Ice Skating ANYONE?

[Susan P]

:eek: That's me when I got to the barn tonight to feed my horses and realized I had to skate over about 100 yards of ice to get to the barn only to go back to my truck on the same ice in the dark.

Thank goodness the horses did a good job chopping up the ice in the pasture but the walk to it was on the perfect grade to create a skating rink. Thank goodness for the buffer of snow just under the glaze. I managed to jam my heels through it enough to get by. But there were a few places that were no go, just a slide and you had to watch not to try those spots. Feeding tonight was a nightmare. I was wondering what part of my body I would be breaking. :no: Then who would feed my boys? I bought magnesium chloride to make a path, I have to do this, not a choice. I hate putting anything down but I like to return to feed another day.

Anyone else having that problem? I'm near Fair Hill, MD just over the state line in PA. We are glazed over. I told the boys they are dining in tonight, whereas I usually feed outside weather permitting.

[Quin]

IIRC, ice on the slight uphill approach to the barn was the cause of my trainer's second knee surgery.

Ice around the chicken coops was the cause of the third surgery, 2 or 3 years later........they did get rid of all the chickens afterwards, but obviously not an option to get rid of the horses..........

[Valeureux]

It's still pretty icy in Wisconsin from the ice storm we had last month. The roads aren't bad, but under all the snow at the barn is a nice chunk of ice. :no:

[BestHorses]

I've got the ice too! Can't wait for spring. After taking my two boys out this morning and nearly wiping out I threw down some sawdust and watered it down so it would stick and make a safe path. Worked great! My driveway is another story...

[Susan P]

I like the sawdust idea, how about stone dust, good grips. I needed something asap and tonight the only thing I could find was the magnesium chloride, watch it kill my grass in the spring, then I'll have mud. I'll make a light path.

I have some stone dust too but it's frozen in a hunk, big mound, but useless to me now.

I've got the ice too! Can't wait for spring. After taking my two boys out this morning and nearly wiping out I threw down some sawdust and watered it down so it would stick and make a safe path. Worked great! My driveway is another story...

[Evalee Hunter]

I know I'm very close to you, Susan. I made it to the barn this morning - it was scary as I am 64 years old & a "womanly sized woman" & I never was athletic - but I fell trying to get back to the house (about 200 ft. between them). I was really frightened as I thought I would not be able to get back up. But I did get back up & stayed on my feet the rest of the way to the house. (The other scarey part is my doctor is always warning me, "If you fall & hit your heat, you will DIE!")

Now here is my quick suggestion - BORROW A WALKER! We have one from my husband's hip replacement & I've used it since then to go back & forth. I feel pretty silly. I never thought I would be this old. But here I am ... The walker really, really helps, plus, if I fall I'll have something to hold on to.

Another suggestion (before next winter): find some of those sharp things that clamp to your shoes or boots to give you traction. I am planning on looking for some, maybe at Cameron's Hardware or Tractor Supply.

Yes, the only good thing is the outside horses (5 mares, 7 geldings) are keeping everything broken up in their pastures & are spreading manure piles (frozen manure piles really stop the slip & slide).

[silver2]

Stabilizers (http://www.amazon.com/32-NORTH-Stabilizers%C2%99-Lite-Cleats/dp/B000GUEAWI), Yaxtrax (http://www.rei.com/search?search=ice&cat=4500006_Footwear+Accessories&hist=query%2Cice^cat%2C4500006_Footwear+Accessorie s%3AFootwear+Accessories) or golf shoes.

Worst case scenario take some wood screws and put them through the soles of an old pair of sneakers.

[myrna]

I've been sprinkling de-icer stuff on the main paths.

[hansiska]

A friend of mine was walking a pregnant mare in icy conditions, maybe 100' from barn to barn. She slipped and broke her leg. He lost them both. :(

Don't think that because they have twice as many legs that they can always balance themselves. A quick fix? Throw dirty, urine-soaked shavings on the ice where it's dangerous. For me, the cleanup later outweighs the present danger.

