Ever feel?

[Rebelpaintrider]

It's been a rough night for me... Has anyone ever really felt like they are incapable of taking care of their horses? Our ring is frozen at the barn so we can't ride unless we trailer out, which isn't always possible, My vet came out for my one horse who has gotten down right mean along with other things and he pretty much said he's been off so long he's not wanting to work so he is trying everything he can to get out of it... And I also have a coming 4 year old horse I'm afraid to mess up... I am at a self care place now, and I love self care... being able to do my own stalls, see my horses everyday... I just get worried I'll fail at taking care of them, sometimes I wish I was just at a boarding barn again, with an indoor and some place to ride all year round but I can't afford that...

Anyone else felt like this before?

(if any of that made sense - very hard night for me>

[Cowgirl Lindz]

tell me about it:( My 5 year old is getting so full of it because she has been off. The ring is frozen, no indoor:cry: I have so much work to do with both my horse and all I can do is go and brush them not that I don't love spending time with them like that it really makes a bond. But I want to try so many of the new things I've been reading about when sitting inside not able to ride. Its like a drug or something, I can wait to feel the leather in my hands and to really ride not just walk if anything at all. Trot, canter, gallop and to jump again!!!

I know exactly how you feel!

[mkevent]

The winter is really frustrating!! I have my guys at home but no indoor and it's pretty tough when everything freezes over-it's looking like a week off due to upcoming cold snap. What if you just worked on handling/grooming/ground manners just so they are forced to do at least "mental work" until you can ride? Hang in there-you won't ruin your horse if they have some time off-especially in this weather!!

[2DogsFarm]

Chin up! In a few months it will get better.
Winter just SUX, hard to find any joy in freezing your butt off.

I am so tired of piling on layers to go to the barn 3X a day I could scream.
I end up looking like a cross between the Michelin Man and the Crazy Catlady on The Simpsons.

I have an indoor, but by te time I get home from work and feed, any spare energy I had is gone. My horses are older and don't seem to mind having some time off. Every so often I let them into the indoor for a good roll in the sand and all the hay they can filch from the stacked bales - which they think is so much fun.

Once I get there I always feel better, but the prep is getting awfully old.
I agree doing groundwork will help keep your horses interested.
Are they getting out at all? Being stallbound makes some horses look for ways to act out, Even if you can just handwalk in the aisle it's better than nothing.

[Woodland]

:sigh: I haven't even been on my horse in WEEKS! And i have an indoor! I work away from home to support my "habit". Plus run my boarding & training stables. By the time I get home, take care of the horses and family and then teach a few hours of lessons and ride a few in training horses - I am too pooped to ride my guy!

It sucks! Why do i even have him :confused::no:

[JoZ]

OMGiH! Yes! My horses aren't even at home, they are at the local fairgrounds where they were evacuated due to horrible flooding. They are stallbound but still so much better off than if they were here.

I can't keep up with their stalls with the drive back and forth. I don't know when the farm will be ready for them to come home, and when some come home I'll be trying to care for horses in two different places.

None are getting exercised or groomed -- they are barely getting any attention. The most recent evacuees, who spent about 5 days in mud and cold rain, seem lethargic, probably just tired and shellshocked like I am.

This is not how it is supposed to be. Jingles to everyone trying to keep their head above water, literally or figuratively, during a hard winter.

[rainechyldes]

Ha! I've got you beat. here's my list.

November - well runs dry, - pay for new well to be bored.
December
-new well freezes up cuz it's so cold, backup well (which barely has water, blows it's pipes) - spend 3 weeks unthawing everything and fixing old lines and new lines. (meaning hiking water to horses, and no house water either)
- Electric breakers popping off left and right, spend same 3 weeks working out how to magically re-wire everything (this now includes more elecrtical cords then I would care to mention - but when it's -20.. you do what you can)
- the ATV goes down for the count because of the cold - hoofing haybales between then barns not fun
- and ..the tractor, which I left the blade down and it prompty froze to the ground for 2 weeks so no ploughing of driveway happening (that one WAS my fault though)

Jan - phew, new year all seems well... wait spoke to soon.
- car explodes, (new tranny)
- furnace goes down - needs new blower motor
- I got 'downsized' yesterday read that as now unemployed.


Happy new fuking year....

I'm ready for 2010 already, cuz if this keeps up, I dunno ..

[Equilibrium]

2DogsFarm,

Crazy Catlady from the Simpsons! I've always wanted a term for what I looked like in the winter! OK so we don't get frozen out, but non stop damp, mud, and rain get old. Yes still much better than frozen out. I have one gelding who gets a blanket bath when he comes in from the field, well actually he brings most of it with him.

I feel guilty when everyone is looking glam in the evenings, but getting through all the horses everyday is sometimes just not on the cards. The last couple of days I've been pulling manes like crazy. Then some days you just make sure all the mud is off legs and their dried. I'm trying to wash what seems like a gazillion rugs so I can start over with clean ones and yet the 1st day they go out you won't know anyway. Winter is a slog, no other way to put it.

