Lack Of Power Tough On Horses

For some, this is the second time an icy blast of winter weather has knocked out the electricity. It was earlier this year, in January, that residents in Inola were left in the dark for ten days. The News On 6's Ashli Sims reports some of those same people are again without electricity.

Jeremy Lipps says the winter weather has made training show horses a lot more difficult.

"Lotta long days and nights," said Jeremy Lipps of Inola.

Jeremy and his wife, Jacqueline, lost power on Sunday and they still haven't gotten it back. And, it's not the first time. Ice and snow knocked out the couple's power last January for ten days.

"It made it really difficult last time, because I couldn't even open the barn to let light in. And, I couldn't get the horses out to exercise because they were sliders on their feet. So, they would go slipping and sliding on the ice," added Jacqueline Lipps.

The couple thawed out, finally had power restored, and went on with the business of training prize winning horses. When they heard the weather reports, they thought this time they might be spared.

"I didn't think it would happen again this soon. And I sure wasn't ready for it to be out this long again," said Jacqueline Lipps.

The couple says power is crucial to keeping the horse's coat sleek and show ready.

"A horse needs about 14 to 16 hours of sunlight a day to maintain a short hair coat, a summer hair coat," said Jeremy Lipps.

To keep these horses spinning, the Lipps have to keep the electricity on. Which means their house may not have electricity, but the horses do. The Lipps have outfitted their barn with a generator which quit on them right before we stopped by. But, they're already looking for a replacement.

"We can live without everything else. But, the horses have to keep their hair coats. And, people pay us to take care of the horses, and that's what we're going to do," said Jacqueline Lipps.