Best *cheap* (er) waterproof turnout sheets

[Obsidian_Fire]

My BO is looking to replace her old sheets, they are all worn out. She has about 5-6 horses to dress. I told her I’d let her know about any great deals I find.

A lot of the less expensive sheets are brands I have no familiarity with. Ones from Chicks (Showman), or Big D (Country Pride), Horze, etc.

Then there are the less expensive lines of brand names. I personally like Amigo Bravo 12, but what about the Mio?

Last year I bought a lower end Weatherbeeta (for someone else) and I must say I was not impressed. At all. And I like WB really well - at least the ones I use on my own horse.

And, does denier matter in terms of waterproof-ness? Or does that really only matter in terms of durability to rips and dings?

Thanks all!

[Highflyer]

I’ve had good luck with the 1200d Saxon blankets (as long as you don’t have super wide horses-- the drop is shorter than average).

[walktrot]

When I bought my horse 20 years ago I found some great turnouts, half price, perfect fit. They stopped making them, needless to say, so I went on a quest for another brand. Struck out on Weatherbeeta, Pessoa, Smartpak, more that I can’t recall. Nothing fit. He is narrow in front and got soaked when it rained because the neck opening was so large. He is 26 on pasture board, won’t tolerate a stall, so this is a big deal. I called the original store and she recommended Horze Avalanche, that they fit her horses perfectly and should work. I looked at them online and wasn’t impressed partly because Horze isn’t know for quality. 10 days later at Equine Affaire I walked into a booth and there they were with a factory rep.

These are really nice with features not found elsewhere. He stays dry now. They are high neck but there is a triangular gusset added to the neck so that it rides over the withers without rubbing. The front is very adjustable with 2 sets of double T buckles and Velcro underneath. There is a gigantic tail cover, the usual surcingles and leg straps. The sides are also long. 1200 denier with 3 -wash guarantee on water repellant. He takes a 78. They are sized with plenty of room, sort of like Weatherbeeta. I have had them for at least 3 years, probably 4, and they are wearing well. I got back into sending them to a tack shop with an excellent laundry service. They come back looking almost new with water repellant and all the crap brushed out of the Velcro.

They are not cheap but I think well worth the price. He has an entire wardrobe. I lucked out at EA, they had a buy 2 get one free deal. He has his raincoat, regular winter parka, heavy duty blizzard parka. I found a medium, cheap, with neck cover for regular snowstorms. His has a new raincoat with light fleece lining ready and waiting. I found it on sale for about $100. I googled for prices. If the BO is looking for a half dozen maybe she can pull off a deal somewhere.

Denier doesn’t affect water repellancy directly except that 1200d isn’t going to get soaking wet through to the lining unless it is leaking where somebody nipped him. It survives well in a herd. Never buy 600d unless you have a pasture flower out on their own. When your horse is boarded outside the weather breaks down the water repellant over the season. He still stays dry, no leaks to the fill or lining, but soaking wet it weighs a freaking ton. Don’t bother with canned spray waterproofing. It may work on your tent, but the turnouts? Nope.

If you’re shopping for half a dozen horses these are easy to adjust to fit them all. We’ve been at the same farm for 20 years now, and watching adventures-in-blankets has convinced me spending more for a better blanket is worth it. I watched a teenager for a couple of years put her gelding in 600d. He liked to munch on the front until he could step out of it. She had to buy at least one new blanket mid-season every year but never figured out about the denier. Mom and dad paid the bill, I guess.

I donated a big stack to the MSSPA refuge barn.

[rubygirl1968]

Chicks has great sales throughout the season. I haven’t gotten the Showman brand but have gotten several Horze labeled ones that have lasted quite well. Saxon rain sheets are cheap and last as long as any others for us, as long as they fit the horse. Some rounder horses look like they’re wearing a mini skirt because the drop isn’t very long.

I believe denier is for durability, the 600 we have at the barn are as waterproof as the 1200.

I didn’t like the Mio rain sheet, it was just super thin and narrow at the chest.

[soloudinhere]

I get whatever Horze blankets are on clearance at Chick’s, usually, but also, check Jeffer’s. Their house line is quite nice and usually incredibly cheap.

[ParadoxFarm]

I tried Horze, but the one I bought kept shifting. I know mostly use the SmartPak Ultimate, because they have a replacement guarantee for I think ten years? And I like them. I have their sheets and winter blankets. I’ve also had good luck with the Amigo line from Horseware. I think it’s the Bravo series.

[mjhco]

Check out sstack.com They have turnout sheets on sale. I have Stormshield sheets and blankets. They work well.

[Obsidian_Fire]

Thank you @walktrot, that was a helpful post.

