Blanketing and Rain
It looks like all of the rain we didn't get during the summer has decided to swarm the northeast all at once. What the hell?
Anyway, with winter approaching and all this rain and chilly weather, I'd like to probe the community for opinions on blanketing. What are your blanketing "rules"? Do you go strictly by temperature, or do other conditions, such as sun or rain affect your blanketing routine?
I'm curious about blanketing in the rain. Gali goes out in most weather, unless it is pouring or thundering. It's been raining off and on for a few days straight, and while the horses have only been outside during the lighter rain, I haven't put a rain sheet on Gali yet. It's been about 55* - 60* during the day. He hasn't seemed cold, so I haven't blanketed.
In the winter, if it's above freezing and sunny out, Gali goes bare. Most days, if it's sunny out no matter what the temp is, he goes bare. If there's a windchill below but a temperature above freezing, I think about putting his medium on. If it's below 20-25, he gets his medium. And of course, I check on him. He's better at telling me when he needs a blanket than the Weather Channel is.
I see so many varying opinions on blanketing - from the QH mare at my farm who is already in a medium, to the Lipizzaner gelding who never wears a blanket, no matter what the weather. What do you guys do? What is your climate?
Those who stay unblanketed, do you ride throughout the winter? Do you ever ride with a quarter sheet on your horse, so that they stay dryer when sweating? How do you cool out your fuzzball?
For those who blanket and clip - what clip traces do you use?
Anyway, with winter approaching and all this rain and chilly weather, I'd like to probe the community for opinions on blanketing. What are your blanketing "rules"? Do you go strictly by temperature, or do other conditions, such as sun or rain affect your blanketing routine?
I'm curious about blanketing in the rain. Gali goes out in most weather, unless it is pouring or thundering. It's been raining off and on for a few days straight, and while the horses have only been outside during the lighter rain, I haven't put a rain sheet on Gali yet. It's been about 55* - 60* during the day. He hasn't seemed cold, so I haven't blanketed.
In the winter, if it's above freezing and sunny out, Gali goes bare. Most days, if it's sunny out no matter what the temp is, he goes bare. If there's a windchill below but a temperature above freezing, I think about putting his medium on. If it's below 20-25, he gets his medium. And of course, I check on him. He's better at telling me when he needs a blanket than the Weather Channel is.
I see so many varying opinions on blanketing - from the QH mare at my farm who is already in a medium, to the Lipizzaner gelding who never wears a blanket, no matter what the weather. What do you guys do? What is your climate?
Those who stay unblanketed, do you ride throughout the winter? Do you ever ride with a quarter sheet on your horse, so that they stay dryer when sweating? How do you cool out your fuzzball?
For those who blanket and clip - what clip traces do you use?