[MistyBlue]

If you have cat litter that can also work to keep you on your feet. My driveway and front walk are thick sheets of ice...that stupid warm weather the other day that turned the snow into rain made things a lot worse after that rain froze. My paddock is perfectly fine...but anywhere that snow was removed is slippery as heck. I used a big bag of cat litter to spread on the front walk and it's worked great except that now I'm really annoyed when someone comes in the house and forgets to take their shoes off...cat litter everywhere!
I use YakTrax for my boots, they're working great so far.
Also keep an eye on the horses' lower legs/feet...if they're punching through a thick enough crust that can get irritated or scraped up legs.

[IFG]

Yaktrax for humans. Borium for horses.

Unfortunately, I had the Yaktrax on my barn boots, and I fell walking from my office to the parking lot.

[Tasker]

Cat litter! TSC in Oxford has their brand on sale for less than $3/bag. It is what got our tractor & (very) full manure spreader onto the driveway late yesterday with some judicious sprinkling.

Mom fell yesterday & so did I...just the classic 'slipped on a banana peel' in a cartoon fall for both of us. :sigh:

We took turns driving the tractor with the arena drag up & down the driveway to make a crunchy path for people to get from the lower barn to the indoor & stallion barn. Leading horses is definitely not for the faint of heart... :(

Be safe!

[cloudyandcallie]

Susan, wear your riding helmet! And maybe if you have some knee pads and elbow pads from a hockey kid or skating kid?

About the cheapest cat litter is the red bagged litter at walmart, or get the oil dry in 40 pound bags at sam's club. I have 8 indoor cats, can you tell I look for cheap litter to change multiple cat pans daily?

[sk_pacer]

We got a 'heat wave' here, and the white crap is melting off the barn roof so I have ice in very inconvenient places, like by the people door on the barn. Also have a shelf of hard packed snow by said door that is about as high as a regular stair step, maybe a tad higher. Anyway, long story short: like Evalee Hunter, I am womany sized and about as graceful as a sack of grain, and while up was no problem, down that step was rather abrupt and painful. Missed the bucket of the tractor by scant inches, and skidded north at an alarming rate, walking stick under me (lovely bruise from that) and water jugs flying in more directions than I thought 3 large jugs could. Everything on the east side of the barn is slick, and I had a horrible time getting to my feet but managed to skid myself back to the tractor and hauled myself up using one of the water bottles and the bucket. I am gonna look for yaxtrax or something today because I am too damned old to be falling like that. I like her idea of a walker but I dont have one. Maybe an ice tip for the cane would help?? At any rate, those who have large areas of ice to contend with, carry a pointy sick, or even better a round nosed spade (my favourite for large icy areas) and don't feel embarrassed by using support to walk on that crap...looking silly is a far better fate than falling on your butt and spraining or breaking something. Spreading cat litter or sharp sand will help the areas for a while and so will plain old dirt if you have neither.

[Penthilisea]

Oh my. We're having that here in western NJ as well- I fell during the LAST ice storm (2 weeks ago?) and this time my BO called and advised against me even trying to come out- the whole drieway and such is sheeted in ice. The horses outside are fine, and she does put down used bedding, but still- we're in our own valley and while it is picturescue it means we get even LESS sunlight then most places.

I'm thinking I may just bring a sled and slide down the hill to the horses when I visit- its the climb up I haven't quite figured out!

In the same last ice storm a local ederly lady went out with a friend, came home, and slid on her walkway and broke something. No one saw her and she stayed there till she died from cold. Please every one take a moment and check your neighbors and friends and family and even the weird old folks down the road if you can.

[MistyBlue]

Maybe an ice tip for the cane would help??

Nope...someone will just find the ice pointed cane sticking out the ice after you slid away from it. :no:
YakTrax are great and there are tons of less expensive types out there too.
Or even buy a pair of cheapo or used golf shoes or any cleated sports shoe...preferrably metal tipped cleats. You can find them at consignment shops or if you have one of those "Play It Again Sports" stores near you. Or even the sport section of a WalMart.
My brother once couldn't find his ice cleats and he used duct tape and course sandpaper to get around...that seemed to work for him.

