Ideas-no matter how small-for dealing with SNOW!!!

[alfonsina]

Am shopping for a farm in the north and after this mind-blowing winter am wondering how to enable turn-out when the snow is so deep and so packed?

Where I currently board, the horses aren’t turned out lately as the fences, no exaggeration, only come up to their knees!

Do you plow the paddocks? Do you then harrow them to keep the ruts and ice at bay? Or do you leave the horses out all the time, hoping they will tromp it all down, little by little? Does one need to own a skid steer or something wildly expensive like that? Does your tractor manage alright?

My poor horse is bored to tears in his stall, and yet I broke a bone lunging him so he’s kinda stuck until I heal or spring comes.

[clanter]

Trees that form a wind block help. We have a wind break on our north which provides a completely different environment for the horses, stays clear of wind driven snow (yes we have snow ) but also provides them a calm place to stand or sleep in the winter sun

[moving_to_dc]

We use the FEL on our 45hp tractor to clear the snow off of the dry lot and around the barn yard. Totally eliminates the mud issue when everything thaws, too.

I don’t turn out into the pasture much during the winter, just to give it time to rest and avoid it getting torn up. If I did have to turn out in a snowy area, I would probably make a sacrifice area with temporary electric tape fencing, and then use a FEL to clear it of snow.

We also have a massive walk-behind snowblower for other areas, and even a little snowblower that we carry onto the porches/decks to clear the snow off. The less shoveling, the better!

[cowboymom]

I’ve seen places that used some sort of snow blower or plow to run paths through the snow in a 40-50 acre pasture that was snowed in. Where I live the snow drifts so we get bare spots and deep spots so not such an issue.

[enjoytheride]

The horses tromp it all down. Moving through light snow is great fun because it offers great traction and is better than naked frozen ground. Moving through deep snow is not so much fun so the horses tromp some down by the gate and stay there. My mare is turned out with a herd on about 6 acres and there are zero horse tracks more than 100 feet from the gate after 8 inches of snow last night.

When they do venture out into the deep part some poor soul blazes the path while everyone else follows behind. But being out is better than in so out they go.

[heronponie]

Yup- turn them out more. They pack it down.

You can accelerate the process by tossing a flake or two of hay wherever you want them to pack it down. Toss flakes down the fenceline and boom, the fence is dug out.

[dotneko]

All our gates are at least 8 feet wide. We use the tractor to plow the snow back at least 40 feet from the gates (the key is to do this beginning with the first storm of the season - don’t get lazy or your working area gets too small very early in the snow season). We have 22 turnouts, so it is a big job. With the 8 feet of snow recently, we still are able to have a 20 foot entranceway into the paddock. The horses tramp down the rest.

[allpurpose]

At my old barn, BO plowed about 1/2 of each paddock (3+ feet of snow on the ground, plus 6-8 inches per storm on top) and then threw hay into the unplowed section to have the horses trample down the rest. Huge snow banks were created, and one of my favorite memories is of my old guy simply leaning on a snow bank in the sun and snoozing the day away. Why get down on the ground for a nap on his tired old legs when you can just lean on a huge snow bank?

[msj]

I’ve got a small Massey Ferguson tractor with an enclosed cab and a snowblower. As my stalls open to sacrifice paddocks the snow comes down over the barn roof and dumps in front of the stalls. The snowblower is a godsent! :yes: It won’t take away all the hand shoveling but it takes away probably 95% of it. Only problem I’ve had this winter is the fuel (diesel) line froze up but considering this was not only the coldest February we’ve had since they started to keep track(1871), it was the coldest month ever (12.2 F average). So, depending on where you are, you’ll want a salamander to keep the fuel line from freezing.

Also, if you can afford it, build an indoor. It’ doesn’t have to be huge, just big enough that the horses can run around a bit on the blizzard-type days.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=moving to dc;8035035]
We use the FEL on our 45hp tractor to clear the snow off of the dry lot and around the barn yard. [/QUOTE]

This. I use my FEL to clear my barnyard/drylot which is only about 60x60 to begin with, but with snowbanks is smaller. However…still better than nothing plowed.

They do trudge paths into the other turnout areas, and now that they are packed down a bit I have been putting hay out there to encourage them to go out.

It’s definitely a challenge - I agree that the key is to start early and don’t let it get too deep to plow (unless, of course, it all happens overnight…)

ETA: I can’t imagine leaving horses in all winter. Mine would be miserable. Deep snow isn’t fun, but it’s better than being stalled. And, if it’s not too windy/cold, they do like it.

