Breaking the Ice: A how-to guide

What do you use to liberate the liquid in frozen water troughs? Indiana horsewoman Lindsay Rausch shares her tools of choice.

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From Lindsay:

Winter is upon us, and by now much of the country is well acquainted with the snow and cold. Here in Indiana we have been getting a lot of both — 9 inches of snow this weekend alone.

Our temperatures for the next few days:

With such frigid temperatures, it’s a constant battle to keep our outdoor stock tank unfrozen. We do have a tank heater, but in single digits we are lucky to have a small ring right around the heater that does not freeze solid. With this in mind we have developed a few methods for clearing the tank, depending on how cold it is.

Ice under 1/2” can be taken care of with just a pitchfork, throwing the icebergs out of the tank in one fell swoop.

Ice from ½” to 3” can be taken care of with an axe. I have an old single bit axe that I picked up from an auction a couple years ago. The handle isn’t great for splitting large pieces of wood, but it is wonderful on thick ice. It is a great way to take out frustration about the cold and stay warm at the same time. The pitchfork is still required for iceberg removal.

For super-stubborn ice, or if my husband just wants to have some fun, there is the big gun: his pick axe. No ice stands a chance in front of this.

What tricks do you all have for breaking the ice? Share your ideas in the comments section below and I will compile them into another post.

Now for something totally random: our Lab Boaz having a blast catching snowballs.

Go Riding.

Lindsay Rausch learned to ride at a young age from her mom who had been a trainer and horsemanship instructor in a previous life. Lindsay has always been a western trail rider, and even though she has not owned a horse of her own she has always looked for any chance to get a leg in the saddle. She is currently setting up a 10-acre farm for cattle and horses. Lindsay would love to hear questions from readers about the western world.

Lindsay with a 6-month-old orphaned foal

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