Saturday, "day 104," and frigid again. Again, there was really nothing I could do with him, short of a grooming, some hoof picking, and paddock cleaning. Piles of hay all around the paddock and brimming in the stall.. plus, the weather was awful. In fact, I think I closed him in the stall for most of that day, come to think of it. It was a day freezing rain, and I had a gig that night. I was terrified about driving to and from it, so much that I almost felt a panic attack come on.. not quite, but I was very anxious. The air warmed and it turned to just rain, so I was able to open the stall doors before I left. Don ended up offering to come with me to my gig, for which I was ever so grateful. Once we got past the 8 miles or so from our house to the main road, I relaxed, and luckily, the temperatures never dropped too low on our ride home.. so though there were a couple of slick moments, Don got us home safely. And I could finally relax. Possum was fine, hanging out in his stall when we got home.. looking out into the night, keeping watch.
Sunday, "day 105," the precipitations had stopped, by the air was getting colder, and naturally, the snow was coated with ice. I did my best to pick up the frozen poops in the paddock and mucked his stall. My plan was to blanket him when I got home from my afternoon gig around 9:30 that night. I left him with massive piles of hay to keep him occupied and warm, and topped his water bucket off to the brim. When we got home, he was once again hanging out in his stall, munching on hay and keeping watch on the outside world. After bringing our gear in from the car, I changed out of my gig clothes and bundled up to go out to the barn. It was around 5 degrees at this point, and dropping.
He seemed happy to see me. I put on his halter and clipped him to the tie in the stall and gave him a good curry.. though he wanted to make a stink about it, I think he really did enjoy the rubbing.. got his blood circulating a bit. Then I brushed him with the dandy brush, combed his mane and brushed his tail, picked his hooves, and finally, a quick once over with the soft brush. Then I went back into the house and got the blue blanket that was sitting on the kitchen table. I let him stick his nose in it at first.. it had been a whole year since he's last officially worn a blanket. He played around with it a bit, then I gently tossed it over his back and pulled it up high over his withers and buckled up the front and then the two straps that go under his belly. I spent a lot of time fussing with it and adjusting it just so.. he seemed to enjoy the attention. When I was finally finished, I took off the clip from his halter and then took of his halter. Then I got his feed tub and put one horse cookie in it and fed it to him. He was happy.
Monday morning, "day 106," I got up early and gave him his pellets.. I was happy to open up the last of the three jars of Doxy medicine.. Only a couple of more weeks to go. After his pellets, I brought a few flakes of hay to the paddock and then left him alone for about half an hour. Then I went back out with the halter with the lead attached and slipped it over his pretty face, then I unbuckled the underbelly straps on the blanket and then the two in front, and slowly, I pulled the blanket off. He stuck his nose in it one more time, as if to say, "Thanks, Kate! I felt much better with that extra layer on me over the cold night!" Or maybe not. Who really knows?
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| Monday morning, before taking off his blanket. |
I got home around 4, and I was debating on whether or not to blanket him again that night.. but the temps were not dropping as low, so I opted to keep it off him for the night. Plus, a good old fashioned "Nor'Easter" was coming the next morning, and because the blanket I have is not an official "turn out" blanket (waterproof), I didn't want to take any chances. Better that a horse has no blanket on then a wet blanket, especially in the cold. I was able to groom him that night and pick his hooves, and he seemed content with that.
Tuesday morning, "day 107," the freezing rains came on schedule, but it wasn't too bad for most of the day. Though, certainly not a day to go driving, but we had planned well and did not need to go anywhere that day. I let Possum hang outside all day, walking out every few hours or so with another pitchfork full of hay from the massive pile in his stall. I cleaned his stall and paddock, and scrubbed out the electric water bucket and filled it with fresh water. I also made sure to fill as many buckets of water as I could (all strategically placed under the tables in the kitchen) in case we were to lose power. No power = no water.. so, very important.
Butch was scheduled to come that afternoon, but thankfully, for his safety and ours, he rescheduled again to Friday, because of the dangerous driving conditions. That was a relief to me! Was not look forward to leading Possum up the road in that ice and wind!
By 4:30, as the winter darkness began to set in, the temps were dropping and the wind was picking up. And soon, it started to become down right ferocious! I was 99% sure I was going to lock him in the stall for the night, it was just a question of when. But after watching the 5 o'clock weather report, and then stepping outside and feeling the roar and blast of the wind, I knew it was better to lock him in sooner than later. I stalled as long as I could, then went out to give him his pellets at 5:30. It was dark outside, and he was out in the paddock. I had his feed tub in my hands, and I called out my dinner call, "Possum! Pellets!" Usually, I am quickly greeted by a loud whinny and he comes ambling up to the barn.. but not this time. The wind was too fierce, and he was out there, somewhere, holding court.
So, back in the house I went, to grab a second cap and the headlamp so I could see. Back out to the barn, I grabbed the purple camp halter (easier to put on him), with the lead line attached, and out I marched into the slush and ice and snow. He whinnied when he saw me coming.. and with not too much fight, he allowed me to put on his halter. He almost seemed grateful that I was making the call. He walked back to the barn with me willingly, his face and body covered in ice, and in the stall we marched, where I then quickly clipped the tie to his halter. I ran back outside and pushed away the shavings and hay, then closed up both doors tight.
Back in the barn, I let him loose again, then quickly shoved the feed tub with his medicated pellets, mixed with water and a few carrot strips and celery ends, under his nose. He ate well, and began to relax. When he was done with his pellets, I grabbed some of the second-cut hay (much greener and fresh, it's like candy to the horses), and mixed that into the pile of his regular first-cut hay. He was happy. I left him alone for awhile to munch on his supper and relax. I put on the barn radio low - it's on Don's sports talk station, and it seems to suit Possum as well - and his "party lights" (a strand of blue Christmas lights that wrap around the top of his stall.)
After about 45 minutes, I flicked on the spot lights inside the barn, and clipped him back to the tie in the stall. I had cut up a big old towel into about 8 pieces, and I got busy giving him a rub down. His face and ears, around his head and neck, the top of his back, the sides of his barrel, the top of his tail (the "dock"), and I even ran a towel over and through his tail. He really began to relax then. I kept getting dry towels and going over and over until he was nearly dried off. Then, I took the little blue fleece cooler and tossed that over his back for a few minutes, rubbing around to soak up as much wetness as I could. I also picked his hooves, which were packed with ice, and I made sure to pick up the chunks and toss them in the wheelbarrow that I keep in the barn. Finally, I picked the fresh manure in the stall, then took the blue cooler off of him, and spoiled him with another little helping of second-cut hay. He was content. The winds were whipping outside, and he was safe and dry and calm inside, munching on hay and standing on a thick bed of shavings and hay. All was good.
This morning, Wednesday "day 108," I got up early and spied him through the kitchen window as I was making coffee. I had left the blue party lights on as well as the radio overnight.. he was just standing there, waiting. When I went out at 7:45 to give him breakfast, he whinnied loudly. I'm ready to go outside and play now, he seemed to be saying! I fed him his pellets, then went outside to survey the damage.
Branches down everywhere! And one giant pine branch on top of the white fence tape! I couldn't even move it by myself, so I had to wait for Don to arise so I could get his help. I went back into the barn and told Possum all of this.. another few minutes, buddy! Okay, he said, but hurry! I'm bored!
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| The giant branch of the fence line Wednesday morning! |
It is still pretty windy, and there is a light drizzle, but I'm happy that he is outside now, and so is he. This storm is supposed to continue until tomorrow, so I will decide whether or not to close him in the stall again tonight later. See how it looks. Now, I've got a very dirty stall to clean!
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