If you’re contemplating turning him out overnight during the winter, why not just leave him out 24/7? Night time is generally the least pleasant in the winter so if he’s fine with that, he’ll be fine with 24/7. I can relate to the thought of “I’m cold so I don’t want my horse stuck outside.” When I got my own place and it was a 24/7 turnout set up, I started with a big blanketing protocol but over the years, it has become much less as I can see for myself how fine the horses are out in the cold. Since your boy likes nap time, it would just be a of question making sure he feels safe doing that outside.
It’s true, they are a nordic beast.
My guy was body clipped 5 weeks ago. That was the normal clip job, the hair is like a normal horse. Since then the undercoat has come in. I’ve owned ponies. Ponies have a coat and then some, and yet it’s still not fjord undercoat dense kind of coat.
If I didn’t keep him fully clipped all winter and was also trying to acclimatize him to our trips to FL to compete, he’d have a high trace and then only time I would blanket him is when I wanted a clean Fjord the next day. And that’s because we are in the land of mud in the winter!
Nordic Beast is right!! Charlie has been MUCH happier in the cooler temps, we’re suppose to be back in the 50s/60s this week after snow over the weekend and I’m sure he’s going to be breathing heavy just standing around and sweaty after rides. Ive been looking at the other horses winter coats and they are nothing like Fjord winter coats hahaha.
I’ve got containers on order for his supplement stuff so I can transition him over to the barn schedule with that; been having issues with Amazon lately though so that took longer than expected.
Regarding 24/7 turnout, I was thinking that having him in in the afternoons would ensure that I know he is eating his supplement and also help with riding after work not having to trek out and get him out of the pasture myself since we are on super limited daylight for a while.
All of the boys decided yesterday they were going to the back half of the 30 acre pasture right at dinner time so the barn manager let me know she was leaving them out for the time being and they would come in with the night check if they came back up. I trekked out and brought him in when I got there and it was a hassle for sure, especially since you have to cross a mid shin high “creek” to get to the back half of the pasture with all the rain we’ve had lately :lol: I’m starting to wish they would just leave them on the overnight schedule since it would give them more time to dry off and be in their stalls during the times when most people ride.
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Lol! I feel the same. Plus I have a ridiculous fetish for cute blankets so I have partially adopted the old mare at the barn and dress her up. With the owners consent and approval.
I’m thinking of trace clipping mine just so I won’t have to cut back on hay so much! Mine is finally happy and sweat free with the cooler weather.
