snowponies

They were not happy bunnies and the oldest was really freaking out due to the incredibly high winds. Will do my best to get to them in the morning. They've got tons of hay but water buckets are frozen solid offered some warm water but no takers. Only an inch at home, think we might of had some freezing rain since I got back as car is covered in ice! How much do you have @festivalking

Holy batman Pogo stick, just got back from the horses on the moors and in all my 26 years I have never experienced weather like it! Think I have driven and walked through my first blizzard! Couldn't muck out the horses as the wind was so strong it took it all out the wheel barrow. Couldn't see more than 2 meters in front. Over 1ft snow drifts, absolutely crazy! My car is blooming amazing and on one snow drift I drove through I felt the side of the car tip up. Not going to forget that in a while!

About to venture out to do the horses, wish me luck!! Got a blanket, food, water and a good CD in case I get stuck ?

Us horsey lot are hardcore ? couldn't break their outside buckets this morning and had to use a rock to break them, then pick out the ice with my hands, brutal!! My girls are just outside lydford near the firing ranges and clients horses are between Bridestowe and sourton. They do regulate their temperatures so well which is why I haven't rugged the two oldies, even the clipped one got too hot in a 300g so she's in 100g at the moment. Would you still be able to get to yours?

Only one is rugged up who is clipped but the other two aren't, they are very hairy and considering they are in their mid/late twenties, they are lovely and toasty. They've got a lovely semi deep littered straw bed too so think they will be ok. I've always had them at home in snow so not used to not being able to get to them! They have giant turnips in the car waiting for them ?

Thankfully they are in a large barn with option to go out too so if the roof comes down they can get out. It's sheltered from the wind too. Clients horses I have left stabled. Got a neighbour's number just in case! Will go at 2.30pm but if it gets bad will turn back home. Good thing I topped all my horses haynets up so fingers crossed they'll be ok!

Bit concerned now, have gone home and cancelled my jobs on the moors as that wind is unbearable! I live in the orange zone but my horses and a client's horses all live in the red zone! How good is a Toyota rav4 in heavy snow??

Light snow just outside tavistock, should be fun/interesting working on Dartmoor today ??? Good luck everyone! We all deserve 20cms+ each after so many failed chances over the years.

Snow upgraded for Thursday/friday ? I really think it'll be the case of waking up Friday morning and seeing what is outside. It's been 9 years since we had a decent fall ? a few flurries about this afternoon and it light snowed most of the time I was feeding the horses with the flakes settling on their fur. Looking good for Wednesday too ?

The low on Thursday/friday reminds me of Feb 2009, wasn't that a easterly as well? We had 50cms and the army had to come rescue people stranded on the a386 and the local town halls gave emergency shelter. Was absolutely amazing and was the start of my snow/cold obsession. Remember riding my horse on the moors and the snow almost came up to her shoulders! And having a canter on the main road as the snow was so deep. My current horse is a lot smaller and is only just coming back into work after being poorly so we won't be able to venture out if the snow is very deep but I haven't ridden in snow for 8 years now, maybe just a toddle down the lane... I'm praying to the weather gods this comes off, after the 2013 event where the channel islands stole all our snow I think I'd have a mental breakdown if it happens again.

I'm lydford way but client is in Mary tavy, I've got a 4x4 so hopefully would be able to get to her and offered my portable electric heater but she won't take it. Luckily she has the village shop but imagine that would be stripped bear if we get snow forecasted! Can't believe BBC Radio Devon said it will rain next week ?

Ahhh got an elderly client, who I look after her outdoor animals, is not believing about the depth of cold or the risk of snow. So angry at the BBC as she said BBC Devon have said it'll be rain next week with maybe snow on tops of Dartmoor. She also saw the papers with the big title of 'killer winter weather coming' and thinks that's where I've got it from, gahhh she only has one gas bottle at a time so will run out probably Fri next week. Not much I can do, I've warned her but obviously quite concerned for her well being! My land lady who owns the farm I'm on also had no idea and are planning to lamb end of next week. Why are the BBC under playing this? Sorry if off topic!