It is tough work doing horses in the winter. I wouldn't feel guilty as you're dealing with serious bad weather too. Sometimes you have to give yourself a break, as in don't be too hard on yourself. I was watching Survivorman last night. He took 2 horses with him into the Rockies to survive for a week. He kept on about how tough it is to take care of 2 horses. Going on about all the work involved. Never seen him out of breath as much as he was on this trip and it was 2 horses which he had to make sure had water, had a solid paddock to graze in, and brushing and tacking up. I was thinking he day sounded rather easy!

Terri

[mkevent]

I don't have the excuses I used to have-I'm unemployed now, so more time to get things done but since I now have 6 horses to take care of in my barn, it takes me forever to just get the stalls done (well,, ok, I do come in the house to warm up, then get on CoTH, next thing I know it's much much later!!). I have found since I'm outside for a much longer time than previous years that it is harder to get the motivation to ride when you've spent the past 5 hours doing chores!! I think extreme weather (hot or cold) just sucks the life and energy right out of you!! As I've gotten older, I've become more philosophical about riding in the winter. I only aim to ride my guy 3 times a week and only if the ground isn't frozen. For Dec, Jan and Feb-3X/week. For March and Nov-4X/week and then the rest of the year 5X/week. It's a doable schedule and it keeps me sane and I don't worry about it past that. Yes, I could trailer to and indoor but why bother-I think we both appreciate the break. I compete in eventing-hopefully moving to Prelim this year-I just start my season later than others and I actually have been competing less often and doing it better!(well, so far-no saying how we'll do this year!!). My instructor and a lot of my lesson mates go Fla for the winter-there's no way I'll be on the same timeline as they will and I've finally come to peace with that. BTW, my guy is a homebred and I've kept this type of schedule his whole life- I don't think that it's hurt either of us!

[SmartAlex]

Even though you read this forum, and it sounds like everyone else has it goin' on, and they are competant, and knowledgeable etc etc...well, we're all fighting the same battles.

Who was it that said a couple of months ago "None of this really matters" meaning, no matter how conscientious you are about diet, training, exercising, vet work, chiro, saddle fit blah blah blah.. horses still get hurt, go lame, have mouth issues, rub out their tail, tear down the fence, fight amoungst themselves. It's a constant battle.

In this lousey winter weather, I go back to the basics. It is hard enough to keep the stalls clean and the buckets thawed. I barely groom (just tails and toes). I rarely school. My tack is oiled and stored away. We just try to make it out of snow season into mud season. Then we just try to survive mud season.

Hang in there.

[scrtwh]

My guys have not been under saddle since the end of November, too cold to lug out the saddle ... too much snow and ice on the roads to trailer out to my instructors, and by the time basic care is finished, well ... but ... the three "able" kids are worked at least three times a week. I have found the joy of lunging and lining in the snow, the ultimate height is knee level to the horses. I cannot believe how much muscle tone thier big old butts have gotten and talk about coming off thier hind at the canter yikes ... I can't wait to hop on come March. It less than an hour and a half to do all three of the goofballs and get them huffing and puffing a bit, plus, it reaffirms how much I just adore them.

[Cherry]

Heavens, yes!!!!! :yes:

I'm afraid that comes with the territory when you're dealing with animals--not just horses! I've had cats, dogs, ponies/horses and other small animals. I think animal "mothers" just hardly ever feel they are doing right by their charges when, in fact, they are going above and beyond the call of duty. You're just so close to the animals you can't see how good a job you are really doing!!!! I've had other people tell me that I'm too hard on myself and you may be too hard on yourself too. You need some feedback by those close to you (and your animals) on what kind of job you are actually doing. I bet you'd be surprised at how much you are really doing. :eek: :yes: :winkgrin:

Perhaps if you asked around (did a reality check) you could stop "beating yourself up" (as my husband once said of me).

Don't despair--Spring is coming! :winkgrin: Do what you can with what you have. :yes: Perhaps your horse who is giving you a hard time is just eating too well and is getting obstinate because of that--maybe more hay and less "grain" (feed)???? Less work=less "feed"! ;)

[FlashGordon]

Yeah, I've definitely felt like the World's Biggest Failure when it comes to horses.

When I'm having one of "those" days, I try to find the positive things I've been able to do for my horses over the years, no matter how small, to improve their lives.

I think it is important to remember that they are living, breathing creatures, and no matter how much control we think we have... really there are so many variables. So don't beat yourself up too much. Just take each day as it comes and try to do the best you can... ;)

[Carnelian]

I feel so guilty for complaining last night about it being 30 degrees while I rode in my boarding facility's indoor. Hat's off to ALL of the posters on this thread for at least trying to keep your chin up while you make it through the winter. I don't know how you do it? But then some don't know how I ride in 98 degree weather and 90% humidity in the summer. Still, I'll take that over what y'all are experiencing.

You do it because you love your horses and the deep bond you have with them. Keep your chin up!

[Rebelpaintrider]

Thanks all, I've been in self care for 2 years now and I've never felt that way... just now it seems all that went wrong is all my fault.

I can't wait for spring...

[Cherry]

RPT, I just re-read your original post.... How could you possibly fail if you have us to fall back on???? :eek: :yes: :winkgrin: :lol:

I would say you have the, "Oh poor me, when will Spring ever get here?!" blues. ;) It's coming, it's coming (or at least I hope it is because I can't take much more Winter either!).... :winkgrin: