First, several readers asked where they can get the black corn barn broom that I mentioned in a previous blog. I found some online at www.ablackhorse.com, www.parish-supply.com, www.unbeatablesale.com, and www.pronto.com. I simply searched, as I would for my own shopping, for “black barn broom corn.” They really are terrific brooms, which Horse Journal has been recommending since its earliest days.

We were blessed this past weekend with gorgeous fall weather, so we spent much of our time doing additional “pre-winter” tasks. The most fun was getting the horses ready for the coming snow and ice. We trim the tail to between the hocks and ankle. My husband uses scissors, and makes one cut from the bottom on each side, angled in toward one another. It looks nice. The shorter length means the tail will be less likely to drag in the snow.

The mane and forelock were also trimmed, as it will help prevent icicles from forming. We also cut the whiskers, as they, too, will become icy, and that simply can’t be comfortable.

Finally (and a lot of folks are going to tell me they disagree with this), we cut back the fetlock feathering. We don’t shave the area, leaving thick hair close to the skin, but we do cut the long hairs. This helps stop snow balls from building up on the fetlock area and helps us with the mare with chronic scratches, as it helps keep the wet and mud off of the back of her fetlocks. We believe that this one mare battles scratches partially because she has four white socks and partially because she has chronic inflammation in her joints. I had a bay with black points that battled scratches, too, probably for the same reason, but I didn’t know back then that inflammation could be a cause. (Yes, she’s on a joint supplement, and I use firocoxib when it’s needed.)

We’ve got blankets fit for each horse, repaired and ready to go, with backup blankets, too, so we’ve got coverage while the other ones are being laundered. So, the only thing left to get ready is my mindset. I’m already battling winter depression, and it hasn’t even started yet.