Central Al and overnight all forecasts of wintery mix or snow are gone. I’m a little disappointed, we are ready for it for once! Low last night was 17F, and it’s still going to be a cold week (I mean cold for us).
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Mine stand out too instead of their stalls or access to the indoor. Pouring rain and 36 - yep we’re standing out in it. I had a gutter issue a few years ago and they were blocked. Water would shoot in the air at my posts at the barn. Good times!
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Same, we desperately need the precipitation. I’m not sad about a couple super cold days without it though, as it will help kill off the bugs.
They still say 2 to 3 inches of snow or wintry mix starting Tuesday afternoon in lower Alabama, they’ve closed schools here at noon Tueday, and through Wednesday. I suspect the grocery stores will be slammed with scared people today.
On the Weather Channel they were discussing how every Gulf state will have snow on the beaches at one time, first time this ever happened as far as records cover. It is bizarre to me that New Orleans may get 5 to 8 inches, and Houston is predicted to get a bunch too. Lake Charles LA is supposed to get 3 to 5 inches. Depending on the local weather people, in lower Alabama we may get up to 4 inches.
Oh for sure I’m not disagreeing- it’s crazy to me that the coast is expecting snow and I’m 3hrs north and dry!
I used various cleats/yaktraxs for a few years but they were a pain since they’re slippery on concrete and would usually only last one season.
I discovered the screws used for motocross/fat tire bikes on ice and gave them a try. I love them since they’re cheap(er) and work fine on concrete. (They might just wear down a bit faster.)
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Now that’s some shit!
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TX panhandle, we were 5F this morning, 21F right now, supposed to be around 0F tomorrow morning, light snow flurries all along, then warm up for a few days.
Several days ago had 9 1/2" of snow, much of it still around in pockets.
Just think, before we know it, it will be spring again. 
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If the person isn’t smart enough to realize that, then I highly doubt they will be smart enough to put them inside, or even recognize they are cold in the first place, if that’s the rabbit hole you want to dive down.
Well, is -3F right now, a dusting of snow only, but supposed to warm up quickly during the next few days.
Hoping not much froze, will find out when it thaws.
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Minus - 7 this morning - snow from last storm still here with ICE underneath and now a slick topping from refreezing every night ! Very Very dangerous !
Be careful everyone !
I’m calling all the horses “Itchy and B*tchy” - they want a break from their blankets and I don’t blame them. Particularly the blanket hoods! I give long scritches underneath when I am there, but they’ve had enough and so have I. One more day, guys!
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If they’re coming in at night (can’t remember, sorry) and they’re locked in where there is no wind, undo the necks and flip them back over their backs. Now that I’m in a barn where this is the norm and I know her neck will get done up every morning before turnout, I have seen a big difference in itchiness and hair loss 
Wish I had been able to do this during previous winters.
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They’re free to do as they wish. They tend to stay in from roughly 10pm until I feed in the morning, but aren’t locked in, and I have hay outside for them too if that’s where they want to be. They all like to stand in the windbreak of the pines - good views, sunshine, but no wind.
One more night in this garb, and then I feel ok putting them back in regular blankets during the day - mid 20s for the high.
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Thank you to those posting about using barn lime on slippery spot! That has been helpful for us.
We use bucket holders, plastic insulated containers in the stall for keeping our buckets unfrozen. Cashman’s sells them under “bucket holders.” Like the insulated coolers, they are passive, no electric needed to keep water open for drinking. Do note, if bucket is filled ABOVE the bucket holder top edge, water will freeze because it is not insulated up there. We have been using them about 4 years now with very little water freezing issues. Not cheap, but they work really well, save time breaking out ice. Our horses empty their 5 gallon buckets almost daily with unfrozen water in front of them! Yay!! Sometimes you can find used ones for sale cheaper.
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Well, the big to-do has been a big nothing. It’s just cold. The 1-3 inches of snow didn’t happen. We got barely a half inch. Sun is up and it’s all gone now and the ground isn’t even soggy.
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It’s weather like this that makes me appreciate not having horses right now.
Although the dogs are going a bit stir crazy LOL.
Needless to say, we haven’t gone outside other than for (very) quick potty breaks.
Yesterday’s weather
Today’s weather 
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A trick that I used to do for my buckets when I only experienced a handful of days in a row of frozen stable buckets is to use apples.
The horses/ponies dunk for the apple that floats on the top thus making them drink (always a good thing in encourage when its cold) and the floating apple and dunking keep the water moving enough to not freeze. I always offered one bucket sans apple and one with. Most of the time, they finish the bucket with the apple to get the prize.
This will not work outside, but inside where bodies can keep the ambient temp up a bit higher than outside.
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Get a strainer with a handle and scoop the thin ice off the top!
