Now, since Rastus is going to be that typical pangare blond of your everyday Haflinger, he kind of deviates from my normal painting 'recipe', but he'll show how I paint a dappled blond at least.
As I said, I sprayed him in primer, my brand of choice being Rust-Oleum Painters Touch flat white primer which I get at my local Hometown hardware store in Wooster.
Even though it's winter, as long as the horse & the can are both house temperature, & it is not ridiculously cold, you can still primer & finish in the cold months. I have sprayed in upper & mid teens & had success. Shake the can while still inside. Shake it for two to twelve minutes! The longer time for new cans or cans that have sat for a while. Make sure the ball is rattling freely, & shake the can in all angles, including upside down (with lid on). Once adequately shaken, step outside & start the can, spraying out the first few seconds of primer/finish; this is to spray out what is in the nozzle/spout that would not shake up well. Then come in, grab the horse, step out & spray what you need & come in. Put the horse somewhere you don't have to smell it (a spare room or garage, crack a window if needed) so it can dry, & then step out to clear the nozzle by turning the can upside down & spraying until only gas comes out. This last part does not apply to the Rust-Oleum since they are an any-angle spray can & will work upside down as well. As a note; obviously, don't spray in snow or rain/drizzle as it will simulate fish-eyeing, & don't spray in great wind as it will swirl & more likely hit you than the horse. Always work in open air, & a respirator is advised. (Do not use a dust mask though: it will catch the fumes under it.)
...I hope!
With those last few base layers, the horse is completely based & ready to start with the oils once dried. I probably could have started oiling him today, but it's just as well to let him dry out well overnight. Tomorrow I will start his transformation from flat yellow-tan, to Haffy blond! Stay tuned!