Albuquerque’s normal average high temperature for Groundhog Day is 51°F. Our high temperature yesterday was 9 degrees.
The wind chill while we did chores last night was -16°F. Let me tell you, I forgot what cold feels like.
When the Canada geese hunker down, it’s cold.
This is what things looked like at Morning Bray Farm on Tuesday morning.
And this is what things looked like yesterday morning. We’re totally not used to having snow hang around. Cold.
Hence, I was in a complete panic yesterday morning when I saw the boys’ feet. (Carson, thanks for talking me off the ledge! )
Their hooves weren’t even touching the ground!
Try as we might, Don and I couldn’t pick the frozen hoof cakes out of the boys’ feet. And believe me, we tried.
The horrible hoof cakes were a result of the boys walking back and forth between the snow-covered pasture and the corral.
After we closed the gate to the pasture to prevent more accumulation, Don and I were able to pick the boys’ feet clean once things warmed up a bit (to 9 degrees).
This is a perfect example of how the horrible hoof cakes were made. See the layers of snow and corral dirt?
If we made it through last night, we’re golden. The forecast calls for 25°F today and 40°F on Friday. ♥
Morning Bray Farm 
February 3, 2011 at 5:32 am
It’s like they’re walking on stilts, that’s too funny! (Sorry, I’m pretty blasé about snow and cold, living in Quebec…)
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February 3, 2011 at 5:34 am
Awwww! Poor babies! I hope Nigel will let you help him. My goodness it’s cold!
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February 3, 2011 at 5:53 am
You guys ARE having a cold wave down there! We deal with those temps off and on all winter, but when you are use to 50’s that’s quite the temp difference!
Stay warm and give the boys lots of hay. They warm up from the inside out with digesting their food. 🙂
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February 3, 2011 at 6:51 am
Wow. I was hoping our cold temps hadn’t made it down that far. Hope things are better today. I’m glad none of the boys got hurt with those clumpy things on their feet!
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February 3, 2011 at 6:51 am
those layer cakes are pretty wild! glad you got them out….they looked painful to walk on…
brrrrrrrrr!!!!
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February 3, 2011 at 6:55 am
OH! I’ve never heard of a “hoof” cake. Is it painful for ’em? So glad you were able to remove them. Your place looks beautiful covered in snow! Stay warm guys, spring’s a’comin’.
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February 3, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Nancy,
I think it must have been somewhat painful for them… it definitely made them unsteady!
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February 3, 2011 at 6:57 am
Yikes, I thought about you guys when I watched the news this a.m. We’ll all get through this.. and I’m sure you’ll send those warmer temps our way. I do have to say, Ruby & Gracie look adorable hopping through the snow, and they actually seem to like playing in it. But, ’nuff already.. bring on Spring 🙂 Stay warm!!
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February 3, 2011 at 7:07 am
wow! Not a danger I would have considered…evil hoof cakes. Poor guys. I wonder if they were confused or just like, “Well, this is kind of weird. Where’s breakfast?”
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February 3, 2011 at 7:08 am
Hi there. Here in Maine, we deal with “ice skate hooves” quite often during the winter months. What a have found to be very effective in removing the ice is a small, claw hammer. The claw can be used as a hoof pick and can also be tapped against the ice. Works every time!
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February 3, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Lisa,
Thanks! I think we’ll be investing in a small, claw hammer!
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February 3, 2011 at 7:20 am
I’m suprised the boys could keep their balance walking on those frozen clumps! Poor babies. I sure hope it warms up today. We are having record cold temps here too. We set a record yesturday…we are having temps not seen in AZ since 1885! We are down to 24 this morning. My boys water buckets are frozen solid. I’m off to heat some water for them now. I wonder if they make blankets for mini donks??? 🙂
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February 3, 2011 at 7:22 am
Poor babies! I’m glad you were able to get the hoof cakes off. Those layers look like something a baker would be proud of.
Stay warm. Our temps are freaky low as well. Snow is coming tonight.
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February 3, 2011 at 8:48 am
Yikes! Poor guys!
So glad you were able to help after a bit. It can’t have been comfortable, having those hard nasty things on their feet.
