Hoofprints Ranch

01/08/2026

01/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/100049724904153/posts/1481677016833114/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

🌟Adult Riding Lessons Available 🌟

If you’ve been thinking about learning to ride, or you want to get back in the saddle, we have a few spaces available for adult lessons on Thursday evenings 🐴

📩 Email us for more information: pollock_livestock@hotmail.com

01/06/2026

Please Share it up!

01/06/2026

Winter horse ownership is a personality test no one asked to sit.

Everything takes longer.
Nothing stays clean.
Your fingers stop working somewhere around February 2nd.

Summer horse ownership is aesthetic.
Winter horse ownership is logistics , how do I fill up this bucket with 43 frozen hosepipes and taps.

Buckets freeze.
Gates seize. Mud gains sentience. Rugs weigh roughly the same as a small car when wet.

You start each visit asking, “What fresh nonsense awaits me today?” and end it smelling like damp hay and quiet resignation.

And yet.

This is the season where you really learn your horse.
Who stands patiently while you defrost a tap with your breath.
Who checks in when the wind cuts sideways.
Who copes with change without complaint because consistency matters more than comfort.

Winter strips it back. No shows. No shine. No pretending it’s glamorous. Just care, repetition, and turning up even when you’d rather be inside with soup and denial.

Horse ownership in winter isn’t about toughness.
It’s about commitment in small, unphotogenic moments.

And somehow, without making a fuss about it, horses meet us there every single day. 🐎❄️

01/06/2026

Source: Kent Equine Hospital

❄️ Cold Weather = Higher Risk of Impaction Colic ❄️

As temperatures drop, the risk of impaction colic in horses increases. Winter management plays a big role in keeping equine digestive systems healthy—here’s what every horse owner should know 👇

⸻

🐴 What is Impaction Colic?

Impaction colic occurs when dry, firm feed material becomes stuck in the horse’s intestine, usually in the large colon. This blockage slows or stops normal gut movement, causing pain and potentially serious complications if not treated promptly.

⸻

🚨 Signs of Impaction Colic

Signs can range from mild to severe and may include:
• Reduced or absent manure production
• Dry, hard f***s
• Decreased appetite
• Lethargy or depression
• Pawing, stretching, or looking at the flank
• Lying down more than usual or difficulty getting comfortable

Always contact your veterinarian if colic is suspected.

⸻

🧊 Why Does Cold, Freezing Weather Increase the Risk?

Cold conditions contribute to impaction colic for several reasons:
• Reduced water intake: Horses often drink less when water is cold or frozen
• Drier diets: Increased reliance on hay with less moisture than pasture
• Decreased gut motility: Less movement and colder temperatures can slow digestion
• Frozen or limited water sources: Even short periods without adequate water can lead to dehydration

Dehydration + dry feed = higher risk of intestinal blockage.

⸻

✅ How to Help Prevent Impaction Colic
• Ensure constant access to fresh, unfrozen water (ideally lukewarm in winter)
• Monitor daily water intake and manure output
• Soak hay or feeds if recommended by your vet
• Encourage regular movement and turnout
• Make dietary changes gradually
• Schedule routine dental care and parasite management

Cold weather doesn’t have to mean colic risk—with good management and close observation, you can help keep your horse healthy all winter long 💙🐎

01/01/2026

I you're near summerside....

01/01/2026

Wishing everyone all things good as you put your best hoof forward this year! Love and hugs from Aleida and the herd

01/01/2026

12/22/2025

Not too late! Personalized for any amount for any person delivered straight to their inbox. Valid for any program or service Hoofprints Ranch offers. Merry Christmas!

Give the gift of experience! Gift certificates are applicable for all programs offered by Hoofprints Ranch (equine assisted services, day programs, riding lessons, and first aid classes). Any amount for any person!

https://www.hoofprintsranch.net/new-page-3

12/15/2025

Congratulations to the Hoofprints Ranch Holiday Gift Basket winner Macleod!
Gift cards totaling $225 AND lots of goodies too!

We'll connect to arrange a time to pick up or drop off!

Thank you everyone for participating!

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