Arctic Blast; I'm Not Prepared!!!

Saturday dawned, well, warm-ish and humid-ish.  There were screams across Facebook-land about how a cold front was going to blast it's way through Texas.

I left work an hour early, and sent a fast text to my friends at our Central Texas Lady Trail Riders party and queried "It's hot and humid as hell.  Is it REALLY going to get cold tonight?"

My friend B responded that her husband, at their home north of Waco said it was already cold up there, so the front was moving it's way south.

Okay then, to the barn before the party I go.

And as I drove, I watched the front blast through.  Leaves swirling in updrafts like minature tornados.  The car shaking and rocking as the winds buffetted it hard.  And me, still dressed in business casual as I hit the barn.

Ran to my trailer to grab 2 blankets my friend H dropped for me (1 semi-warm one and one waterproof [hey, better than nothing!]) and some of my blankets (again, nothing very warm, but just to break the wind) and grabbed my hoodie.

Dropped off my 4 bags of grain (wishing now I'd done "before" and "now" pictures of how the Nutrena Fuel really IS improving Strider's topline...but more on that later) and tossed on my jeans and sneakers in the feed room, because I wasn't braving it to change at the pen.

Take it from me, blanketing horses in winds so cutting that the LEAD ROP was WHISTLING is an unpleasant experience.  And took me about 30 minutes for 3 horses. 

Socks, who has colic'd on me at least once in the cold (New Years while boarding with my farrier) got 2 blankets.  A turn out rug beneath a water-repellent blanket.  Sure, he was shaggy, but...he'll be 18 next year. 

Strider got blanketed last, but was tossed in his new water-repellent blanket.  Adjusting straps in the wind is a bear as they flutter and fly all over the place.  His blanket is LONG on the sides, but that'll work out well in the rains. 

But, then there was Dakini.  Who I suspect has NEVER had a blanket on her in her life.  Or if she has, it's been a LONG time.  Let me say it is a statement and testament to how much she trusts me that she let me put this HORSE EATING MONSTER on her back and didn't COMPLETELY lose her damn mind.

I did a lot of gentle talking to her as the winds shoved us both around in the small feeding area in my horses' pen.  She would paw and get panic'd when Socks and Strider would run away and she couldn't see them anymore.  She would dance around.  I admit that at one point she was dancing so much she was getting a little dangerous, and as she swung her butt in my direction, which would have pinned me against a panel, she got a kick in the belly and a snarled "QUIT IT DAKINI!!!" as my energy level spiraled up, then disappated when she moved and stood still. 

Blanketing her took the longest and she was least happy about it of the 3.  When cut loose, her butt hangs out a little (this is a loaned blanket), and she bucked and ran around like a fool, but I'm hoping all 3 are grateful for what little I could do for them.

Usually here in Texas, we just don't need blankets except for waterproof ones.  I no longer own any heavy blankets.  5 or 6 years ago I bought blankets for Socks and Strider to wear during days of snow and cold here in Texas, but I've since disposed of them.

So, suffice to say, I'll be keeping an eye out for some medium weight blankets for my herd.  Nothing super heavy.  They don't need it.  But something warmer than what they're in.

I will say that my eyes leaked a few tears of gratitude when I pulled up.  The horses hadn't completely emptied their hay ring, but I think Marty, the "jack of all trades" at the facility had the foresight to toss ANOTHER round bale on top to keep them through the weekend.  And all 3 were clustered together under their 2 sided run-in when I pulled up.

Would they have been fine if I hadn't meddled?  Probably.  Blankets are a pain in my eyes.  I'm watching the temps like a hawk, and they're all going to be cold for about 2 hours tomorrow morning.  Temps will get into the 40's tomorrow afternoon, so I'll be getting up early so I can run to the barn BEFORE work and strip off blankets before driving in. 

The rest of the week the temps will be a bit more moderate for Texas in the winter.

And on Friday, I'm set up to go to Granger and ride with my "Bishes" for a few hours before I go to work.

I think I'll take Dakini.  It's going to be a "Greenies on the trail" day.  I'm looking forward to it!!!