Spin Off: LeMieux Turnouts with liners (sorry...another blanket thread)

[Displaced_Yankee]

'Tis the season of blanket threads! Sorry guys!

I didn’t want this to get lost on the Noble Outfitter 4 in 1 blanket thread.

Yesterday was our first cold and rainy day. Ponysaurus promptly busted a snap on his 5 year old Amigo Bravo Wug. Despite my stern warnings that the one remaining snap was delicate…I found it on the ground this AM.

I found that LeMieux makes turnouts and that they seem reasonably priced. Although not in stock, I found this today: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/lemieux-arika-stormtek-sheet-24695

Liner here: https://www.lemieuxproducts.com/horsewear/horse-rugs/arika-rug-liner-200g-navy (It does not seem to be available yet via SmartPak)

While not in stock yet (yikes!) it is $100 less than what I was browsing for: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/amigo-1200d-bravo-12-plus-turnout-sheet-24146

I bit the bullet and ordered one but I was wondering if anyone had seen one in person yet. How is the fit? The quality? It seems like a pretty straightforward design, relying on tried and true fasteners (T buckles, tail cord, velcro) and the liners seem very similar to the Horseware system.

So for $200, I could potentially get a sheet, liner, and neck cover that would get me through cold and wet, colder and very cold. Too good to be true?

For background: Ponysaurus has always worn Amigo Bravo’s comfortably. I am due to replace his medium (250ish g) Amigo as well. Generally, I do a rain sheet (0g fill) in cold and wet rain. His medium in “cold” weather and layer both for “super cold”. The temperature ranges depend on how much I have clipped him, full, high trace, bib clip, etc. I live on the property and do all my own blanketing. I never purchased a neck cover for him, but I have always considered adding a neck cover the equivalent “going up a weight” (sheet to medium, medium to heavy) just by covering the neck where they may lose heat…that is just my opinion, YMMV. We are in NC.

[Shagyas_Rock]

Welllll…a sheet, liner and neck cover for $200…that might be a little hard…though you might look at Big Dee’s. Their prices are quite reasonable and the quality is fairly good. Jeffers Equine might also have something in your price range

[Displaced_Yankee]

Well, the LeMeiux sheet and neck cover is $117 at SmartPak. It seems like the liner isn’t available yet…but the 200g liner converts to about $75, with the 100g liner being less than that. So that is less than $200.

**Edit: I found the liner in the US for about $100

My inquiry was if anyone had actually seen them yet or if it was too good to be true regarding quality, waterproofing fit, etc for about $200 for a sheet, hood, liner.

I will restructure my post to better reflect that! Thanks!

[shortenmyreins]

I bought an Arika 200g (250 g?) turnout and a couple of liners from Lemieux a few months ago when they had a factory seconds sale with the blankets going for about half price. I happily didn’t see anything wrong with them when they arrived - any defects aren’t noticeable.
Other than trying them on my horse, they haven’t been used yet though.
Fit and shape is similar to my Horseware blankets, which is the best fit for the horse that tried them on. I don’t think they’ll fit my other horse who has a wide chest and shoulder (who fits better in Bucas than Horseware).
I can’t say anything towards the longevity or waterproofing as they haven’t been worn yet, but I was not disappointed when I pulled them out of the package. They are waiting to be used as backup blankets.

[Archer]

Anyone have reviews of the LeMieux turnouts? Specifically interested in thoughts on the Arika 200g, but open to all input!
Thanks!

[Displaced_Yankee]

Oh, I did end up buying this!

I have the 0 fill sheet (with hood) and the 200g liner. I really like it! It hits all features that I love about the Amigo Bravo line OTHER THAN the front closure. I love the snaps/ring of the Amigo Bravo. The T-clasp is engineered a little different, where it has a larger ‘plate’ which makes it easier to use over the traditional T-clasps.

My horse is a 75" in the Amigo Bravo and the LeMieux is a little roomy, but not too big in the same size. The additional “skirt” makes it look long in the drop.

Otherwise the hood and liner function much like the Amigo/Rhino/Rambo lines if that is a system you are used to. Yankee Pony’s blanket looks like new still, however he is on individual turnout most of the time and only wears it in inclement weather (he’s not clipped and out 95% of the time) so it does not have “daily” wear. I have had it professionally cleaned and waterproofed after each winter I used it (two so far).