Exercise Sheets

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Dreckly

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I am considering investing in an exercise sheet for hacking out for my boy this winter as he will be having a full clip this week. I have never used one before - do horses tend to mind them - especially when cantering - do they flap about a bit - we go quite fast enough already without making it worse!!

Also any suggestions on a good flourescent one - am I right in thinking you can get some that do not go under the saddle but around it and under the saddle flaps?

Advice from all you excellant people please!!
 
I use mine alot, my mare doesnt seem to mind it at all.
Not sure best place to get one but i would get one that goes under the saddle in my experience they stay in place far better, the ones that go around just flap and blow about
 
Ive not had a problem with them. I use a Mark Todd fleece one (cutout so goes just under saddle flaps and does up in front) and a waterproof one, not sure of the make. The fleece one is best as it doesnt russtle at all. One of my horses is flighty but no probs with this, he's actually a bit better as it keeps off the cold wind! I use mine all the time schooling at home and warming up / standing about at shows during the winter.

Ive had 2 sheets in the past that went under the saddle, wouldn't use them again. It's really hard to get them to fit correctly and neatly under the saddle and I found they moved about. The good thing about the cutout ones is that you can take it off really quickly and also put it over your legs if you get cold.

You could always try one of those Polypad exercise rugs? They are like a duvet so dont move about / russtle etc.
 
Why not save your money and have him blanket clipped instead. I used to do 20 mile rides with my horse, blanket clipped so she didn't get too warm when working fast and she had a bit of protection on the way home.
 
I have the ones which are like the back half of a rug and just go behind the saddle, with straps that fix forward onto the girth straps. I think they fit better and don't bunch up under the saddle causing lumps. I've got an old Lansdown one which is just warm, and then a fluorescent one which is waterproof(sorry, can't remember the make!). I use both together if it's cold and wet!
 
I use one of the masta half ones that fit behind the saddle and have a cool flashing light that is good for slowing down traffic. Tarquin wore it for the first time this week and he is scared of everything but he was more concerned about his hacking partner's sheet. Use a properly fitted fillet string if you are worried and don't put the sheet too far over the horse's bum. With the yearlings at work I have found if you place the sheet so that it ends just above the tail they take it really well.
lizj Tarquin isn't clipped and lives out but if I want to ride when the weather is a bit sh*tty as I don't get many oppurtunities to ride than I use a sheet to keep him dry so I can turn him back out again straight away.
 
I use a waterproof sheet in the rain, can't really see the point of clipping out a horse fully and then using an exercise sheet to keep them warm. Would rather leave hair over the back. I used to do endurance training with a blanket clip. Will probably cause controversy, but why the need for everyone to clip out fully. We've got ponies on our yard which get ridden a couple of times a week and they've been hunter clipped, surely not in their best interests. Martin Pipe always used to leave the quarters unclipped on his horses and they were racing.
 
Doesn't anyone use the good old Newmarket quarter sheets any more
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Hi viz thing I suppose.
I have never had a horse worry about having one on, just make sure that you have a fillet string on it otherwise it will blow about.

Yes, there are various designs, I used to hate making the 'keyhole' ones that fitted around the saddle and fastened with velcro over the withers. Some people put them under the saddle flaps, some people sat on them. I prefer the under the saddle style, but the other design is far easier for use when warming up.

Quick personal response to the blanket clipping v full clipping comments, I tried just blanket clipping my hunter, it kept him too warm, his back just sweated right up too. Depends entirely on the individual horse, as always.
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Martin Pipes horses were certainly easy to spot on the track with that clip of his weren't/aren't they?
 
i use a waterproofed covered fleece one which keeps warm and dry-i usually keep her a blanket clip but shes actually for sale atm and working hard still...as well as the fact with her a blanket makes her look smaller in front when shes not at all-and therefore a full clip shows her off best.
 
I have a Mark Todd Coolex wrap around sheet and I love it. It fits nicely and is easy to take off. I warm up in mine then take it off. I dont like the ones that go under the saddle, they tend to move a lot and dont fit very well.

My horse can be flighty and spooky but she isnt bothered about wearing an exercise sheet.
 
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