#EquestrianStrong: Readers Survive the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ Winter Storm

Only January 5 and we already have our first major winter storm under our belts. Here’s how you all got through the East Coast’s “bomb cyclone” — because winter weather wasn’t already scary enough before we started calling it that.

I guess we’re also calling it Winter Storm Grayson, too. That’s also a thing.

A powerful winter storm dropped snow today in all sorts of places where snowbirds like to flock in the winter months, hitting the mid to north Atlantic coast particularly hard. A foot of snow was recorded in towns on coastal Virginia and snow fell as rapidly as one to two inches an hour in New York City and three inches an hour in Providence, Rhode Island. Northern Maine saw the most snowfall at about a foot and a half. Damaging winds gusting over 70 mph created blizzard conditions in multiple locations; coastal flooding is still ongoing in Massachusetts with storm surge dramatically flooding the streets.

While there are plenty of places in the United States that see regular accumulation at this rate, it’s an unusual event for a lot of folks that were in Winter Storm Grayson’s path. Fortunately, it looks like many of our readers weathered the storm just fine, as far as Instagram is concerned!

You bundled up…

Fun with frozen waterers! #equestrianproblems #standinginafeildwithahairdrier #plumbinginminus30

A post shared by Tess Daunt (@tessdaunt) on Jan 5, 2018 at 8:35am PST

…a lot…

Could somebody press the defrost button…please?! ⛄❄ #equestrianlife #equestrianproblems #notridingtoday #horses #horsecare #minus30something #windchill #polarvortex #babyitscoldoutside #selfie

A post shared by Carolyn Horner (@ponynamed_peanut) on Jan 5, 2018 at 7:52am PST

…but despite the dramatic downturn in weather conditions, your horses seemed pretty okay with it:

Snow day! Albert looks quite content despite the blizzard. #snowpony #bombcyclone #madeforthis #horsenation

A post shared by Sarah Jacobson, RDN (@tallyhoalby) on Jan 4, 2018 at 3:58pm PST

Ella loves the snow! Bring on the bomb cyclone!#horsesofinstagram #horsestagram #instahorse #bombcyclone #winter #nbstorm #horsephotography #snow #snowstorm #nbweather #newbrunswick #shareyourweather #mynews #moncton #horses #weather #aqhasnow #nikon_canada #nikonphotography #canadianweather #canada #winterphotography #canadianwinter #horsenation

A post shared by SMC (@photograhy_smc) on Jan 4, 2018 at 1:56pm PST

When you wish you had your camera outside! #cyclonebomb

A post shared by Jamie Baldanza (@thismustanglife) on Jan 4, 2018 at 1:28pm PST

Some of you still even got in a lesson!

Braved the blizzard to have an awesome lesson on my frozen pony! (Note the icicles hanging from his jaw in the top right picture ????❄️????) @go_riding #horsenation #blizzard #noreaster #morganhorse #dressage #dressagehorse #weatherbeeta @weatherbeetana #snowpony

A post shared by Princess Hayley ???? (@hayleyelizabeth249) on Jan 4, 2018 at 10:06am PST

There were a few noted exceptions, of course… such as this pair, going viral:

Meanwhile, in the faraway fairytale land of Nevada, Horse Nation staffer Maria Wachter shares the following: “Did I tell you that my mule had flies on his ears this past week during our ride? Yep, it’s that warm out here in Southern Nevada. I’m chugging Gatorade because I’ve been sweating so much and using the AC in my truck. I don’t want to sound like an ass, but this weekend would be a perfect weekend to take out our boat and cruise around Lake Mead. It’s that nice out.”

Thanks, Maria. As for our readers on the East Coast, we’re sending you all the best with the hope that sunny skies will come back soon. They already did for this chipper fellow.

Survived the storm ???????????? #horsesofinstagram #winterwonderland #snow #equestrianproblems #lovehim

A post shared by Kate Whalen (@sir_mcginty) on Jan 5, 2018 at 10:55am PST

Got an epic Winter Storm Grayson story to tell? Let us know in the comments section!