Winter is well and truly here, and with it comes a whole new level of chaos that only horse owners truly understand. No matter how organised you try to be, winter at the yard has a way of undoing even the best intentions.

Here are some very real, tongue-in-cheek situations most horse owners will recognise during winter.

Yard equipment will inevitably break

At some point, the wheelbarrow will fail. So will something else you rely on daily. It will always happen when you’re cold, wet and already running late.

Yard tools mysteriously disappear

Yard brushes vanish without explanation. Unless you’ve brought your own tools, expect a wait while everyone arrives at once and tries to muck out at the same time.

You’ll refuse to buy new boots

You’ll convince yourself you’re absolutely fine using plastic bags inside your boots or wellies. This logic will hold until you lose all feeling in your feet.

You’ll forget something essential

You’ll arrive at the yard only to realise you’ve forgotten your gloves, hat or flask of coffee. Sometimes all three. Turning back is not an option.

You’ll promise to tidy up “this weekend”

You’ll swear that this is the weekend you finally tidy your part of the hay barn or tack shed. Winter weekends have other plans.

Frozen pipes will undo your best intentions

It’s so cold the decision is made to keep horses in. You carefully empty water buckets down the drain, proud of being a responsible owner avoiding icy surfaces — only to discover the water pipe is frozen and your horse now has no water.

Mud will win every battle

If it’s wet, expect to get stuck in the mud around the field gate, despite your best efforts to avoid it. The mud always knows exactly where you’re going.

You’ll complain about the weather constantly

When it’s raining, you’ll wish it was cold. When it’s cold, you’ll pray for rain because at least it feels warmer. There is absolutely no winning.

The wheelbarrow will already be full

You’ll reach for the wheelbarrow and discover someone has left it full. Or better still, they’ve all been left full. You’ll once again promise to buy your own and lock it up.

You’ll fall out with someone on the yard

Whether it’s turnout decisions, rug choices or a horse being a general jackass, winter has a way of testing everyone’s patience.

You’ll run out of something at the worst possible time

It will always be around 7.15pm on a Wednesday evening when you realise you’ve run out of feed, bedding or something equally essential.

You’ll forget to order hay or feed in time

This will leave you with no option but to ask a friend — while promising yourself you’ll never let it happen again.

You’ll lose your keys just as you’re about to leave

Your keys will vanish the moment you’re already late and mentally calculating how long you can get away with being stuck at the yard.

You’ll underestimate how long mucking out takes

You’ll convince yourself you’ve left enough time in the morning. You haven’t. You never have.

You’ll start counting down the days to spring

Quietly. Daily. Sometimes out loud.