[Nestor]

Yup, let the horses do the work. Plow the paths, clear out the gates, and then just turn them out after every storm, per usual. Otherwise the snow gets to be too deep/hard for them to get through. This winter has sucked, but my paddocks, where the horses regularly go, have only about 1’ of packed snow. Considering we’ve got 3-4’ on the ground elsewhere, that’s pretty good.

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=msj;8035548]
Also, if you can afford it, build an indoor. It’ doesn’t have to be huge, just big enough that the horses can run around a bit on the blizzard-type days.[/QUOTE]

We have a 50x50 “longeing” arena on the back side of the barn. It opens to three turnout areas. It doubles as “run in shed” and “dry lot” in all seasons. Could not live without it. Right now, there is a passable path to the east paddock where we put hay on sunny days. But other than that, we are holed up inside.

[trubandloki]

We generally let the horses trample their own paths thru the snow. When the s now gets deep enough that I can not open and close the gates that need to be opened and closed we take the tractor out and push some snow around.
The only days the horses have not gotten out were the days with the really crazy high winds and super cold temps. That is only because no matter how much shelter I have my pony is not allowed in it.

Other than that I just smile and pretend I like snow. Heck, it makes for really white legs and clean hooves.

[alfonsina]

Each of these responses is really helpful, so thank you all very much. Seems like with clever layout and some moderate size machinery, tossing the hay out into the snowy areas, etc, I may not have to become a heavy equipment operator!

[Christa_P]

Make sure to hang your gates high enough that you can still open them without excessive shoveling - at least 12 - 15 inches off the ground.

Use a plastic sled for moving hay around in the paddocks in either snow or mud. A wheelbarrow totally useless in deep going.

[MSP]

When I lived up north I would shovel or blow snow paths between pasture and the barn and around the gates so you can open them. Other than that the horses walked through the snow. I hauled water in 5 gal buckets on a toboggan. My horses were turned out in all but the worst weather. If paths got icy I spread manure/compost on them. Great memories!

I found moving south to be the best way to manage the snow however!

[Frog_Pond]

[QUOTE=MSP;8035772]
When I lived up north I would shovel or blow snow paths between pasture and the barn and around the gates so you can open them. Other than that the horses walked through the snow. I hauled water in 5 gal buckets on a toboggan. My horses were turned out in all but the worst weather. If paths got icy I spread manure/compost on them. [/QUOTE] This is my life, this winter, and it’s gone surprisingly well considering I live in eastern MA and we’ve had many feet of snow! The one problem I’ve encountered is that the packed down snow in my paddock is about 2’ above the level of my dutch doors. I’ve dug them out with a pickaxe, tossed a ton of bedding down to keep it from getting slippery, and it’s fine for now. When it warms up, though, I’ve got this thick snowpack that’s gotta go somewhere. This year, I’m going to get someone else with a FEL to dig it out. Next year, I’ll have my own and won’t let this happen again. More timely snow removal - that’s my suggestion for you :eek::lol:

[normandy_shores]

Mine are out 24/7 on 1/2 fields, not very big. I was worried about the snow building up along the fences and making the fences short, so at the beginning of winter I plowed just around the fencelines. I also keep a path plowed down to the round bale feeder since I role my round bales by hand. They pack down their own paths and I had no issues, but I also didn’t have a huge amount of snow like the east coast.

[Mischievous]

Buy yourself a snowmobile.

They are great fun.

Can be used to easily drag a sled with hay/water around.

They pack down snow to a wonderful footing. Tool around a bit in your paddock or ring and things are perfect. Zip around some trails and you can trail ride and condition with ease.

Many winters a snow mobile will make footing that is decent to even jump courses on, depending on the type of snow.

Could not get through winter without one!

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

What is the north?

Just curious. Are we talking Canada?

I am the north in my mind, but in a normal year it’s a non-issue. We’re actually in a drought right now (weird), although a snowstorm is expected tonight. But the 40 degree weather this weekend should take care of it.

I get by just fine hiring out my major snow removal (drive) and snow blowing a path to the gate, the manure pile, and the hay shed. I have a tremendous shelter belt on the north and west. I don’t think I could stand these temps otherwise. The wind is my biggest issue. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N6aU3wSkpAc/UTZzXk06QNI/AAAAAAAAARQ/e5w6cYViXjc/s1600/alfalfa+field.bmp

Think about where you pile snow, because when it thaws and refreezes that is where you will have all the ice. Seems obvious, but I need to talk to my snow guy. My path to the chicken coup is a treacherous one due to the melting/freezing…