[MoonWitch]

Well, I have the bruised knees and hips to show "I'm so there". My daughter was turning out the ponies yesterday - no shoes & not heavy enough to break through the crust. Yeah, you get it she goes down, the smaller pony (thank God) falls on top of her, she get dragged trying to hold them both as the scramble to get footing.

Golf shoes - great idea!! How do you cram them on their little feet though?:lol:

[Lieslot]

I really think I'd prefer a foot of snow over this mess.

I'm so gratefull to my farrier now. I was scratching my head when he slammed on borium at the heels & toes plus studholes, me thinking: overkill, studholes will do him really. Well this guy has traction like nothing ever seen before, he walks over a solid sheet of ice like it's just dirt. I'm glad, coz as soon as they miss one day of turnout, they seem to think the next day they need to go out racing around to catch up on the distance they did not cover the day before.

My YakTrax failed me yesterday. Somehow the pointies don't seem to grip in the ice when it's very thick & solid and I fell on my butt, nice big bruise today.

What I did in some areas, threw out a tiny bit of mg chloride, which did not melt the ice, but made holes straight through the ice, and then melted at the bottom of the sheet, creating a layer of water underneath and then with a metal rake or fork I could get under it and brake up large pieces of ice.

Trying to do a poo-pick this morning was interesting, as my wheelbarrow was not going forward when pushed but sliding sideways.

It's fun to see my poor cat slide around, he doesn't seem to understand that when he races over the ice, he'll slide :lol:.

[Lieslot]

Or even buy a pair of cheapo or used golf shoes or any cleated sports shoe Yeah, I keep thinking I should buy myself a pair of soccer shoes, they should work great on ice.

[Mendin Fences]

Why don't you just put on a pair of ice skates? I think that's the simplest solution.

[Lieslot]

But what about those of us that can't ice skate :confused:.
I know I can't, doesn't matter what type of skates you give me, I cannot balance on those fine line things. :no: :D

[Mendin Fences]

There's the old school strap on kind with the double blades. Those would be perfect because you could just take them off when you reach the other side w/o removing your whole shoe.
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/teesantiqueorchard/iteml/12740#pic1

[Woodland]

We did not have the ice storm here, but the melt off and refreeze cycle in my area has turned my driveway in to a sheet of ice :( Last night I went down hard and fast I am MEGA shoulder pain ever since - OUCH!!!!! :cry: I sure wished I had my YAK Trax on !!

[nj2]

We are at an indoor for the winter - but they get a lot of ice and its very hilly - so I just bought several pair of the Yaktrax to keep in the car and other places
I thought I got a pretty good deal from Cozywinters.com

Then this past weekend I was buying birdseed at the local garden center (for NJ folks thats Mendham garden on 31 in Annandale) and they had the same ones for almost $10 less than the online price - WoW - wish Id know that first!

[Chall]

My sister came up with this one:
Take old christmas tree branches, break to roughly two foot length. Don't trim any of the branches off, let them stick up in all their directions.
Boil water.
Place boughs on path. Do not flatten them out, let them stick up all over the place. If they curve, place the bottom of the curve down so the branches curl upwards.
Pour on enough water to melt the ice a bit so water covers portions of the boughs.
Wait for re-icing.

Environmentally safe. No special shoes needed. I find it very secure under foot. Out delivery guy gave it "best path in the neighborhood" award :)

[chai]

Chall, that is a really neat idea, and I love the golf shoes idea, too. I keep a pile of stone dust in the driveway to make a path across the ice for my horses. Fortunately the pastures here are not bad, but any place that has been plowed, like a driveway, is a sheet of ice.

I bought some Yak Trax spinoffs at a discount store for $4.99. My daughter made fun of me because they look nerdy, but yesterday I found her wearing them. :-)

Keep the good ideas coming. I am always looking for new ways to deal with ice.

[M. O'Connor]

Stabilizers (http://www.amazon.com/32-NORTH-Stabilizers%C2%99-Lite-Cleats/dp/B000GUEAWI), Yaxtrax (http://www.rei.com/search?search=ice&cat=4500006_Footwear+Accessories&hist=query%2Cice^cat%2C4500006_Footwear+Accessorie s%3AFootwear+Accessories) or golf shoes.

