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Turnout Sheets

Horse Care
#1

My pony shredded the smartpak turnout sheet that I had purchased on eBay this past fall, and her spare isn’t the right fit (don’t recall the brand, but it rubs a bit). We’re in TX still and I think probably close to the end of needing turnout sheets anyway, but I know I’ll want a properly fitting sheet for mext year’s Kansas winter so I’m in the market now.

I ordered a smartpak sheet as part of their winter sale, but they cancelled the order on me (discrepancies in their inventory system :rolleyes:) so I don’t particularly want to try ordering from them a second time.

Her medium and heavy blankets are Rhinos, which fit her perfectly, and I really like the wug style on her… But spending $168 for a turnout sheet makes me cringe. Does anyone have a Rhino sheet that’s lasted several years? Is the durability (and knowing that it will fit her perfectly) worth the price?

Or does anyone have suggestions for a similar fit that won’t wreck my bank account? (These next couple months the pony and the dogs all come due for dentals, shots, etc so the wallet is already dying a little).

ETA she’s not normally a blanket destroyer, I think the sheet she wrecked was already in less-than-stellar shape because of its age. She does love to roll though (and she does thorough, full side to side rolls!) so that’s a consideration too.

#2

Have you scoped out the used market? I’ve purchased most of my Rambo sheets and blankets from eBay, Facebook sales groups, or other classified sites. I’ve gotten good deals on very gently used/well cared for blankets.

#3

Yeah, I can sometimes find them that way but haven’t seen anything in her size the last couple times I’ve looked.

#4

I’ve turned to Adams for everything I used to order from SmartPak. They have good service, quick shipping (free for orders over $100 and they’re based in Maine), and they have sales on items I frequently use. They’re running a special on Amigo Wugs. The sheet, the medium, and the heavy are all $104-109. Same Horseware Wug fit, and I’ve had success with the quality of the Amigos. Here’s a link- hope it helps! https://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/amigo-bravo-12-wug-light-turnout-exclusive-color-203907

2 Likes
#5

Ooooh, nevermind on my post above! They had a big range of sizes but they’re down to 87" sheets now. Sorry about that!

#6

Yeah, I think the smartpak snafu has caused me to miss most of the good sales :cry:

#7

Nordlund sheet (or blanket) from Schneider’s

1 Like
#8

Too large for my 63" pony :-/ I had a schneider’s fly sheet for her but it didn’t quite fit right (tried a 61 and a 64, each had different issues). Makes me nervouse to try a schneider’s turnout sheet (although the prices are nice

#9

I’ve had good luck with Weatherbeetas sheets - but mine are older (as in 20+ years old now), and not sure if the newer models are as good. I’ve found they are durable and the middle price point wise (well, it was the last time I bought one).

#10

I’d say 20 years is pretty good! I’ll have to dig up reviews,on the newer models and see what folks say; looks like they’re about $30-40 less than the Rhinos price-wise (only checked one site, might find them on a good sale elsewhere)

#11

The Amigo now comes in the Wug fit and it’s a1200d, so thicker than some of their other Amigo sheets but cheaper than a Rhino. I have Amigos that are 8 to 10 years old and still waterproof. And the cheap, cheap thin $40 Amigo Mio I bought last year is also still waterproof. I like that one for my gelding with Cushing’s because he gets too hot in just about anything else.

2 Likes
#12

I vote go back to SmartPak and complain. I had something similar happen to me and I sent them an email about it. They offered me a very nice discount off of another blanket, which I happily accepted.

#13

I had the same issue with Schneider’s with their medium weight stable blankets. I paid $40 each and a week later, was finally told they were backordered (even though the inventory on their website said they were in stock). When they tried to “substitute”, I was going to end up spending an arm and a leg and now I’ve missed out on the really good sales everywhere else. I still need to buy sheets too. Blah! I did pick up some triple crowns used for close to what I was going to pay for the Schneider’s sale. As someone who works in IT, it frustrates me when their inventory systems are not accurate.

#14

FWIW, and I’m just one person, but my new Weatherbeeta Comfitec Dynamic is not Waterproof. My horse came in quite wet underneath his sheet. It wasn’t raining heavily, and all of his other blankets handle that amount of precipitation just fine. I bought him a cheap Amigo 600D sheet because he needed something in the meantime and have had no issues with it being Waterproof. I wanted to try the Weatherbeeta, especially the newer design, and the hardware is nice, but for whatever reason mine is not Waterproof. I’m going to re Waterproof it myself and see how that goes.

