a dusting of snow yesterday, and we have a weather warning in affect today. I am a little anxious. I am a new rider/horse owner and it will be my first winter experience with my new companion. He's barefoot, btw. I also bought a YakTrax equivalent a few months ago. :-)

John and Regina Zdravich said...

We have just a little snow here, but it probably won't be long till we really get hit. The YakTrax sound neat --I will have to check those out...

Dusty Devoe said...

Horses look so pretty with snow in the background! We were supposed to get alittle, but it didn't happen. Just cold weather. Unfortunatly broken pipes and major water problems at the barn where I board.