10/17/2026
Winter is coming!
Some of you may not know this, but I was not always a California wuss who grabs a hoodie when the temperature drops below 70 degrees. I actually grew up in Wisconsin and had horses there for many years, so I have dealt with the upcoming time of year at its worst before I moved out here to suffer a whole lot less!
Here's your pre-winter checklist - it's the start of the weekend, so it's a great time to knock some of these items off your list! The cold and wet will be here before you know it, even if you do live in Southern California with me.
If you live in the REAL winter:
1. Do you have tank heaters ready or whatever you use to make sure your horses have water 24/7 no matter the cold?
2. Do you have blankets? Are they waterproof ones (not water resistant) if your horses are turned out in all weather? Are they repaired and ready to go? Do you have a new blanket for the new horse you forgot about? Do you have a bigger blanket for the yearling who is now a 2 y.o.?
3. Do you need to work on your barn or shelters to make sure they don't leak?
4. Have you winterized the pipes outside so you'll have water when it's 20 below? (Even here in the desert, I have to do insulated tape!)
5. Do you need to prepare for mud? The whole process of doing the geotextile fabric, etc. is a PITA but I swear you'll be so happy later if you just kick yourself in the butt and do it now while the ground is dry. Here is a good thread that discusses it: https://forum.chronofhorse.com/t/mud-management-what-fabric-to-lay/436424/2
6. While we're talking about mud control, it's not just for horse areas. Make sure your truck can get back to where the horses are in all weather. You don't want to be moving hay from the street to your barn by hand in miserable weather. That's literally Hell. That's about as bad as horsekeeping gets. Ask me how I know :D
7. Do you need to put in more hay storage? Do it now. If you live where you might get snowed in for a week, you absolutely need to keep surplus feed on hand.
8. Do you need more shelters? The mean horses will absolutely make the wussy horses stay outside in all weather. Even here, I know I need to add at least two more shelters before the rains start because horses are jerks and we have more horses now, despite my best attempts to have less horses... *sigh*
9. If your water depends on electricity working, do you have a generator? Power goes out, and it's one of those things you don't think about until it's an absolute crisis.
10. Arrange for a source of hot water in the barn, even if it's just a pail heater. You're going to want it. Trust me on this.
If you live in the OMG IT'S 42 I'M FREEZING winter:
1. Your horses are just as wussy as you. You need rain sheets if it's under 60 and they're living out or they're gonna shiver. :D
2. Buy some waterproof gloves on Amazon or you'll die doing chores. :D
3. Rules 2-6 of the first group also apply to you. Rule 7 might if you live on the dirt road that gets impassable after a downpour. 8-9 definitely apply especially here in SoCal where the idiots in charge like to turn off our power IN CASE we might have a wildfire, instead of, I don't know, taking basic steps to prevent all the freakin' wildfires.
4. If you plan to ride year round, make sure your arena is ready for that since most of us don't have covered or indoor arenas here. Sand does well layered over something more solid like d.g. This is one of those things where, if you're not "handy," it's best to just pay the professionals and get a professional job done that will hold up for years.
5. Don't forget to buy chore clothes! When our weather is so nice, most of us have a wardrobe that's meant for it. Layers will keep you warm and they don't have to be pretty. You can layer leggings under sweat pants. My favorite chores coat is a super lightweight long down coat that I bought on Amazon. It really blocks the cold and weighs nothing. I also have a good long raincoat, and so should you. Another winner when it really gets miserable is a waterproof Carhart men's hoodie - that will keep you warm in anything and is the best at blocking the wind.
Pic is an old, old screencap from a video of my all time favorite polo pony, Harmony, looking up at my house in Wisconsin, early 1990s. Behind her is an expensive shed/hay barn combo that they only stood in to sun themselves when the sun was out! They preferred the trees in the bad weather. :D
