A horse in a house, of course, of course

Reporter’s note: When Abilene, on Wednesday, at 109 degrees, broke the 2011 high-temperature record of 106, plenty of folks' eyes widened in surprise. That year's weather was burned into our collective memory after its devastating fires that plagued not only the Big Country, but much of the state.

But what you may have forgotten was that earlier that year, 2011 also produced a significant cold snap on Feb. 1, bringing 4-6 inches of snow and blizzard conditions to the area. Temperatures fell so far in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex that football players from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, who would play Super Bowl 45 the following Sunday in Arlington, also complained about the cold. In fact, Abilene, matched Green Bay at 18 degrees during that week.

Why bring this up? Because in much the same way I like to wear an Aloha shirt during the winter to think warm thoughts, during the height of summer I also turn to pictures and stories of epic snowstorms for the same effect.

In that light, enjoy this column from Feb. 16, 2011 when those 18-degree temperatures still lingered and Sue and Gary Niesen had to make a tough call that didn't turn out to be so tough at all. The Niesens have since moved back to Minnesota to be closer to family.

-Ron-

This is a re-publication of a Feb. 16, 2011, Abilene Reporter News column.

ANSON — Sometimes, Sue Niesen's new guests horse-around and block her husband Gary's view of the TV.

But they can’t help it, they’re horses.

“I have to laugh once in a while, just at the thought of it,” she said.

Sue and her husband, Gary, run Gypsy Lane Gypsy Horses just south of Anson on U.S. 277. They don’t usually keep horses in the living room, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

On Jan. 31, one of the couple’s mares, Truffle, gave birth to a male foal — named Tex — a month earlier than expected. When the winter storm struck the next day, Sue got worried.

“We went to bed, and Susan went out to check on him and he wouldn’t get up,” Gary said.

She called her husband outside, and the two of them blocked off the small shed using blankets and took turns watching the baby. Every hour, they would switch, Kent bringing warm blankets out to Tex as the snow and the temperature continued to drop. It wasn’t looking good.

“He wasn’t getting up — I would lift him up and he would fall down,” Gary said.

The couple decided to load Tex into the trailer and take him to an equine hospital in Weatherford. But that plan failed when their truck got stuck trying to leave the farm. Out of options, there was only one thing left to do.

“I said, ‘How about if we move the couch and the chairs and put them in the house?’ And they’ve been in here ever since,” Gary said.

“We couldn’t get out, we couldn’t bring him anywhere. We had to do something — we would have lost him.”

Chased by the cold

The Niesens came to Texas from Minnesota about a year ago, ironically to get away from the cold weather. The home they live in is a temporary one, a 576-square-foot steel building, with an enclosed carport to add an extra room.

The couple plan to build a two-story house on their property in the next year or so, and with this year’s weather, Gary said they also will build a fully heated barn with stalls to prevent this year’s situation from occurring in the future.

For now, white insulation hangs on the walls and the living room floor is bare concrete with a few rugs, but even if it were carpeted with a lush shag, Sue said it wouldn’t have made any difference.

“We only have one baby coming this year, he was important to keep alive,” she said.

Gypsy horses are known for their easygoing nature, and the Niesens said that has been a big factor in making the arrangement work.

After the ice thawed, they took Tex to Weatherford, where he received a clean bill of health after spending three days there.

Sue said that when the weather consistently begins to stay above 40 degrees each night, the couple will return the horses to the pasture. She doesn’t mind sharing the room with horses. As house guests go, they’re pretty well-behaved.

“It’s not bad at all,” she said.

“Yeah, they really don’t make a lot of noise or anything. You just keep hay in there, the baby lays down all the time. The mom will eat and otherwise stand in the corner and fall asleep. That’s about it,” Gary said.

Hooves in the house

The square stall — fenced off with railing — takes up most of the living room and is backed up against the wall. The Niesens had to cover the wall after a while because Truffle, apparently bored, decided to help herself to the insulation.

A couch runs along one side of the railing — sticking out halfway past the stall. That’s where the couple sits to watch their favorite television shows.

Truffle and son ignore the TV, but they perk up for other domestic activities.

“They know when we cook dinner because the kitchen’s right there,” Sue said. “They start watching.”

“Yeah, they stick their noses up there, smelling,” Gary added.

Stable living arrangement

Every other day, the Niesens wash the floor. Fresh hay and wood shavings are brought in each night. Gary was worried the living room would smell like horses, but visiting friends have told him that all they smelled were the shavings.

Truffle and Tex aren’t housebroken, however.

“No, we’ve gotta clean up after them and we do that constantly,” said Gary, who acknowledged that he sleeps soundly through the night.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case for his wife.

“I hear poop in the middle of the night, I get up, scoop it, and throw it out the door,” Sue said.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: A horse in a house, of course, of course