SNOW DAY: April 17, 2009

It’s 10:00 at night and still snowing; last count 26” deep. It started last night with about 3” on the ground by bedtime. It hit 11” by 8:00 this morning and has continued all day. It hit 2” below the tops of my muck boots when I fed this morning. At 6:30 this evening, when I went to feed again, I figured the muck boots would be OK because I already had a path. Big surprise! No path left so I got to wade through mid-thigh deep, very heavy and wet, snow. I had to laugh at the horses when I got to the corral; they were kicking and racing each other around whenever snow would fall from one of the trees. They were faring much better than I was. They had kept the snow smashed down in a large area near the feeder and under the largest tree for shelter. I didn’t know why they wouldn’t come to me like they usually do, until I realized the electric fencer was under snow, along with all the lower level of hot wire. Every time it pulsed little shock waves shot out through the snow. I got the fencer turned off and there was a collective sigh from all four horses, as two of them dove into their beet pulp. They were very grateful they could finally eat without getting shocked! Washoe was so excited he grabbed the plastic beet bowl and started throwing it in the air. He and Jesse chased it for a while, just like kids playing in the snow. Estes and Jesse had icicles hanging from their manes and tails, rattling as they played. Tomorrow I will have to wear snowshoes to go feed!