Field safety after winter storms is something every horse owner should attend to as the wildest weather passes, since gales, heavy rain and flooding can leave a paddock strewn with hazards. A field that was secure in autumn may hold real dangers by late winter. Heavenly Pastures, a specialist provider of horse cremations across the north west, works with an equine community that knows how quickly a storm damaged field can put a horse at risk, and this guide sets out how to check and make good after the worst of the weather.
Why Storms Leave Fields Dangerous
Winter in the north west brings its share of storms, and the damage they do to fields and fencing is easy to underestimate. High winds bring down branches and whole trees, scatter debris and can flatten sections of fencing. Heavy, prolonged rain leaves ground waterlogged, undermines posts and can flood low lying areas. Floodwater carries all manner of hazards onto the land, from rubbish and sharp objects to displaced fencing wire. A field left unchecked after a storm can hold a dozen ways for a horse to injure itself or escape, which is why a thorough inspection after bad weather is so important. Escapes onto roads are a particular danger, putting both horses and the public at risk.
Horses are curious and accident prone, and will often find the one hazard in a field, so the safest approach is to walk the ground and put things right before turning them out. A few minutes spent checking a field after a storm can prevent an injury that takes weeks of recovery, or worse, and is among the most worthwhile tasks in the winter routine.
Walking the Fence Line
A careful walk along the entire boundary is the heart of any post storm check. Looking for broken or leaning posts, slack or snapped wire, damaged rails and gaps a horse could push through catches the failures that lead to escapes. Electric fencing needs checking for breaks and for shorting against fallen vegetation, which can leave it useless without any obvious sign. Gates should be checked for damage and for latches working securely. Any weakness found is best repaired before horses go back out, since a determined horse will find a gap. Carrying a few basic tools and materials on the walk means minor repairs can be made on the spot rather than left for later. Owners around Chester horse cremations and Christleton horse cremations walk their boundaries after every storm.
Clearing Debris and Fallen Timber
Storms leave fields littered with hazards that need clearing before horses return. Fallen branches and trees should be removed, and any remaining trees checked for damaged or hanging limbs that could come down later. It is worth remembering that some trees and shrubs, such as yew and certain others, are highly poisonous to horses, so any storm felled vegetation should be cleared promptly and identified where there is doubt. Scattered debris, wire, rubbish and anything blown in on the wind or water all need gathering up. It is worth taking particular care over anything sharp or metallic, as wire and debris hidden in long grass or mud cause some of the worst field injuries. Owners across Tarvin horse cremations and Huntington horse cremations clear their fields carefully after bad weather.
Checking Ground, Water and Shelter
Beyond the fences, the field itself needs a look over. Waterlogged and flooded areas may need fencing off until they drain, since deep mud and standing water bring their own dangers. Water troughs should be checked for storm damage and contamination, and field shelters inspected for loose roofing, damaged timber or anything that could injure a sheltering horse. Ditches and drainage may need clearing to help a sodden field recover. Standing water can also conceal hazards beneath the surface and softens the ground into deep, tiring mud, so fencing it off until it drains protects both horse and field. Owners around Mickle Trafford horse cremations check every part of the field after a storm.
Keeping Horses Safe While Repairs Are Made
Sometimes a storm leaves damage that cannot be put right at once, and in the meantime horses must be kept safe. Fencing off a hazardous area, moving horses to a secure field, or keeping them stabled until repairs are complete are all better than risking turnout onto compromised ground. Temporary electric fencing can create a safe boundary while permanent repairs are arranged, provided it is properly powered and checked. Where a field cannot be made safe, it is always wiser to keep horses off it than to hope they will avoid the danger, since a horse’s curiosity and the pull of fresh grazing will often lead it straight to trouble. A short spell of inconvenience is well worth it for a horse’s safety.
Prepared for Every Eventuality
Diligent field safety is part of the everyday care that keeps horses out of harm’s way, yet not every danger can be foreseen, and accidents do happen. Where a horse is lost to injury despite an owner’s best efforts, a planned euthanasia arranged with a vet, where a horse cannot be saved, spares it suffering, and compassionate aftercare follows. Such losses are rare when fields are well kept, which is the best reason of all for the careful checks that follow every storm. For guidance on any aspect of equine care or aftercare, owners across the north west are welcome to call Heavenly Pastures on 01704 776976.