Getting My Barn Ready for a Winter Storm

Hi everyone! This past weekend we had a winter storm blow through that left about 6 inches of snow, and the temperature dropped to 15 below zero over night, with a daytime high temperature of 2 degrees. (Fahrenheit) Welcome to winter in Colorado!
I wanted to show you how I get ready for a big storm coming in. When you have horses at home, and the weather gets bad, it's a good idea to plan ahead for when these things happen. I am always watching the weather reports during the winter, because I want to anticipate it if I can. For this storm they had been talking about it on the news for at least a week before it came, so I had time to prepare for it.

When a storm is coming, I want to keep my horses as comfortable as possible, so I bed down their stalls with both wood shavings and straw. It makes a really nice "bed" for them to lay in, and it helps to keep them warm when the temperature drops below zero.

One of the most important things for them is to also have access to fresh water that isn't frozen. This will encourage them to continue to drink, even when it is bitter cold. I have a stock tank heater in my waterer which works very well, and my horses will be able to get to their water without a thick layer of ice. If you want to use a stock tank heater, make sure to have your electrical source well protected. This is why I use a safety cover where the extension cord connects to the waterer. It is also important to make sure you are using the correct extension cord for your heater. We found this cord, a 12 gauge cord, at the Big R for around $70.00. Yes, it was expensive, but since our cord has a long way to travel to our electrical source it was important to get the right type of cord.

I also always blanket my horses at night when the temperature drops below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or we are expected to have snow and wind. Some may argue that you don't need too,but it gives me peace of mind to know my horses are warm and dry.

I also like to give my horses extra hay when it gets cold. I don't give them additional grain, but I do load them up with hay so they are able to burn the calories, and stay warm.

By preparing before the storm gets to us, I am making it easier on myself when it comes, so I won't have to be out in the snow and cold.

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