Monday 11 February 2019

Snow Week?

OK, it was fun when it was just a couple of days of snow, but now I'm reconsidering! We had another storm come in and bring yet more snow and I've been basically trapped at home for the last 24 hours, stressing about not being able to get to work and whether I really filled B's water bucket full enough on my last visit and whether she's drinking enough.

Frozen farm
More snow is predicted for later in the day and all day tomorrow, then again Thursday so I might as well just book vacation time because I don't think my work commute will be happening this week! The water bucket issue I will solve this afternoon, I hopefully have a plan to get some additional big buckets of warm water to her.

Been packing water to her using her grain bucket, which is inconvenient for me, and quite confusing for B!

I know the "real" winter places like to make fun of us out here, but seriously, we are wimps in the winter. I don't have heated buckets or really any winter strategy for the horses...typically we get a day or two of cold a handful of times mid winter and then it's warm again, so it's not a big deal. Also, having lived elsewhere I've got to say there's something different about the snow or road maintenance here because it snows and it basically becomes an instant sheet of ice on the roads.

Ice skating potential under the layer of snow. I stopped to take this picture on the road to the barn and my first attempt caught someone oncoming sliding off the road. I deleted the evidence because he was embarrassed (his truck is way bigger and better equipped than mine, lol) and also I'm nice like that ;)

The bad news is that even when I have been able to get to the barn, I haven't been able to ride much, so I'm really not in any way prepared for the clinic next weekend. I've never been a big believer in practicing for clinics because I'd rather just let the clinician see a normal day in the life, but this is taking things to a new extreme - it's been to icy to even safely walk down the road to get to the indoor the past week, too icy to safely ride at all, really.

B would still like to be entertained, please and thank you.


That being said, of course I went out yesterday morning for a 90 min ride on the trails and pretty much regretted the whole thing. The footing sucked and B was stir crazy and prancy and not being at all careful, so there where several times we were sliding up and down hills or really scrambling to keep footing. When I turned around to head back I opted for some of the more sheltered trails in the forest, but the wind suddenly got super crazy and there were snow heavy trees and branches cracking and falling all around us. Also, some odd howling noises around us at one point - the person I was with was like "Not what you're thinking! It's owls, definitely owls!' but I think we were both thinking "Wolves!" Obviously that didn't add any warm fuzzies to our adventure and the horses were getting pretty upset. It honestly felt like we were in some horror/fantasy movie (snowstorm, deep dark isolated forest, horseback, wolves?!), and not in a good way! Luckily, we all made it home safe and no "owls" made themselves known.  I feel better knowing I at least tried to give B a bit of an outing, but I'm not sure I'll be repeating that adventure soon.

Trying to look all innocent, was actually quite willing to ditch me and leave me to the wolves ;)

* I feel like I should explain the wolves - yes, we have them, yes there is a known pack in the area I ride. We hear them the odd time, and they're blamed for the odd person's pet disappearing, but generally speaking sightings are very rare and they keep to themselves and are not something any trail user should worry too much about.

SHARE:

17 comments

  1. Yes, It's been a crazy amount of snow in such a short time!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's actually sort of a fun change! I'm a bit spoiled though, because I can work from home and the barn owner will feed B if I can't get there.

      Delete
  2. Yeah, I'm over winter. Can someone just wake me up when spring comes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My husband suggested a warm vacation somewhere and I'm actually considering it - normally this time of year I'm like "Waste of money! Spring is so close!"

      Delete
  3. It’s been a crazy winter. We’ve had no snow to speak of. That’s supposed to change weds. We will see. I’m sure the clinic will go fine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm looking forward to the clinic. The best part about owning a Bridget is that no matter how wild and ridiculous she gets I know her well enough to not get nervous. She's dumped me numerous times in similar situations, and maybe we don't get a lot done that day, but it's still a fun outing/lesson, if that makes any sense at all.

      Delete
  4. That really sucks if your work makes you use a vacation day.
    I hope it warms up and you have a great clinic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My work is weird...literally everything is closed (schools, transit systems, stores, etc) and they are asking everyone to try come in or else use a vacation day!

      Delete
    2. my work is even weirder since we all have cloud systems and can work from home if we have snow (well when I lived in DE) they still made us work. I hope the weather clears soon for you! Hauling water is the WORST! Glad B is staying warm and having fun ha ha

      Delete
  5. You guys have been having a tough few days - I know Nanaimo and Vancouver got hit pretty badly. Fingers crossed things warm up and this storm passes quickly. That trail ride sounds quite adventurous lol - glad no one got hurt and everything came out OK in the end. FWIW, we have a pack of wolves in our area as well, they don't bother the horses and typically stick to the outskirts of the area.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're getting hit pretty badly up here - everything is shut down. It sounds like it's kind of hit or miss though! I normally like having the wolves around. I wasn't so fond of them making noises in the bush and spooking the horses in the icy snow, though - normally we hear them off in the distance and it's just kind of fun!

      Delete
  6. That's so much snow!I'm in NC and we're total wimps in the snow also. Like, 1/2 inch calls for school closings and the like. Hope it clears up soon for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're normally the same as you. I just measured and we have over a foot as of right now and it's still coming! My work is hardcore making everyone come in, lol, someone just sent me a picture of our only snowplow stuck in a ditch - so much fail :D

      Delete
  7. Oohh, but that's super fascinating about the wolves!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're beautiful - I've only seen two of them once very quickly when out hiking. I surprised them, which I doubt happens too often!

      Delete
  8. It gives me great pleasure that everyone in Canada is experiencing a crazy winter. If I have to suffer, so should everyone else!
    We don't have wolves, but due to a high population of wild bunnies in the city we have urban coyote packs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The coyotes are making their way here - Vancouver definitely has a big number of them now and I've seen some where I work on the Sunshine Coast. I'm so curious as to how they made the leap across Howe Sound to get there (either swam a long way or traveled through some very impressive and inaccessible mountain ranges!)

      Delete

BLOGGER TEMPLATE MADE BY pipdig