01/11/2024
Ok y'all. Let's talk about cold temps and WHAT TO DO. We have some "polar vortex" sh*t coming our way & a lot of people are freaking out. Here's my take:
DO'S:
1. DO give your horse access to all the hay they can eat. This is the #1 way to keep their guts moving, their water intake normal & their well-being in tip-top shape.
2. DO what will help YOU sleep at night. Do you want your horse to wear a blanket? Cool! Put one on them. Just make sure the fill is heavy enough to offset the diminished effect of the "fluffy effect" that their coats are designed to do.
3. DO remember to BREATHE. Hyperventilation doesn't count. Take a breath. This too shall pass.
4. DO realize that you can do everything right & your horse can still find a way to get themselves into distress during the storm. You can lock them in & that could cause them to stress and colic. You could leave them out & they could decide to self-destruct/refuse to drink water. Do the BEST YOU CAN for yourself/your horses & let the rest unfold.
DO NOT'S:
5. DO NOT panic. This does nothing but stress your horse out. Yes, they are energetically connected to you. If you are stressing out because you think they are cold, they will know this and wonder, "My human is stressed, should I be stressed?!" (See #2 above.)
6. DO NOT make drastic changes to your horse's diet/living situation right before a storm. This is not the time to add 4lbs of soaked pellets if your horse doesn't get grain. Adding water/salt/electrolytes to their normal grain ration is great. You can encourage drinking by offering a bucket of water with a handful of senior soaked in the bottom. (Also not the time to lock your horse in a stall if they are used to living outside.)
7. DO NOT do what other people tell you to do if it doesn't feel right. The internet is the wild, wild west full of people who think they know it all. If the advice you get doesn't feel good, don't take it.
8. DO NOT expend all of your energy resisting the weather. No amount of worry/stress can change the forecast. Take steps now to prepare and then know that you will make it through as it unfolds.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. Stay safe out there & REMEMBER TO BREATHE 😉