Our shepherd/husky had long hair between her toes. If I didn’t keep it trimmed short, she would accumulate snow/ice balls between her toes. Corgi hair did not accumulate stuff in the same way.
It’s cold here, too, but at least the sun is out today!
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February 3, 2011 at 8:52 am
Folks who live where they get lots of snow and really cold temps don’t understand how we desert dwellers don’t deal with things this cold that often. When my daughter was born here 40 years ago we had a measurable earthquake (Oct) and -13 degree weather last of Jan. I don’t remember either occurance happening since…..well nevermind now with the cold huh? Poor boyz. Good thing you guys are so attentive to their needs. The Olde Bagg, Linda
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February 3, 2011 at 9:14 am
A quick word to my fellow Canadians – Get in the air and fly back North where it’s WARM, for pete’s sake! *smile*
Poor critters walking around on ice skates. I’m trusting no one hurt themselves slipping around on their toes, like that.
This whole weather thing seems very topsy turvy to me, although, I won’t deny feeling very grateful for the warmer temperatures we’re experiencing right now.
Stay warm!!
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February 3, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Carolynn,
Thankfully no one was hurt. It scared me like the dickens though!
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February 3, 2011 at 10:30 am
Oh myyyy….I would have been freaking out, too, Justina! Did the boys seem uncomfortable with their hooves like that or did they just take it in stride? I’m guessing they were probably wandering around like normal, wondering why you guys were all up in arms. lol
Glad things are warming up a bit now for you and I’m really glad we’ve got people like Linda in our lives. 🙂
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February 3, 2011 at 8:13 pm
Danni,
They did seem uncomfortable and it was very hard for them to walk. They were definitely unsteady and I was terrified that someone was going to hurt their ankles or legs as a result. Who would’ve known?!
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February 3, 2011 at 10:39 am
Those poor boys! Glad you spotted the problem and were able to clear the hooves. So that’s what my car had when I went out the other day – tire cakes!!! The roads are pretty clear, but there’s been so much icy crap that you couldn’t see the treds – solid frozen mush!!!
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February 3, 2011 at 11:02 am
It’s been cold all over. For the ice in the feet, you can chip at them with the point of the hoofpick until you get them broken up enough to lift from the sole. I have also heard that you can use cooking spray or vaseline on the feet to stop them from sticking but I’ve never done it.
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February 3, 2011 at 11:08 am
Hoofcakes aside, the boys hooves look really nice in those closeups.
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February 3, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Brr, I saw blizzard scenes from Chicago in the news…
Your boys are walking like prima ballerinas. I never saw such icy hooves. The close up from the layers is incredible. What a shot Justina!
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February 3, 2011 at 3:58 pm
We got the same weather here, but it happens here regularly through the winter, so we don’t notice much. So sorry about the boys’ feet. Glad you guys care enough to take care of that for them. They are a lucky bunch they are to have you.
Suzanne
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February 3, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Oh, no, the poor little guys! I’ve never seen anything like that.
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February 3, 2011 at 6:41 pm
I know what you mean about trying to get the snowballs out. I have been trying to help my guys and just can’t make headway. Did Carson tell you any secrets to success?
The layers are awesome. Wow!
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February 3, 2011 at 8:06 pm
Cyndi,
It didn’t resort to this for us, but Carson did suggest seeing if we could set their feet in a shallow tub of hot/warm water. She did this with Hank and then was able to pick the hoof cake out easily afterwards. I hope that helps for your beautiful boys.
We were fortunate that once it warmed up to 9 degrees, we were able to easily pick the cakes out from our boys’ feet. Before that, we were in the same boat with you… despite how hard we tried, we could. not. get. them. out.
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February 3, 2011 at 9:49 pm
Oh, thanks. LOL Can’t you see me trying to get their less-than-petite hoofies in a tub of warm water? I’ll have to set up a video camera! I have heard that spraying the hoof with Pam helps avoid the problem.
We’re supposed to be above freezing tomorrow – hurray!
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February 4, 2011 at 6:52 am
Oh! Poor boys!
Looks really very COLD!
But the photo of “Morning Bray Farm on Tuesday morning”, is really beautiful.
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