Whenever I stray away from Rambo/Horseware I usually regret it! I do have a nice Shires turnout (Typhoon I think) but have yet to use it.

1 Like
#15

My younger horse has rolled through the waterproofing on two Amigo Bravos, each in under six months. So I tried a Rhino as the waterproofing isn’t bonded to the outer material, but is a separate layer. That lasted two years and succumbed to rips and tears beyond repair. After experimenting with “disposable” blankets I tried another Rhino hoping he’d matured enough to avoid the rips and tears. Because the first Rhino was still waterproof after two years, except where the holes were. :wink:

Rhino number two is mid year three, intact, and still waterproof. :smiley:

My older horse has a Rhino Wug rainsheet that is mid year SEVEN!!! Still waterproof, except around the two patches in heavy rain. The last Rhino rainsheet died an abrupt and unrepairable death at the end of year four - though I must say it was the outer material that shredded; the waterproof layer was still waterproof. That issue appears to have been resolved, but I bought him a new one this year just in case the old one died (I didn’t trust it). Hasn’t happened yet! :wink:

So yes, Rhinos definitely can stay waterproof for several years.

I had a midweight Rhino for six years and the outer material eventually shredded the same way the first rainsheet had. I suspect there was something in the material affected by UV light. Anyway, both were the old “Chestnut plaid” colour. I quite liked it, but the brown with beige grid pattern has definitely lasted far longer. I’d have bought another Rhino Wug midweight, but snagged a barely used Rambo for less than the new Rhino!

2 Likes
#16

I know you’re not inclined to go back to SmartPak - and I TOTALLY get it. I was in that boat right there with you. Having recently moved further north and needing heavier turnouts etc. etc…it was super frustrating. However, I put in a second order and then when it looked like things might not be shipping out very quickly I reached out to them - apparently they need to seriously work on this inventory #'s issue…but ultimately they upgraded shipping to get turnouts to me faster and made sure that it happened. Again, totally understand if you’d rather not deal with them - I have no horse in this race - but just thought I’d share my experience for whatever its worth :slight_smile:

#17

I think the most frustrating thing for me is my order summary said “shipping delayed” (so I immediately assumed backordered). I called and they said it was in stock but the warehouse was running behind, and then the very next day it was cancelled because the item was no longer in stock… And then the next day after THAT it was back in stock but at full price :uhoh:​​​​​​.

I’m fairly sure I could call and convince them to re-place the order at the sale price, since clearly some shenanigans happened on their end there… I just would rather spend my money elsewhere this point sigh We’re over the worst of winter here in San Antonio anyway (I’ll be washing and packing away the medium blanket this weekend, and I’m pretty sure the sheet will follow in a week or two), so getting a new one isn’t urgent enough to deal with the irritation lol.

The positive rhino turnout comments are making me lean towards just going that route even at the higher price point.

#18

I totally get it! FWIW, I’ve also had several Rhino turnouts that have done very well for several years. Unfortunately one of them now has some holes due to a mouthy pasture mate, but after several years of hard use I really can’t complain too much. If I hadn’t been in the position of facing more harsh PA winter weather I probably would have bought Rhino replacements instead of dealing with SmartPak as well :slight_smile:

#19

I have a couple of rhino wugs that are still in great condition. I re waterproof each year. Totally worth the $ IME.

#20

I have an Amigo Bravo medium weight that is 7 years old and still waterproof with no re-treatment. I did have a repair on it a few years ago; my mare tried to remove the tail flap. I don’t think that was a fault of the blanket, rather of the mare who was going through an aggressive tail rubbing phase for reasons unknown and got the tail flap snagged.

I also have 2 Amigo Bravo sheets. I purchased one in 2017, the other in 2018. Both are doing great and still waterproof, but obviously it hasn’t been very long.

Overall, I’ve been pretty happy with the Amigo Bravo products. I think they have pony sizes?

Other brands of sheets currently in my “active” rotation: several older Riders International, a Schneiders, a newer Weatherbeeta Comfitec. I like the Amigo Bravos better than all of them.

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