Last gasp?

The sand ring in two feet plus of snow
The sand ring in two feet plus of snow

Maryland at least in my part yanno the DC burbs doesn’t get much snow. In theory and usually. This winter has been a little different from everything everyone is telling me who have lived here longer then the three years I have. Its unusual to get snow like this. I’m actually more annoyed with the frozen ground then the snow its self. Under all that pretty white fluffy stuff is really hard ground that often has been chewed up a bit leaving hard points and mounds that can bruise hooves, especially in the paddocks. Cie la vie, it is what it is and theres not a lot i can do about it. No indoor means less riding time on the frozen days. Its actually no comfort to me at all that barns in my area who are lucky enough to have indoors are experiencing similar issues with frozen ground but in their actual indoors. So everyone is feeling the pain this winter.

giving the other horses the stink eye
giving the other horses the stink eye

On Valentines day i headed to the barn. It was the day after 2 feet plus of snow was dumped and after my car got dug out I went to see the girls. The big roads were mostly clear and the driveway up to the barn was plowed. I parked and walked down to see the girls in the field. Walking into the field in some places the snow came up to the top of my boots. Thats pretty deep. I fed the girls some carrots but Jez was guarding me from everyone else with a really mean face and honestly with the snow that deep it would be hard for me to get out of the way if she spun and kicked out at another horse. I opted to stay on the other side of the fence to give the girls their treats. Since the drive was clear another boarder was walking her her horse on the pavement, its about 3 quarters of a mile up and back. I walked with her and we bitched about the weather. Good times. Then M and Peanut showed up and I walked with her up the drive and back with her horse. Then we decided to go for a walk with peanut in the snow out the back on the bridle path. Yeah that was a challenge. The snow was very deep and just walking took a lot of effort. Little peanut had to take several breaks and lay in the snow. Your legs felt like you were walking in very deep sand.  I was bitching and moaning and M was all “This is what we do when we cant ride! would you rather be on a treadmill” Oh hell no, i walked. We went half the normal distance we have been walking and i was twice as tired. I could totally see why the ponies were all just standing around. I couldn’t really blame them. When i got home I read a weather report that said this might be the last gasp of winter.. i’m crossing everything i have that’s true.

Nutter Butter on a walk break
Nutter Butter on a walk break

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