Horse Exercise Sheets

Exercise sheets for horses are essential in every equestrian wardrobe. The weather can change in the blink of an eye, so we must be prepared when riding our horses in outdoor arenas or whilst out hacking. Horse and rider comfort and safety are paramount, and using an exercise rug for your horse protects against the elements year-round and can also be part of your high viz tack. When choosing a horse exercise sheet, there are numerous styles. There are waterproof exercise sheets for horses, too, to further protect you from the elements.

There are waterproof exercise sheets are a thin, waterproof fabric covering your horse from poll to tail. Designed to protect your horse's tack and still allow you to ride, they look similar to a stable rug with neck piece. Straps on the neck and chest secure the rain sheet to your horse. Strategically placed openings allow access to the stirrups while riding.

Horse exercise sheets are often called quarter sheets or quarter rugs. These fleece, wool, waffle, or mesh sheets cover the horse's quarters behind the saddle. Some quarter rugs attach to the girth; others have cutouts around the saddle and rider to secure near the saddle's pommel. A portion of the quarter sheet will cover the rider's thighs, and the horse's shoulders will remain uncovered.

For more coverage, the 3/4 sheet covers the quarters, the barrel, and the shoulders. The saddle may sit upon the 3/4 sheet or have a cutout where the saddle sits. A rider's thighs and lower legs are covered when using the cutout.

A walker sheet is an exercise rug for horses that attaches at the chest and has surcingle’s for the belly, but the shoulder areas are clear of fabric. This innovative design doesn't restrict a horse's shoulders on the walker or lunge line.

A hi viz exercise sheet puts equestrian safety first. This exercise sheet for a horse is crafted from bright hi viz orange and yellow colours, often with reflective strips. To complement your horse's high viz exercise sheet, add other hi viz accessories like a rider's jacket, horse boots, and fly veils.

You can also opt for a mesh exercise rug that is cooler for your horse and helps wards away the flies and bugs for warm-weather riding. Zebra print rugs are particularly good at deterring flies, and the mesh fabric optimizes air flow while reducing the irritation from insects.

Selecting the proper size is essential for safety and comfort. An exercise sheet that does not fit around the hindquarters has the potential to flap in the wind, possibly spooking even the quietest horse. Exercise sheets are not measured in the same increments as for example turnout rugs or stable rugs, they are usually measured less precisely such as simply Pony, Cob, Full or Small, Medium, Regular, rather than most other rugs which have the smaller 3” increments. You will often find size guide information on each of the exercise sheet product pages which will help with finding the correctly sized rug. If you need any help, please get in touch, or use the Ask a Question tab available on every product page and we will be happy to assist.

Exercise Rugs and Sheets for Horses

Fleece and waterproof exercise rugs and sheets are ideal for clipped horses in work to keep a chill off their back. The coverage provided helps a horse in a full clip that needs an extra layer to maintain a comfortable body temperature. The lightweight nature of these blankets keeps your horse from feeling a chill without being so heavy as to cause them to sweat. Unclipped horses can benefit from a waterproof exercise sheet in wet weather.

Explore some of the popular horse exercise rugs we stock here: 

Kentucky® Quarter Rug Heavy Fleece – "While warming up, this fleece will keep your horse warm, whereas when cooling down it will let sweat evaporate, allowing your horse to dry quickly. This fleece features two Velcro fastenings to attach to the saddle, as well as a tail cord. The Kentucky logo in brown artificial leather gives it a fancy look. This rug is machine washable at 30°C. Available in burgundy, grey, navy, pine green, and blue check."

Rhinegold® 3/4 Length Cutaway Fleece Ride-On Rug – "This exercise rug is a three-quarter length fleece with Velcro fastenings in front of the saddle. It can either be used under the saddle or wrapped around the rider's legs. Fully bound with Day-Glo reflective piping and reflective tape on the outer corners for enhanced visibility. An extra-large, umbrella-style tail guard has additional reflective tape to increase visibility. Comes complete with a fillet string for added security."

Mesh exercise sheets are fabulous for summer rides, as they prevent biting flies from irritating your horse. The following exercise rug has proven effective at repelling flies, which is especially helpful for keeping horses with sweet itch comfortable as you ride.:

Bucas® Buzz Off Riding Zebra Rug – "This zebra rug protects against fly, insect and UV irritation as it is made from a specially developed, light-weight, fine-mesh fabric. The mesh blocks even the smallest of insects and reduces the effects of ultraviolet radiation. This rug comes in two parts, the first part being a quarter sheet, with the second providing neck and shoulder cover."

Waterproof and Hi Viz Exercise Sheets

Our waterproof exercise rugs are ideal for any horse or pony to keep dry during rain showers. They are available in options for use on the horse walker and styles for use under saddle.

Reflective exercise sheets are recommended for riding out, whether on roads or through forestry because they enhance the safety of both horse and rider due to improved visibility – which is especially important during dark dawn rides or when riding at dusk. Most of our fantastic reflective exercise sheets also conform to safety standards recommended by the British Horse Society and Pony Club.

Following are just a few of our finest waterproof exercise sheets and hi viz exercise sheets:

Kentucky® Walker Rug Waterproof – "This high-performance rug is made from three-layer fabric. The 600D high tenacity polyester outer fabric is laminated with a waterproof and breathable membrane, with artificial rabbit skin lining the neck, chest and shoulders for improved comfort while lunging or in the walker."

Rhinegold® Waterproof Ride-On Rug – "In eye-catching bright yellow, this waterproof three-quarter length ride-on rug improves safety while out riding. With a soft fleece lining, this rug keeps your horse comfortable and prevents rubbing. The Velcro fastening in front of the saddle, along with a fillet string, keep this rug secure."

Premier Equine Horse Walker/Lunge Rug – "Our breathable waterproof horse walker rug is crafted from a durable 840D ballistic nylon and cut away at the chest to allow for maximum breathability in the location of key organs, a feature which is important in the prevention of overheating. The cut-away shoulder allows for a great range of movement and a flat front chest closure and padded front provide even pressure for the horses’ chest making it a suitable rug for use on horses in transit as it helps to alleviate pressure against the travel bar."

WeatherBeeta® 300D Reflective Exercise Sheet – "Functional and strong, this reflective exercise sheet is available in orange, yellow, and pink. A durable, showerproof exercise sheet with 300 denier outer. The touch tape closure at the wither, along with the fillet string, ensures this rug remains secure. For enhanced visibility and added safety, this rug boasts a tail flap with a reflective strip and diagonal reflective strips on both rear corners."

Equisafety® Polite Winter Wrap Around Rug – "High visibility and reflective, 100% waterproof, breathable and windproof, this amazing rug is also light weight and doesn't overheat your horse. It is lined with a sweat-wicking fabric, so can be worn in summer as well as winter. The performance fabric provides durability with snag resistance, too. This rug provides 360 degree reflective and fluorescent performance, for improved visibility and better safety whilst out hacking. This rug can be used without the saddle, which makes it useful for long reining or leading as well as for riding. The unique, exclusive girth slits provide 100% anti-slip guarantee, with a strong fillet string to prevent the rug from being blown about, even in the strongest of winds."

If you require any further assistance in fitting or selecting the most suitable exercise sheet for your horse, please contact us or call 01429 864112. Our expert team at Discount Equestrian is always happy to help!

We aim to offer the best quality products from top equestrian brands at unbeatable prices. That's why we created our Price Match Promise program; if you find a product listed at a lower price on the website of any online retail competition, we will strive to match that price for you (Terms and Conditions Apply).