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Post by Rodeo on Apr 18, 2013 16:06:02 GMT -3
I'm planning on blanketing my guys starting this fall. I've never really blanketed before aside from on cold winter nights. A natural winter coat was always something I preferred but no more. The hell with this winter grooming and crap in their winter coats, etc.
So, I want to start it the right way.
When do you start blanketing? What kind of blanket do you start with? At what temps do you change to a heavier blanket?
I want to start taking advantage of the sales now on the heavier blankets.
Thanks!
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Post by katherine on Apr 18, 2013 16:50:54 GMT -3
I start blanketing once it hits below 5-10 degrees. Generally in October. I use a rain sheet with no fill early on in the year. When it hits under 0 degrees I switch to a heavyweight winter blanket.
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Post by Becca on Apr 18, 2013 17:35:47 GMT -3
10 and under rain sheet (no fill) 5 -0 fall (150-200 gm ) 0 and below heavy winter (300 gm)
Is the general rule I use. Any day it's below 10, rain sheet. Generally late August / September is when I started with the rain sheet. I rarely had to use cowboys heavy winter last winter I had him because it was so mild and clovellys barn is super warm with all the bodies in there anyways.
Also invest in excellent quality blankets. You will save money & time by doing this as you won't have to keep ordering crappy quality over and over again. It's better to do it right from the gecko. My big D rain sheet is still going after 4+ years I believe, and you can't beat the Pessoa winter & falls. That's JMO. Katherine has a great belly wrap blanket I can't remember the brand of, but they're excellent quality too. The higher then denier the tougher it is.
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Post by happilyeverafter on Apr 18, 2013 18:31:01 GMT -3
I pretty much agree with everything Becca just said, especially with the last point about buying quality, although perhaps from the "get go" and not the "gecko" I swear by my "Joules by Weatherbeeta" blankets. I have other, Maxim etc brands and I just hate them. I'll never buy anything but Weatherbeeta again for Cativa. They fit perfectly, wash well and she has yet to really damage one in a couple years now. Don't skimp for a good blanket. Its worth spending the money on.
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Post by chels on Apr 18, 2013 18:39:30 GMT -3
I usually start blanketing in mid October and take all blankets off in mid-late April or May (but every season/year is different). Roxy, even after being blanketed for 3 winters, still grows a coat that's 2 inches long, but it's much more manageable than without a blanket!. On really warms days in winter and spring (like this weekend for instance, possibly going to be 13-14 degrees!!!), she gets her blanket taken off completely.
above 10 - nothing 7-10 - rainsheet (no fill) 0-7 - mid weight (250g) + hood (100g) she's wearing this now. 0 and below - heavy weight (400g) + hood (150g)
Agreed with Becca about buying quality over price. Every blanket Roxy owns right now is the Horseware Amigo line. I absolutely love them, they're reasonable priced (rainsheet was $60, mid weight+hood was $160, and heavy weight+hood was $260, fleece cooler with neck was $75), fit realllllly well, and are really tough. Schneiders Saddlery have really nice blankets too, that's where Katherine bought hers from. Pessoa and Big D blankets are fabulous too. Weatherbeeta blankets are good too.
Stay away from Shedrow, McAllister, Tough-one/Abetta Arctic. They are the most popular brands, because they're super cheap, but they don't fit well, don't last and bunch up (especially the McAllisters).
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Post by katherine on Apr 18, 2013 19:38:25 GMT -3
The blanket that Becca mentioned is Schneiders brand. Jazz is BRUTAL on blankets, and so far this one has been holding up. It has an awesome belly band, which keeps mud from sticking to her belly. Far less horse to clean because of it.
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Post by Becca on Apr 18, 2013 19:48:39 GMT -3
Got to love auto correct... Gecko Baha. Gill that's interesting, I had a weatherbeeta (it wasn't the jouls line though) and only lasted a day. One bloody turnout session. I was not happy! Haha. When I get another horse (5-10 years from now to clarify any rumors ) I'll invest in the schnieders!
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Post by happilyeverafter on Apr 19, 2013 3:49:44 GMT -3
All of mine are Joules by Weatherbeeta, so perhaps theres a difference between the two, who knows!!! Aside from Weatherbeeta, I'd buy Pessoa or the Horseware Amigo like Chels has!!
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Post by Anstey on Apr 19, 2013 10:51:56 GMT -3
Everyone's different, I start rain sheets when between 0-7 degrees, lightweight -3 -0, mid weight -7--3 and heavyweight below -7. Depends on the horse, my heavyweight is 300gm. All depends on your horses. Raven overheats and gets hives so he only needed a heavyweight when -11 and Cabbie freezes so he needed a heavyweight at -5.
No hard and fast rule about it all, just figuring what works for you and your horses!
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Post by Rodeo on Apr 19, 2013 15:07:20 GMT -3
Thanks guys. I just want to avoid the heavy winter coat growing and then having an overheated horse with the blankets. I like the belly band idea. Rodeo always gets gross belly mats towards the end of the winter, no matter how often he's groomed.
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Post by katherine on Apr 20, 2013 1:36:11 GMT -3
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Post by Stephanie on Apr 20, 2013 8:44:52 GMT -3
the way i do it is 5-10 summer sheet 0-5 2 summer sheets, 0--5 light winter blanket -5 --10 mid weight winter blanket -8--15 heavy winter blanket and anything below -20 heavy and light winter blankets. and below -30 2 heavy winters, and you'll keep you summer coat. and i start blanking in September.
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Post by Becca on Apr 20, 2013 10:31:58 GMT -3
I disagree with double blanketing. If the layer underneath gets wet, it has no way to get dry so the horse stays wet and can get a chill.
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Post by chels on Apr 20, 2013 18:56:59 GMT -3
yeah, double blanketing sucks. not to mention the under blanket always slips and gets dirty.
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Post by Stephanie on Apr 21, 2013 6:56:53 GMT -3
ive been double blanketing for years years and have never had a problem, alot of people do it specially if they start blanketing early or they clip. Its really good for horses that go out in the day and come in at night because instead of have to change there blanket you just add one and that it. I have 1 of my horses triples blankets all winter and he was perfect.
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