Winter in Minnesota
I have to smile when I read articles in equestrian magazines about "winter riding." Apparently people in other parts of the country worry that it's too cold to ride when temperatures get as low as the mid thirties, and they blanket their horses at 40 degrees. Mid-thirties in February in Benton County is positively balmy, and when it hits 40 degrees college students put on their shorts. Minnesota winters can go for days with the temperature below zero. Despite the temps and the wind chill, horses have to be cared for and ridden. I've got insulated riding boots from Sweden that are guaranteed to 10 degrees, insulated breeches, a sheepskin "warmer" for my saddle seat, and plenty of thermal undergarments to wick away the perspiration. It helps ... but the best cold-weather equipment is Kate's heated indoor arena!
Thor: half Shetland, half miniature, full -blooded macho. Nothing comes between him and his mares. |
People ask how the horses keep warm. The horses grow incredibly thick, fuzzy winter coats. We don't clip the horses so they can enjoy normal turnout. The humans need to spend more time cooling the horses down after riding them. The horses start to shed their winter coats when the days begin to get longer in February and March. Most of horses also "bulk up," acquiring a thin layer of fat under the skin. Unlike humans, horses easily lose this layer of winter insulation by the time warmer weather comes along. The staff monitors the horses, making sure that they're maintaining their body weight and heat. The horses that can't are blanketed and given extra feed. Some owners also choose to blanket their horses. Speaking as an observer, it seems to me that horses consider blankets as a challenge to their ingenuity, not as a comfort. One owner blanketed her gelding until the horse removed his blanket, placed it in the middle of the stall, and urinated on it. My horse was blanketed until he took it off and waved it about the pasture. More commonly, the other horses in the pasture rip the blanket to shreds. |
| A view of the frozen Mississippi River, as seen from MVF's outdoor dressage arena. Photo taken February 14th, 2004. The frozen river lies between the trees and the house on the opposite bank. |  |
Water is a challenge. MVF has heated outdoor water tanks, so the horses in the pasture are assured of water, no matter the temperature. Indoors, most of the stalls are fitted in winter with heated water buckets. And for the stalls that don't have heated buckets, the staff has to daily rotate out the frozen bucket (which defrosts in the heated indoor arena) and bring in a fresh bucket of water, which will be frozen solid by the next day.
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Destiny naps in a sunny spot out of the wind. It was about 16 degrees F when this photo was taken. |
Snow presents another challenge. Deep snow makes gates a mockery and shorts out electric fences. Escapes happen. More common, though, is to come out and find that the horses from one pasture have walked over the fence to move in with the herd in the next pasture, discombobulating all the equines in the vicinity.
Winter has its own austere beauty. I can appreciate its muted tones. Still, I hope for the longer days and bright colors of spring.
| Horses at play | Yearlings | Cats and Dogs |
| Posted February 16th, 2004 | Updated February 16, 2004 |
