Snow, Snow, Snow

I am home in the morning in the middle of the week- snow day. The state of South Dakota seems to be taking a snow hit the past few weeks. First the Christmas blizzard and now the first week of January or Epiphany blizzard! I hope this trend does not continue. Caring for our four-legged friends just gets tougher and tougher as the snow piles up. Simple tasks become big time chores. For example watering. The continuous flow artesian well works great until temperatures drop below -10 and the cows and horses outside hunker down for the storm and quit coming up for water regularly. Now the water tank requires daily checking and ice breaking. One of the heated waterers in the barn actually froze up. Time for more heat tape I guess. It worked great all last year, but heat tape must "wear out" or something over time. Mares are due to foal early February so I guess it is time to bring them in the barn. Up until today they have been enjoying their outdoor lot and freedom. It is rather fun to watch a ten month pregnant mare kick up her heels playing. I am always surprised at how athletic they can be when they spend most of their time waddling around from hay bale, to oats feeder, to water. I hope all SDQHA members and their horses are staying warm and looking forward to the SDQHA Annual meeting January 16, 2010 at Chamberlain. The long term weather forcast is great for then!