I did buy a Saxon last year and frankly it’s not worth the money I spent. Waterproofing didn’t even last the season. I washed it in Nikwax this summer, sprayed it thoroughly with Camp Dry for Performance Fabric, first use in a good rain we had, no better than last year. :mad:

I found a Kensington on sale that I ordered; never used that brand as a blanket but have other stuff from them seems well made.

I will pass along the info about Horze, etc., to my BO. Her horses stay out 24/7 and altho they have access to shelter, they mostly choose to continue grazing. One in particular is an older mare who needs to be sure and stay dry.

[firefoot]

The Mio stuff I’ve had has not lasted or seemed that durable. I have a Mio sheet that is my backup, I have used it a handful of times in a pinch if another one is getting repaired or something, but always with the expectation that it might die that night lol. I have had good luck with the Bravo stuff, I have a Bravo 12 heavyweight from 6 years ago that still looks almost new, I have had it professionally cleaned and waterproofed once but it’s in great shape. Got it used off FB. Last year I was fortunate to be able to get all new clothes from Rambo for both horses. Last winter they were turned out with a couple rowdier horses and the blankets held up well with no damage (need to replace several tail straps though). Look forward to this winter as it’s just my two turned out together and they have a very full and cozy wardrobe to take advantage of.

So of the Horseware line, I would recommend Rambo if she can spring for it, or the Amigo Bravo line. I would strongly recommend against the liner system. It is just a huge PITA, especially with multiple horses. Much easier to just change the whole rug and be done with it.

[four2farm]

Another vote for SS Tack or Schneider’s, Only brand I will buy anymore. The have styles for fat paint pony to gigantor high wither warmblood. Prices are reasonable, fit good, no slide, no shoulder rub and my “frat boys” wear the turnouts for four years before they are automatically replaced (poly fill starts to get flat) . The Viking line is is well made and durable. I have Schneider’s blankets hanging on the rack that are over 10 years and still perfectly usable and water proof. I repair blankets (upholsterer here) for others and I have seen some wicked costly turnouts that have some cheap workmanship. I bring mine into the shop once a year for inspection and this year (blankets are 2,3,4 winters old respectively) I resewed one front surcingle and the d ring, resewed a shoulder gusset patch that was coming loose and replaced all the leg straps . The rain sheets needed nothing. Last year I had a tear in a tail cover and a loose d ring for the neck cover. I pay less for the the blankets than I charge the people to put those hi tech rugs back together…

[mmeqcenter]

I have really liked the Horze one I have and three different Mio ones (three different horses). They’ve all held up really well and fit (my horses, at least) really well.

[Red_Barn]

@Obsidian Fire

My BO is looking to replace her old sheets, they are all worn out. She has about 5-6 horses to dress. I told her I’d let her know about any great deals I find.

A lot of the less expensive sheets are brands I have no familiarity with. Ones from Chicks (Showman), or Big D (Country Pride), Horze, etc.

Then there are the less expensive lines of brand names. I personally like Amigo Bravo 12, but what about the Mio?

Last year I bought a lower end Weatherbeeta (for someone else) and I must say I was not impressed. At all. And I like WB really well - at least the ones I use on my own horse.

And, does denier matter in terms of waterproof-ness? Or does that really only matter in terms of durability to rips and dings?

Thanks all!

I love Weatherbeeta, though I agree they’re getting very spendy. I’d look for a “classic” style on sale rather than buy the low end model - those really are chintzy.

Saxon blankets rip in a nanosecond, but I don’t hate the fit for tall, slim horses. The better lines of Shneider’s are great, but in my experience they fit stock horse types better than high withered TB/WB types. The low end Shneider’s are pretty flimsy…

Country Pride was just plain weird: crazy rugged (I bought the 1200d version) but with a perfectly horrible fit. It constantly listed to the left, and the neck opening was so huge that it couldn’t be used if it was snowy because the poor horse would be soaked in no time. It fit so badly, in fact, I ended up tossing it even though it appeared to be completely indestructible.

My current favorite blankets and sheets are from Big D at Smartpak. Sturdy as hell, good looking, great fit, and moderately priced: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/big-d-magnum-turnout-sheet-6482

The worst blankets in the universe are, of course, Tough1. Basically ANYTHING would be better than those infernal pieces of shit.

[walktrot]

I did a little poking around to see what’s out there. There is a really good photo on Amazon with the horse cantering. You can zoom in on the details. The strap on the front that says “Avalanche” covers up the top set of T buckles. Also you can see how deep the shoulder gussets are. The high neck follows the horse’s neck because of the gusset. When you look at the usual high neck blanket, fold it along the top line. The fabric extends over the withers but keeps the straight line. Then it’s cut with a curve from the fold down toward the shoulders. Hard to explain but it wrinkles on the horse and rubs. Anyway, I like them. They have cheaper models. Avalanche is the best.