The question I have is... Can I cook soup on my log burner if the power goes? ? Only just convinced my partner to order logs in but apart from that he's also in denial! Extra hay coming at the weekend for the horses, it's definitely going to be an experience working on Dartmoor next week ? so excited!!

I'm currently working up by cox tor/white tor. 3 degrees and snowing though its more wet snow so not settling.... yet!

They are pretty good to let us know! My youngster has been in a foul mood lately as I think she's just fed up with the rain! Jealous you've managed to get out and ride!! Haven't been out in weeks due to the rain, plus the moors are waterlogged, not quite a good idea to take the wannabe race horse up! Though if there's a covering on the ground tomorrow I may take her up, never knew a horse could love snow as much as me lol! This is my girlie having fun back in 2009, wish it would snow like then!

Woohoo! Heavily snowing currently, cars have a good covering, garden has gone white, probably around 3cm fallen in 5 mins! Chuffed to bits as I have a nasty bout of flu at the moment so that's cheered me up, may go have a play in the 4x4 later Took some pics, more has settled since I took them!

First day this winter with lying snow! Not a huge amount, perhaps 1-2cm. Melting quick with the sun out though, temp is currently -0.2 degrees

Crazy thunderstorm 5 mins ago, the hail was huge, everywhere's gone white! Felt quite vulnerable poo picking in an open field!! And now for round 2, bloody hell!!

Crazy thunderstorm 5 mins ago, the hail was huge, everywhere's gone white! Felt quite vulnerable poo picking in an open field!! And now for round 2, bloody hell!!

Rain very heavy now, no wind yet though! Should soon know with having a fireplace in every room in the house (incl the bathroom), part of me is a bit nervous as my pride and joys live outside (OH wont budge on letting them in the house lol) and the other part excited. Hoping my stable roof doesn't disappear.... Beast of dartmoor, have you noticed the temperature has dropped quite considerably?

Haven't seen rain like it like this morning! Lots of lightening and a bit of thunder at around 10.30am. I think I've also set myself a new record of being soaked to my knickers in under 6 seconds!! A client's barn got completely flooded as the drainage system in the roof just couldn't take the sheer amount of water coming down so we had 3 separate waterfalls coming down inside the barn. Carnage! Raining very heavily again now, so glad I've got a quiet day today so don't have to venture out till 4pm. Pjs on, check, cup of tea in hand, check, Bacon sandwich, check. Sorted!

A lot of the trees on the turn now, going a beautiful golden colour, living on the edge of Lydford gorge it's such a gorgeous time of year. Gutted my saddle no longer fits my horse (cant quite afford a new one yet) so can't enjoy the sunsets reflecting on the moor making everything look like a goldy orange colour. Now looking forward to the temperatures cooling and the first frosts as mucking out horses for a living is just awful in warm weather!! Horse bedding and hay now ordered, rugs are all out and ready, very much looking forward to winter now with the dark evenings and the cold nights. Not quite thinking about the endless mud yet though!

I've never seen so many blackberries! For the past 5 years I've been making blackberry and apple crumbles, recently selling them in local pubs, and this year I've managed to make 6 crumbles with just picking them at a client's driveway. The horses' coats are no longer looking silky soft and are now looking all fluffy. The ex moorland pony has grown much thicker fur on her legs this autumn, last time she did that was in 2010, whether she's getting prepared for something, who knows..... Autumn is such a beautiful season and thoroughly looking forward to enjoying it on dartmoor on the back of my horse to watch the gorgeous sunsets that autumn typically throws.

Feb 09 will always stand out the best regarding snow down here in Devon, we had over 1ft of snow and was trapt for 5 days! I also ran out of hay so had to drag hay in bin bags for over a mile 4 times a day so the horses had something to eat! We had so many near misses down here last year so hoping this winter we'll get a lovely channel low, mmmmmnn, I can only wish!!!

Has anyone seen the amount of blackberries coming out? Looks like a bumper crop for my apple and blackberry crumble this year plus one of my ponies (roamed bodmin moor for 10 years) is now growing her winter coat! Autumn is coming!! I'm probably the only horsey person out there (who also owns a business involving working outside) who loves the winter and the cold, counting down the days to sub zero temperatures, bring it on!!