What a Difference a Day and a Bobcat Make

Things are looking up at the barn.  All of the horses managed to get some hours of turnout today, with hay and heated water.  Wind chills hovered near or below zero, but they were glad to get out.  Much progress was made with snow relocation so that access to the paddocks, barn and dry lots, including their water tanks, is improved.  We can now reach both dry lots, albeit in one case we have to go through one to reach the other as the long aisle is still full of drifts.  Amazingly enough, both water tank heaters were still functioning under all that snow due to protection for the outlet and extension cord/heater connections our wonderful p.m. barn lady had put on them.  Pie's paddock has been abandoned for now, as it has huge drifts and he can use Charisma's daytime paddock at night.  Our neighboring farm's bobcat was used to do the heavy lifting, and achieved wonders.  A group of kids did some more shoveling to clear the water hydrant and the outlet between the dry lots. There's still a bit of finish shoveling left to do so that the hot wire between the dry lots is not covered by snow, and to free the battery powering the hot wire.

Here are some photos showing how much got done - see this post for what things looked like before the bobcat was called into action.

Here's the area outside the south barn door looking up the aisle towards the paddocks:

Here's the snow mound between Charisma's and Pie's paddocks - that's Scout and Pie on the left:

Here's one approach to a water tank in one of the dry lots:

Here's an amazing drift top - that's one of the water tanks and the hydrant peeking out behind:

Here's the other side of the water tank - you can see the tall snow bank that's entrapped the hot wire on the far right:

Here's the approach to the water tank in the other dry lot - that gate, although it's clear, isn't usable - the snow drift is chest high just outside it:

Here's a huge snow drift running down one side of the upper dry lot:

Here's a view back towards the barn:

I managed to catch a few photos of Pie and Scout playing - they usually stop if I get too close, so these pictures are from a ways away.  Pie had an unfair advantage - Scout was wearing a halter - here Pie's grabbed on:

Pie harasses Scout from behind and Scout kicks up in response - no damage done:

Sweet Pie with Scout to the left:

Pie digs in a snowbank:

And ends up with snow on his face:

The dynamic duo:

To all affected by difficult weather, may you and your beasts be safe and warm.