Blanketing the Pasture-Kept Horse/Blanket Fill
Hey! It's not too early for blanketing questions right? For the past four years I've barely blanketed Gali. He always gets really fuzzy and does really well in the winter, and for two winters in a row I actually didn't blanket him at all. Last winter he was in occasional work so I blanketed him a little bit to keep his coat from getting *too* unmanageable. This winter, for the first time in years, he's going to be in regular work 5 or 6 days a week, and I'm planning on blanketing him to keep his coat in check.
I am a little concerned because he's pasture kept, though. I don't want him to be cold outside 24/7 if I end up blanketing too much. I'm also a total idiot about blanketing because I've never really had to do it before. I'm planning on starting him in a sheet at night when it drops below 45f for most of the night. From there, I'm just going to keep an eye on how cold he gets and up his blankets as needed. He's already starting to get fuzzy, though, so depending on the weather I might start when it gets below 50 consistently and see how that goes. Does that seem OK? Will blanketing him a little early be a problem because he's out 24/7?
I guess my main question is about blanket fill. Right now I have a sheet, a 100g sheet, a 220g blanket and I need to get him a heavyweight. Would a 400g Baker be overkill? Would I need something in between 220 and 400 as well? Should I look into hoods for his medium and whatever HW I get?
(And anyone with Baker experience - do they fit big horse well? Gali's got shoulders the size of Texas. Weatherbeetas fit him decently, Riders International ones rub.)
I am a little concerned because he's pasture kept, though. I don't want him to be cold outside 24/7 if I end up blanketing too much. I'm also a total idiot about blanketing because I've never really had to do it before. I'm planning on starting him in a sheet at night when it drops below 45f for most of the night. From there, I'm just going to keep an eye on how cold he gets and up his blankets as needed. He's already starting to get fuzzy, though, so depending on the weather I might start when it gets below 50 consistently and see how that goes. Does that seem OK? Will blanketing him a little early be a problem because he's out 24/7?
I guess my main question is about blanket fill. Right now I have a sheet, a 100g sheet, a 220g blanket and I need to get him a heavyweight. Would a 400g Baker be overkill? Would I need something in between 220 and 400 as well? Should I look into hoods for his medium and whatever HW I get?
(And anyone with Baker experience - do they fit big horse well? Gali's got shoulders the size of Texas. Weatherbeetas fit him decently, Riders International ones rub.)