Worst case scenario take some wood screws and put them through the soles of an old pair of sneakers.


I can vouch for the YaxTrax! We have ONE pair, and my daughter and I have been using one each; we have lived to tell the tale!

[Susan P]

Has anyone every thought of putting out cracked corn? I mean it's gritty and the birds will just eat it and poke holes in the ice too, roughing it up. Just a thought. :lol:

[Susan P]

You are not alone! :no:


But what about those of us that can't ice skate :confused:.
I know I can't, doesn't matter what type of skates you give me, I cannot balance on those fine line things. :no: :D

[Susan P]

I don't recommend using this because when you get the ice wet, the clay just becomes slippery. It's just clay. Sand or stone dust would help, it's gritty and won't break down when it gets wet and should bury into the grass later. Out of desperation I bought some Magnesium Chloride just to get to the barn yesterday. I think it's refrozen now and don't know what to expect today. Another nightmare I expect.

Evalee, what a mess, sorry you fell, I came close a couple times. Keep a low profile or go on a sled, nah, that won't work either. Don't know what will work now but as you pointed out, a small paddock with horses turned out constantly will keep the ice chopped up at least with this mess. Thank goodness for a little snow under it. We need some heat and still have all of February to go through, eek. :eek:

[Susan P]

I'll let you know tomorrow how well it worked. I dropped 50 lbs of cracked corn around my barn and walking area. It did create traction but you should still go cautiously. I feel it's very environmentally safe, and the bird will eat it. No harm, just a little fowel. What a bad pun. :lol:

[fleur de duc]

im right there with you! this is my front field currently
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/44918/2075201420104615740S500x500Q85.jpg
and dont let the foot prints fool you .. they are just filled in and frozen over from the rain that came pouring down after the snow. its one solid sheet of ice all the way around.

being 17, and wanting to have as much fun as possible .. we have a sled deal rigged up with "oars" to get back/forth from car to barn. its by far more fun than helpful, but it beats busting your hiney on the ice!

[rtrules]

Susan P I used sunflower seeds on my walkway and it works pretty well. The birds eat the seeds and then leave the shells so there is either whole seeds or shells on the walkway. It provides decent traction and feeds the birds at the same time. How's that for muti-tasking. I am iced over here also. Hoping that tomorrow it warms up enough to turn everyone out. I haven't had to slide down from my barn yet this year but, I will say that Equine Senior feed bags work very well as sleds and they are big enough to cover a large butt with room to spare.

[BestHorses]

im right there with you! this is my front field currently
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/44918/2075201420104615740S500x500Q85.jpg
and dont let the foot prints fool you .. they are just filled in and frozen over from the rain that came pouring down after the snow. its one solid sheet of ice all the way around.

being 17, and wanting to have as much fun as possible .. we have a sled deal rigged up with "oars" to get back/forth from car to barn. its by far more fun than helpful, but it beats busting your hiney on the ice!

Oh wow! I guess no one's going out anytime soon. I just keep saying, "One day closer to spring."

[Tobias]

In some ways I do not envy you guys! But in other ways I do. I guess no one understands, but when you live in Ohio for 16 years and love the snow, rain, blizzards, and cold weather, then live in Southern California now, I feel a bit deprived. Yes it was nice to be able to ride today in 80 degree sunshine, but...the horse still has a winter coat and sweats like crazy. it is so dry and parched here the horses roll and are covered in dust that will never come off (mud at least comes off). my horse is always dirty.
Where you are at your horse HAS a pasture, my horse is boarded on three acres with 20 other horses in 12x24 dirt paddocks. No Grass, not in summer, winter, spring, never! He can not play with other horses, or in the snow or run a buck, he stays there until I get out there to ride him. (he does get some turnout for a few hours in a dirt paddock, but thats hardly enough for a TB)

I understand that it is dangerous, I know its hard, but it brings tears to my eyes know that your horses are so lucky to have pastures and grass in the summer, they can live like horses are meant to live. I know I am probably not much help, I do not know much about dealing with the ice, but your horses appreciate what you do for them!!!!!!

You guys send me some snow, I will send you some sunshine!!!!!!!!!
I would trade you places in a heart beat!

