Getting ready for winter

Edited to add: Spencer seems to be doing ok after his little colic episode. Going to start soaking his grain, adding electrolytes and maybe some soaked beet pulp or hay cubes in the evening.

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As seems to be the norm the past few weeks, I drafted parts of this post awhile ago...so most of this was my to-do list from September!

I have a few things to do around my little farm to get ready for winter and if the temperatures lately have been any indication, I need to get my butt moving! 

8-10 inches of snow...just a start!

• DONE! -- Get the heater going in the water trough – I had been stalling on this since wasn't too cold, until one morning in October when it was -4C and there was a thin layer of ice on the trough. 
• Might want to get on this...seeing as how we had our first big snow this week!!  -- Check fence and tighten a few strands. There are a few spots of the fence that get hit with the prevailing west winds and the snow really drifts up against it.  Last year I was able to step over the top strand by walking on a drift! Luckily Spencer had no reason to try and plow through the deep snow to escape! 
• DONE!  -- Test the fence and make sure all connections are good.  I’ve been working on this in sections, but have been slacking lately. 
• DONE! -- Finish pulling all the burrs out of the paddock.  I should have been more aggressive with this earlier in the year…  Next year I will be spraying the bleeping burrs when they start growing!!!
• DONE! -- Pack up fly sprays, fly masks and summer stuff – like shampoo and coat conditioner.  Last year some of that stuff froze on me, even though my tack room is insulated. I will probably store all of it in the house this year.  
• DONE! Need to get on this ASAP!  Have heat tape + insulation all purchased -- Install heat tape and insulation on my water hydrant.  It is supposed to be a frost-free hydrant – in that the water is pulled up and then drains below the frost line.  It froze on me in January last year, so I’m hoping the heat tape helps…  It may also need some adjustments so it doesn’t drip and freeze at the spout. 
• FINALLY DONE! Just washed my HUS saddle pad and once dry need to put it away -- Clean up and organize all my show tack/equipment so it is ready to roll for next year! 
• STILL TO DO.  4 more months of winter should be enough time! -- Clean and oil tack – I bought some nice waterproofing leather conditioner at Congress 
• DONE!  -- Dig out Spencer’s blankets – they are in a bin somewhere – hopefully I had the brains to not hide them behind my hay!  :-S

I have a few goals brewing for the cold, dark winter as well:

• Learning how to pull a mane and band
• Practicing showmanship 
• Working out – so I can be in better shape for the spring    
• Budgeting for next year’s shows and lessons
• Relaxing!  :-D  Winter is a great time to do some reading and catch up on fun stuff like that!