Who uses Quarter sheets?

[sascha]

On clipped horses, yes. If I’m riding indoors, I might warm up in a cooler or a quarter sheet over the saddle, then remove it for the meat of the work, then replace it for the cool out walk. If it’s fairly cold (-10 or worse), I’ll put the quarter sheet under the saddle.

For riding a clipped horse outside, the quarter sheet is securely attached under the saddle with girth loops, and the tail cord is in place. Wind and high spirits can wreak havoc on a loose chunk of fabric.

When we get to -25C or worse but my mare needs a walk in the indoor, I’ll tack up and then put a full square wool cooler over the whole shebang so that her neck is also covered. I’ve been crazy enough to even have a little canter with her dressed like that.

She likes her clothes though. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that get up for every horse. lol

Jumping wise, I think you’d be nuts not to use the quarter sheet under the saddle, with the girth through the girth loops, and the tail cord secured.

[IPEsq]

Has anyone used a BOT quarter sheet? If so, do you have the fleece or nylon version and do you like it? I’m riding a horse who could potentially benefit from BOT stuff in the lumbar and SI region (so, the regular saddle pad wouldn’t help). Right now, I just throw a cheap cooler on during tacking up and some warm up walking then back on for the cool out walk. I used to own an acrylic quarter sheet (maybe I still do somewhere?) but I think it was pony sized. My first horse was terrified of them.

[joiedevie99]

I wouldn’t jump with a keyhole quarter sheet over the rider’s legs. That is asking to get tangled up in a fall. However, with the quarter sheet under the saddle, or the Thermatex one that clips on behind the saddle - I’d think it would be ok.

[foursocks]

I clip both my guys and use a quarter sheet for flatting, hacking out, and jumping little stuff. If we are doing bigger jumps I take it off, just because it seems to be more in the way. I like the thermatex ones, but I just got a couple of Smartpak fleece ones for this winter- I hope they aren’t too static-y because my TB will kill me! :lol:

[foursocks]

[QUOTE=IPEsq;7862423]
Has anyone used a BOT quarter sheet? If so, do you have the fleece or nylon version and do you like it? I’m riding a horse who could potentially benefit from BOT stuff in the lumbar and SI region (so, the regular saddle pad wouldn’t help). Right now, I just throw a cheap cooler on during tacking up and some warm up walking then back on for the cool out walk. I used to own an acrylic quarter sheet (maybe I still do somewhere?) but I think it was pony sized. My first horse was terrified of them.[/QUOTE]

My friend uses one (the nylon version) on her very cold- and tight-backed young horse and she thinks it really helps. He warms up much quicker and is less pissy when she uses it.

[yellowbritches]

My horse is clipped, hates the cold, and has a cranky back. He gets one quarter sheet to warm up/cool down or hack around 50 degrees. Once it gets around freezing, he gets two (and we may or may not shed one or both during a ride). And, yes. Two makes a vastly noticeable difference in his mood and willingness to participate in our rides. (Sidebar: I make a point to KEEP MOVING if it is really cold with him. I rather go hard for 20 minutes and call it a day, than start and stop and start again. Group lessons or clinics can kinda suck!).

I have a fairly heavy diamond quilt keyhole and a Rambo water resistant one that is fleece line. It’s a good combo for him.

[J-Lu]

Does anyone use wool anymore? Why or why not? I have a very sensitive horse and static charge from polar fleece is NOT an option (we liberally use static guard on his blanket but he gets very touchy with static shock).

[CaitlinandTheBay]

I recently inherited a Bucas brand keyhole one. I used it for the first time yesterday and it seemed to keep the pony happier. Not sure what it’s lined with (cotton? wool? it’s white?) but the top is heavy nylon. I think it’s definitely going to be a go-to this winter.

[Secret_Dove]

[QUOTE=foursocks;7862673]
I clip both my guys and use a quarter sheet for flatting, hacking out, and jumping little stuff. If we are doing bigger jumps I take it off, just because it seems to be more in the way. I like the thermatex ones, but I just got a couple of Smartpak fleece ones for this winter- I hope they aren’t too static-y because my TB will kill me! :lol:[/QUOTE]
Oh, the static from the quarter sheets are the worse! I use to get a pretty big shock when I took my guys sheet off, neither of us liked that, lol.

[toady123]

I use a keyhole sheet to warm up and cool down. He has a trace clip so can survive the ride uncovered. He also hates the static cling and just generally gets hinky about wearing for too long so it comes off as soon as he is loosened up.

[Simbalism]

I have used static guard on my polar fleece horse stuff to help reduce the static. I do have a lovely wool 1/4 sheet that I used to use when showing. It matched my wool cooler. I’ll have to get it out. I don’t show anymore and there is no sense having it in a trunk somewhere. I have to admit when it is really cold, I have been known to put a 1/4 sheet on my mare and then a wool walking cooler( the big square ones).Tie it around my waist and then tuck under legs. Use this for days when it is really cold and the ground is too frozen to do any fast work.

[billiebob]

[QUOTE=J-Lu;7862958]
Does anyone use wool anymore? Why or why not? I have a very sensitive horse and static charge from polar fleece is NOT an option (we liberally use static guard on his blanket but he gets very touchy with static shock).[/QUOTE]

I have 2 quarter sheets, one polar fleece and one wool. If I’m only using one I tend to go for the fleece because it’s warmer. The wool one is prettier and I made it bigger than the fleece to go on top when I use both (old wool cooler that wasn’t getting much use = new quarter sheet). They make a huge difference in my horse’s comfort level in cold weather–the warmer he is, the more his feet stay on the ground!

I like the keyhole ones and I put them under the flaps of the saddle. I’ve jumped in one by accident when I forgot to take it off, but normally my horse was warm enough to take it off by then.

[costco_muffins]

When I was living in Ireland we used quarter sheets for the full warm up of the racehorses, sometimes including a little bit of arena jumping, and then tucked them up under our bottoms for the actual galloping (unless it was pissing down freezing rain, in which case we might leave them down for the gallop). Never had a quarter sheet slip, because they were secured well like this:

https://www.orchardequestrian.com/images/P/p-174.jpg

This is how I ride with them to this day, and usually will trail ride with one in the winter like this. I will warm up for a jump school with a quarter sheet draped over the saddle that I take off once we get going and then put on again at the end of a cool down.

[Plumcreek]

I use a traditional wool quarter sheet for cold winter riding, but also salvaged a fly scrim with shoulders ripped beyond repair for summer schooling. So I do not have to worry about a green bomber or bee on his rump.

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