Winter

Winter is upon us and it's time to start winter feeding and care for the ponies. We went and got wood shavings yesterday for our stalls. We get our shavings free from a local pallet factory, they make great bedding. They are absorbant and keep the barn from smelling also. We have to clean both shelters every day now as manure freezes and we don't want our horses walking on it as they can turn an ankle or get bruises on their soles.
We keep them in at night as it gets very cold and we don't want them losing weight trying to stay warm. The manure has to be piled by the barn and will be spread in the spring as it jams the spreader when it's frozen. We have the farrier coming to look at a couple one more time for the winter. Have shoes on one horse that have to come off and want him to look at our boarder's horse. He has a front foot that's turned out and we want to see if some corrective trimming will fix it.
We are trying to get our own riding club started so that we can get the horse council to help us put in trails across the road on some state land. That project is now under way and if we can get it done, we may put some campsites in the back pasture for horse camping this summer. We would also be able to host a trail ride if we get the trails in so hope that goes well.
The horses are doing well, my arabian has put on weight and is rounding out now and looking great. So far, all is going well here at serenity ranch.