snow-ice-misery

[Joltman]

here's what can happen.

http://sports.yahoo.com/rah/news?slug=a ... -monimaker

Anybody up in New England having these kinds of problems? Another nasty one, with ice, seemingly on the way.

hang in there

jm

[wgc517]

This is my first winter taking care of the horses. I have about 17" of snow on the ground but I am doing ok. I am sure it is harder on the people in the New York and above.

Because of the weather, I wonder why there is such a rush to breed so early in the year in the northeast. I know it helps with size come sales time but I think it makes it harder on the foals. There is no grass growing, ice on the ground makes it dangerous. I am trying to make a conscious decision to not drop a foal in January. Just wondering if I am being too cautious...

[Linda_d]

A lot of areas that don't usually get a lot of snow have gotten it this winter -- and the cold temps have made it stay longer, too. As snow sits on the ground or a roof, it compacts and gets heavier. Snow also tends to melt from underneath. You almost never hear of in-use barns in naturally snowy areas collapsing because most are built with steeper roofs and for more snow-load than in areas with less snow.

If you're not sure if your roof can take the snow load, you should probably shovel it off. Around here (snowy southwestern NYS), there's a regular "cottage industry" of people who make money shoveling snow off roofs, primarily off of houses and porches. I know -- I've had my back porch roof shovelled twice this winter to reduce the snow load but also to limit the likelihood of ice damage.