Tuesday, Feb. 9, was the opening day for Morven Park. I had planned to enter Charlie at novice with the thought that he’d move up to training level at his next event after that. Mother Nature had other plans.
I’ve been stuck at home for two days now because our half-mile driveway is impassable due to feet of snow. My husband dutifully plowed it several times yesterday only to discover at about 4 p.m. that the wind had erased all his hard work with drifting snow.
This morning, I valiantly attempted to hike out to my automatic waterer with a kettle of boiling water to thaw it. No dice. So I carried a bucket of water out to the run-in shed instead. Fortunately, the horses don’t seem desperately thirsty. I’ve been feeding them soaked alfalfa cubes and adding water to their grain, so I know they’re getting a little water. But it’s kind of scary.
My trailer is completely snowed in. My farrier laughed at me when I called to cancel our appointment yesterday. He doesn’t think he’ll get to any horses this week, and he and his wife are off to Jamaica next week. Lucky him.
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Three days ago I was in Florida on assignment for the Chronicle. Don’t think I haven’t chastised myself for coming home. But my horses definitely need me here.
I haven’t ruled out Morven completely, but with six weeks to go, no shoes on my horse and a riding ring that has all but disappeared under the snow, it seems unlikely.