[SonnysMom]

Adams Horse Supply is having a sale on Amigo.
I like Schneiders and they have held up well. But I know some people have had problems with weatherproofing. I have not and used some for a good 8 years.

My horses were both 78s in most brands. I found a really good deal on used Weathabeetas in size 78. Oops too big. I sold them to a friend and she still has them 3 years later. Both are in great shape and were a couple of years old when I bought them.

For my Arab cross other than sheets I cannot use stand neck. He has really high withers and would get sore from standard necks. I use combo or high necks. Therefore that restricts what brands I can use for him.

[outerbanks77]

Another brand that seems to get overlooked, but can be a great value, is Shires. I got their mid-line (Stormbreaker, I think?) turnout sheet for my youngster for like $80, so it wouldn’t be a big deal if she shredded it. It’s been through two winters so far and is still in perfect shape. They run large; she outgrew other 78’s by the end of last winter, but the Shires 78" still fits with room to spare. I have two of the heavyweight Shires Stormcheetas that I picked up on clearance for like $120 each, which are their higher-end line, and feel they are nicer than the Rambo I splurged on a few years back and subsequently sold.

[mvp]

I have a friend who does blanket rehabbing professionally, and is smart and OCD.

Her picks among the brands mentioned:

Horze Avalanche
Shires

Stuff she sees fail:

Mios and Amigos
Dover brand blanket (though Dover staff tells me they have improved their blankets in recent years)

All things being equal, newer blankets at all price points are made with worse waterproofing and worse thread than in years past. So when folks tell you that their 10-year-old blanket is going strong, know that’s not information you can use in buying new now.

My picks:

Back in the day, Double D made a helluva blanket. I can’t speak to waterproofing, but if those quarter horse-cut blankets fit mine animals, I’d give them a shot.

I have liked the Saxons that are made for Chick’s Saddlery.

I would also try a Scheider’s, based on what I have seen from those blankets on horses in the rainy Pacific Northwest. If I thought Smartpak would be great with their warrantee, I’d try one of those.

The bottom line is that when I buy anything other than Top Shelf, I’m also making a plan to do my own wash-in waterproofing and spray-on waterproofing. At some point, a blanket becomes a surface to put more waterproofing on. Unfortunately, that’s happening sooner with modern blankets than with the older ones that had better quality waterproofing from the manufacturer.

My blanket lady says that old blankets start to fail as the sun shrinks the threads and the fabric itself becomes porous. In this case, her very last go-to product is a spray-on wax. But it’s a very “fussy product” in her words; it takes an air-compressor and commercial sprayer to use. I’ll try to get the name of the wax stuff if you guys would like…

All of this being said, and the world going to sh!te, it might make sense to start buying cheaper rain sheets, waterproofing them more often and not expecting them to last.

Denier is about resistance to snags and teeth, not waterproofness until you get to low thread counts like 600 or less. Those, IMO, aren’t meant for turnouts at all or for providing waterproofness. But you can find those kinds of blankets made and marketed that way.

Tough-1 is an abomination. But an abomination has its uses if you get a good price and take up the plan of buying cheaper blankets more often. I have liked their quilted blankets far more than their turnouts. I think a turnout has a tough job because there’s nothing but the waterproofing to protect the horse. Somehow, the quilting in a blanket that holds air in that insulating layer helps the very wet blanket dry a bit from the inside.

[Obsidian_Fire]

Hmmm… I’m going to pin down my BO about this, tell her what all of you have said. I’m going to point her towards the Schneiders, they’ve got a couple high neck options that look decent with a good price.

@mvp you’re right I remember the day of Big D blankets… they were the only ones and yeah they were pretty darn good. somebody linked one from Smartpak - I looked at it and it looks darn nice too. I also remember those godawful canvas/wool rugs…New Zealand rugs? Man those things were heavy once they got wet.
:lol:

[wildlifer]

I paid a whopping $35 for a Horze sheet figuring it was worth a shot, I’ve had good luck with some other Horze products. It has lasted amazingly well – on a hard-playing, hard-rolling young TB who is not the herd boss. The fit is a little weird (I call it his rain dress, LOL), but it keeps him dry (I don’t stall my horses) & doesn’t slide around. No rips or snap issues so far, I’ve had it a year and a half. I never buy anything less than 1200D for durability, learned that lesson the hard way.

Also, I agree that “abomination” is the best description of Tough-1 blankets, LOL. I’m all about budget & definitely not a brand name snob, but even I draw a line at abject failure. I think hay string & a tarp would perform better…

[Sandysmom]

I’ve had pretty good luck with the Tough One sheets.

[Weezer]

In Canada, Shedrow from Greenhawk is a good inexpensive blanket. I replace my rain sheets every 5 years or so. I may spray it with waterproofing a couple times toward the end of its life.