Early Winter Wonderland

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As I type this, it’s 30¡F and snowing in Lexington. And this is one of the warmer days we’ve had of late. It’s not supposed to be this cold in Lexington this early, and it sure isn’t supposed to snow until at least December! And winter’s early arrival has sent some of the ownersÑboth of senior and younger horsesÑat my boarding barn scrambling for a variety of things. Here are a few things I pulled together when the temperatures plummeted:

Heated water buckets The first thing I went searching for as winter arrived was Dorado’s heated water bucket. Older horses’ teeth can be sensitive to very cold water, which could discourage them from drinking and lead to dehydration and gastrointestinal issues. And, since Dorado colicked mildly for that exact reason several years ago, I don’t waste any time in putting a heated bucket in his stall.

The next day, Dorado’s heated bucket was nearly empty and the unheated counterpart was still fullÑI guess we know which one he prefers!

Of course, it goes without saying that if you plug anything into an electric outlet in a barn, you should ensure the wiring is up to code and whatever you plug in isn’t going to create an undue fire risk. Fortunately, our farm owners are meticulous about maintaining the barns and their contents, so I’m comfortable with using a heated bucket throughout the cold season

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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