So Windy

The wind is back with sporadic rain or hail.  This morning, it was white outside with joined-up hail but it had melted by the time we went over to Leradale to feed the ponies.

I think we are all rather fed up with winter now and I am sorry if I sound like a perpetual whining weather forecast but this weather is very eroding and makes hard work of everything.

Every day, the little ones come up for their daily carrot and hug and I just have to keep telling myself that they are doing very well.

There field is enormous with plenty of rough grazing around.  I also tell myself that they are native Shetland ponies who are perfectly capable of finding it as well as doing very well on it.

The Shetland ponies here are fat with room to lose more weight – all of them – so to feed them hard feed like we do their Icelandic neighbours (mares and foals) would be a mistake, leading to health problems, so not a good idea.

I just have to keep telling myself this over and over again and I am finding it very difficult this time of year. I always do.

9 thoughts on “So Windy

  1. Sam

    Even in New England, this winter does not seem to want to leave. You have my sympathies on the wind. We have snow, sleet and cold temps today. As for the Shetland ponies – their endearing faces make all of us want to spoil them. But Muzzah knows best, so just carrots and nosey kisses for all.

    Reply
  2. Judith Garbutt

    I know exactly what you mean, Frances! I look at my little chap and his three friends and struggle to ignore them when they tell me they ate starving! I’m desperate for them all to lose some weight before the spring grass comes through but it’s sooooo hard sometimes! Your ponies do look well though so I’m sure they’ll get through the next couple of months.

    Reply
  3. Dee

    I have the same problem with our Canadian. He lives out year-round and I had great difficulty persuading Philip just to give him hay pellets in the winter – and then only to keep him from bullying his field mate from hers. He has hay adlib and our farrier has warned us he’s bordering on being too fat. So the worse the weather, the harder it might be for him -which is good. I guess.

    Reply
  4. Linda

    We’ve been getting lots of rain (Pacific Northwest) and some days I’m afraid our dog is going to commit suicide. She goes out, confirms for the 10th time that yes, it’s still raining, then goes inside and mopes. It’s SO tempting to give her treats to make up for the weather and fewer, shorter walks, but like you said, it would just mean physical problems down the road. Sigh…

    Reply
  5. diane in northern wis

    Oh, aren’t they adorable. I too would find it hard not to be giving them all kinds of delicious treats as well as hugs and nosey kisses. Hope winter moves out quickly!!!

    Reply
  6. Louise Stopford

    I suppose it’s one of those – “You’ve got to be cruel to be kind” situations. I totally agree that your ponies do look very well, in spite of this long, wild winter. I to would want to feed everything and everybody, so I must be a “feeder” to. You know what you are doing and your ponies look great and their well being is the most important thing – So the proofs in the pudding (so to speak).

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Linda Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *