From Kentucky up through New York, the recent winter storm’s ice and snow has caused major problems for horse owners and those in the horse business. In Kentucky, an inch or more of ice coated every surface starting Feb. 16, causing power lines to sag onto roads and fields, trees to split and drop limbs, and streets to become impassible. There was flooding in other parts of the state.

In New York, snows up to two feet caused even those used to heavy winters to be stuck when snow plows couldn’t keep up. Things usually taken for granted, such as hot water, were unavailable. Electric gates were immobile and frozen. Huge trees knocked down fences as they tumbled under burdens of ice. Driving in the city and country became a game of “dodge-em” with limbs threatening to take the tops off of horse vans and trucks and blocking many roads