| Featured Article - January 2007
In The Shadow of Equus Weather Havoc and Horse Care |
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| Throughout November into mid December,
British Columbia horse owners were embedded in weather events that
matched or broke records for rain, wind, and snow. We had our work cut
out for us! In November, Vancouver got 350.8 mm of precipitation, tying the November 1983 record. Victoria received 351.9 mm. Chilliwack soaked up more than its fair share with the month’s precipitation at 520.8 mm compared to a 30-year average of 239.0 mm. Then blizzard conditions brought wind chills to -15 degrees Celsius and in some places -24 degrees Celsius in the usually moderate Fraser Valley. Folks in the interior and on the prairies may be used to those winter temperatures but for people and horses on the coast, they present unexpected hazards. The November snowstorm was the worst since the “blizzard of the century” in 1996. The mid-November windstorm was topped by three wind events in one week in December, with the blast on December 15th setting records at 157 km/h and topping typhoon Freda in 1962. Caring for horses in these extreme events is demanding and calls for some essential measures, including adequate shelter, plenty of supplemental hay, ice-free water, and, for the old or underweight, additional warmth with layered blankets. As a rule, horses that are used to being outside (ours are outside all day and in the barn at night) can cope with a lot of weather, but extremes can be punishing — hard rain and wind, cold outflow winds, heavy wet snow that makes pawing for forage difficult, and sub-zero temperatures that freeze water resources. Many of us think of trees as a place of shelter for horses but, given the tree damage from high winds, standing under a tree became a hazard in itself. When a big windstorm hit in mid-November, our band of nine horses rushed to their usual shelter under huge fir and hemlock trees. But within minutes they moved away and huddled in the middle of the field away from all trees. I had to hold onto the fence as a 90 km/h gust roared through the valley, snapping trees on the mountain like pistol-shots, and threatening to bowl me over as it sucked air out of my lungs. Hunched over, I caught our lead mare and led her to the barn, hoping the others would follow as normal. Even while catching her I wondered if that was the best plan, given the trees around the barn, but I had to pick the best of the bad conditions. |
Planning for winter
weather means stocking up on essential supplies and having contingency
plans for when the power goes out. To keep warm, horses need plenty of
good clean hay fed in smaller quantities more often. Keeping the water flowing is of utmost importance. The water supply in our barn is from a stand-up metal pipe, which I normally keep heat-wrapped, but I also made use of an emergency thermal blanket loosely wrapped around the pipe to concentrate any radiated heat from the wrap back onto the pipe. We kept water buckets ice-free with hot water and I have found that the best way to release ice clinging to the sides of a water bucket is to turn it upside down outside and pour just a bit of boiling water over its exterior surface. Let the heat penetrate to the inside then tap the upside down bucket with a hammer all around the sides. The heat and friction often dislodges all the ice in one go. For bedding we use straw. During the snowstorm I didn’t muck out the stalls but bedded fresh straw on top of the manure, using it as additional insulation. Horses can be properly cared for if you care for yourself first. Keep warm with layered clothing and the best insulated winter boots you can afford. Keep your ears and neck warm. By protecting your extremities (feet, hands, head), the rest of your body will stay warm. Have plenty of insulated gloves on hand and keep them dry. Taking care of horses in a barn or paddock in extreme weather is the same as engaging in any other outdoor activity that requires a self-preservation attitude. Eat well, including high-energy foods to keep your strength up and your mind focused on what has to be done. It’s in extreme and stressful conditions when mistakes can be made, so stay rested, and make good use of power-napping during the day if at all possible. I have found a 20-minute power nap after lunch enormously beneficial to coping well through the afternoon chores and further challenges the weather may bring. Lastly, stay sane! The bad weather will pass and winter will gave way to spring. But it’s important to realise that global warming will bring storms of greater intensity, not unlike those we experienced in November and December. These events may become the norm and the sooner each of us establishes effective methods for dealing with them, the easier it will be on horses and humans alike. Read Margaret Evans' column "In The Shadow Of Equus" each month in Pacific & Prairie Horse Journal
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