'Tis the Season to Wear Orange

It never gets bitterly cold on the south coast of BC, so unclipped horses really don't need insulated turnout blankets. They do, however, need protection from the incessant rain. Both horses have been wearing 840 denier rain sheets with a mesh lining since last spring, but Tonka had torn most of one shoulder out of his. A few weeks ago I got a good deal on two nice 1200 ripstop denier shells with nylon lying for this winter. They are longer with a higher neck and a better tail flap, and I had been saving them for the really bad weather. After Saturday's incident I didn't want to put the same sheet back on Raven, so we busted out the new ones. They look like giant jack-o-lanterns (and I look like I'm dressed in farm clothes yet again).

The weather was typically Octoberish this weekend with high winds, fast-moving clouds and periods of heavy rain. The horses are starting to get hairy in earnest, and I just love smelling those long tufts where the jaw meets the neck. They don't seem to mind much.

David and I did manage to get some more work done on the shelter, and now that we have a system the remander should go up in another afternoon. Hard work for two iffy backs (David's started to hurt the day after mine -- mysterious!), but I am pleased with the result.