[Susan P]

Well there are some states in between that don't get much of this junk or too much heat and have beautiful pastures too. But when they do get ice it's a bigger problem.

I've heard that the ice has caused some smaller horses and ponies to fall and they get broken legs. I think I would try to keep them in stalls as much as possible but that's not easy when the ice lingers this long. There is no perfect place, no perfect situation unless you are either lucky or have lots of money to have a big indoor and keep the paths clear, etc. Even then if you have ice you can't ride outside, but you do have the indoor. I can't afford a ring yet, even an outdoor ring. Someday I hope.



In some ways I do not envy you guys! But in other ways I do. I guess no one understands, but when you live in Ohio for 16 years and love the snow, rain, blizzards, and cold weather, then live in Southern California now, I feel a bit deprived. Yes it was nice to be able to ride today in 80 degree sunshine, but...the horse still has a winter coat and sweats like crazy. it is so dry and parched here the horses roll and are covered in dust that will never come off (mud at least comes off). my horse is always dirty.
Where you are at your horse HAS a pasture, my horse is boarded on three acres with 20 other horses in 12x24 dirt paddocks. No Grass, not in summer, winter, spring, never! He can not play with other horses, or in the snow or run a buck, he stays there until I get out there to ride him. (he does get some turnout for a few hours in a dirt paddock, but thats hardly enough for a TB)

I understand that it is dangerous, I know its hard, but it brings tears to my eyes know that your horses are so lucky to have pastures and grass in the summer, they can live like horses are meant to live. I know I am probably not much help, I do not know much about dealing with the ice, but your horses appreciate what you do for them!!!!!!

You guys send me some snow, I will send you some sunshine!!!!!!!!!
I would trade you places in a heart beat!

[Susan P]

I did also buy some sunflower seeds but they are more expensive I believe and cracked corn went really far to cover. I may buy some sunflower seeds too my problem is that the birds that come to my farm are vultures and starlings, lol. Not beautiful song birds. I also get 2 stray dogs, at least one fox, a possum, skunk and now maybe the deer will visit closer to the barn, YIPPEEE! :no: I'd really like to keep a little distance from the wildlife.

One time I was leading my old horse Nomad with his girlfriend Molly, an old gal too with a bad knee and the deer starting walking towards us from across the field. I figured they would keep their distance but they kept coming closer and I was concerned that my horses would spook, even though they are good old horses, they could still react. I kept going and headed for the closest get to where they were going. I don't think the deer were concerned at all about the horses since they will often be in the pasture, they seem to be quite comfortable near the horses.



Susan P I used sunflower seeds on my walkway and it works pretty well. The birds eat the seeds and then leave the shells so there is either whole seeds or shells on the walkway. It provides decent traction and feeds the birds at the same time. How's that for muti-tasking. I am iced over here also. Hoping that tomorrow it warms up enough to turn everyone out. I haven't had to slide down from my barn yet this year but, I will say that Equine Senior feed bags work very well as sleds and they are big enough to cover a large butt with room to spare.

[IFG]

In some ways I do not envy you guys! But in other ways I do. I guess no one understands, but when you live in Ohio for 16 years and love the snow, rain, blizzards, and cold weather, then live in Southern California now, I feel a bit deprived. Yes it was nice to be able to ride today in 80 degree sunshine, but...the horse still has a winter coat and sweats like crazy. it is so dry and parched here the horses roll and are covered in dust that will never come off (mud at least comes off). my horse is always dirty.
Where you are at your horse HAS a pasture, my horse is boarded on three acres with 20 other horses in 12x24 dirt paddocks. No Grass, not in summer, winter, spring, never! He can not play with other horses, or in the snow or run a buck, he stays there until I get out there to ride him. (he does get some turnout for a few hours in a dirt paddock, but thats hardly enough for a TB)

I understand that it is dangerous, I know its hard, but it brings tears to my eyes know that your horses are so lucky to have pastures and grass in the summer, they can live like horses are meant to live. I know I am probably not much help, I do not know much about dealing with the ice, but your horses appreciate what you do for them!!!!!!

