PREPARING FOR RAIN!!

HEY EVERYONE!

It's been crazy here in SoCal this past week!
it was hot and sunny then humid and windy then it was raining like crazy and there was ice in my water trough! All within six days!

Six of my seven little fishy friends died due to the drastic temperature changes, such a bummer!

Anyway, because of all the rain we've gotten recently I thought it would be a good time to discuss how to get your horse and your property ready for a storm!

Now obviously how you prepare depends entirely on your horse, your area and the intensity of the rains coming your way, but here are some of the basic concerns that all horse people should at least be aware of.
Whether or not you choose to use any of the tips below is (of course) entirely up to you.

But Mommy and I thought that we would at least provide you with things to think about in the future.

YOUR HORSE

• Blanketing is important to consider when preparing for rains. If your horse lives outside in a pasture or open pen a light, rain sheet without a liner may do the trick. That's what I wear. I don't really NEED a blanket, none of us really do (if we have our winter coats) but I wear mine to make sure I stay relatively clean (I love splashing in puddles and playing in the rain) It also helps me regulate my own body temperature better. The sheet is light enough to make sure I do not get over heated while still helping trap my body heat and assist me to keep myself warm.

Me after the recent rain storms, in my MIO turn out sheet!

• A un-blanketed horse that lives outside during a storm (even an un-body clipped one) may roll in the mud multiple times, LET US DO THIS! By caking ourselves in mud we can trap our own body heat and keep ourselves warm. 

• Obviously a body clipped horse should definitely wear a blanket or sheet if they intend to live outside during a storm. They have a harder time keeping themselves warm without a winter coat to assist them and being too cold for long periods of time can take a toll on their health.   

• A horse that lives inside a covered stall or barn is obviously less likely to require a blanket, an un-clipped horse may not need one at all, but a clipped horse should still probably wear at least a light stable sheet, especially if there is a noticeable drop in the temperature. Regardless of what type of footing your out door horse lives on, its likely to get quite wet and may become muddy. 

• Be prepared to dig a trench or lay down some shavings to get rid of the excess water. A horse's feet can get incredibly tender if they are forced to stand in large puddles for long periods of time.Your horse may come up lame or develop an abscess if most of the puddles in their pen are not dealt with as thoroughly as possible. Obviously it is much harder to keep mud and water out of a pasture then it is to keep it out of a single pen. Just make sure you take good care of your horse's feet and keep an eye on them to make sure they don't become tender.

• Riding in slippery footing or deep mud is not only difficult for your horse but also quite dangerous. If you decide to ride your horse out side during a storm. Doing heavy work is very unsafe and a light walk and possibly some trot work should be all that is attempted.

• Just like Humans, us horses get bored! A stabled horse needs to have some sort of activity to keep them occupied! If we are not able to get out and be ridden or play then we may become cranky and difficult. Finding ways to keep our minds engaged is crucial! Try to come up with something  fun your horse could do while their cooped up. Mommy likes to use this time for brain games or desensitization training. 

• My favorite game she calls WAIT. Wait is a patience game. It teaches me to stand quietly until she tells me I can move. Mommy leads me over to a puddle and asks me to square up beside or in it. Then she says wait, if I'm good for five seconds without moving then she raises her foot and mimics pawing while using my release phrase "good girl". This is a sign that I have done what she wanted and I am allowed to splash in the puddle for a few minutes! Then we go for a walk, find another puddle and play the game again!

Mommy tries to come up with fun brain games for us to play when it's too wet to train or run around.

• Some horses may go off their feed or stop drinking water during a storm. Sometimes it's because the thunder or lightning give them anxiety but check to make sure their water supply is not too cold and that there is nothing wrong with their food. If the problem persists then it might be a good idea to consult your vet.

Granny M does not like to get wet, it makes her cold. Normally she will not eat unless she wears her sheet.

AROUND THE PROPERTY

• Hay needs to be kept as dry as possible. Storing it in a shed or at least under a large tarp during the rain is highly recommend. Not only does wet hay spoil faster but as it dries out it lets off heat and in a few cases has led to fires.

• If you have an out door arena it is a good idea to drag or rake the footing as even as possible (Mommy says this reduces the likely hood that puddles will form) it is also recommended that the arena gate be locked and the arena be off limits until it dries out.

• Before a storm you should also check your roof. A leaky roof can cause incredibly high expenses especially if the water it lets through ruins important equipment, tack or feed supplies.

• Be on the lookout for critters. Small animals like mice, rabbits etc. may attempt to seek refuge in your feed room or somewhere else in you barn. This can cause the spread of diseases and also create quite a mess! It is much harder to get rid of critters then it is to keep them out.

Obviously this post only covers the basics of preparing for a rain storm but we still thought we would share it with you guys. 

Who knows maybe we were able to give you some ideas for the next time you need to get ready for rain!

LOTS OF KISSES

-TIGERLILY