You guys send me some snow, I will send you some sunshine!!!!!!!!!
I would trade you places in a heart beat!

Yeah, I spent 8 years in LA. My husband and I used to cry when we looked at the LL Bean catalogues. When I finished school, we moved back to the Northeast.

[BestHorses]

DH suggested fireplace ash for traction grit as well. I haven't tried that but it might be good for my gravel diveway instead of gunking it up with shavings. :)

On another thread someone suggested putting an old stocking over rubber boots for traction.

Any ideas on unsticking a garage door? The snow that melted ran off the ice layer into the gragage and froze the rubber gasket on the door to the floor so now it won't open. :eek: I think it's too big of a job for a hairdryer.

[fleur de duc]

DH suggested fireplace ash for traction grit as well. I haven't tried that but it might be good for my gravel diveway instead of gunking it up with shavings. :)

On another thread someone suggested putting an old stocking over rubber boots for traction.

Any ideas on unsticking a garage door? The snow that melted ran off the ice layer into the gragage and froze the rubber gasket on the door to the floor so now it won't open. :eek: I think it's too big of a job for a hairdryer.



blow heaters:D works like a dream .. my barn door frozen closed last winter ... it took a blow heater, a 10lb bag of rock salt, and a sledge hammer to feed the horses that night

[Fairview Horse Center]

The best thing to use is both free and safe, and no clean up. Make sure you have a tiny manure pile (just 5 or 6 wheelbarrow loads of old manure and shavings), in a compost pile. When you have ice, dig into the pile to get some of the hot steaming stuff that is about 1 foot below the surface. Just s-p-r-i-n-k-l-e it on LIGHTLY with a pichfork (or even handfuls), and the heat will immediately burn the spots into the ice, securing it just like tiny grippers. Within a second, you literally can't slide. The other option is to use some crushed bluestone dust. Again, a little (as in half a water bucket) will do a long path.

[Susan P]

Before moving to my own farm some of the farms I was at used this but the manure balls were frozen and were like ball bearings. The straw was often not gripped to the ice and was just more slippery.

After I used the cracked corn everything melted yesterday of course, wouldn't you know. Now it's snowing again, just a little, like before. I hope we don't get that crispy icy layer over this again. That's the pits!



The best thing to use is both free and safe, and no clean up. Make sure you have a tiny manure pile (just 5 or 6 wheelbarrow loads of old manure and shavings), in a compost pile. When you have ice, dig into the pile to get some of the hot steaming stuff that is about 1 foot below the surface. Just s-p-r-i-n-k-l-e it on LIGHTLY with a pichfork (or even handfuls), and the heat will immediately burn the spots into the ice, securing it just like tiny grippers. Within a second, you literally can't slide. The other option is to use some crushed bluestone dust. Again, a little (as in half a water bucket) will do a long path.

[Fairview Horse Center]

Before moving to my own farm some of the farms I was at used this but the manure balls were frozen and were like ball bearings. The straw was often not gripped to the ice and was just more slippery.

The manure can't be frozen if you use the rotting compost. It is hot enough that you can't hold your hand there. Nothing could freeze. There are no manure balls in rotting compost. It is broken down. If you are using straw, not sawdust, your compost pile will need to have been set up longer before use.

Dig into the pile until you see the smoke, and take that HOT stuff. Sprinkle it, and you will be amazed at the instant traction.

[Susan P]

At my farm I don't stall my horses anyway but I do have a pile that I've removed in the past from the barn, I use half my barn as a run in. It's overdue to be cleaned out. The last time it was cleaned out the guy pulled my lighting down so I was waiting to get that repair before I get it cleaned out again. What a pain, then I'll have plenty to throw around.

The older stuff has been taken by people for gardens and I've taken some for my Mom's tomatoes. There's only a very small pile left and the horses are starting to walk it down.



The manure can't be frozen if you use the rotting compost. It is hot enough that you can't hold your hand there. Nothing could freeze. There are no manure balls in rotting compost. It is broken down. If you are using straw, not sawdust, your compost pile will need to have been set up longer before use.

Dig into the pile until you see the smoke, and take that HOT stuff. Sprinkle it, and you will be amazed at the instant traction.