Horse Exercise Sheets
Exercise sheets are an essential in every equestrian wardrobe. Here in the UK, the weather can change in the blink of an eye, so we need to be prepared when riding our horses in outdoor arenas, or whilst out hacking. The dedicated team here at Discount Equestrian are also passionate about horse and rider safety, which is the reason we source only the best reflective exercise sheets in the equestrian marketplace. Therefore, we are proud to present our excellent Exercise Sheets range!
As much as we love riding, as UK residents we are at the mercy of the weather! With seasonal extremes from Snow through to heat waves, our horses still need exercise, particularly those in training for competition. During the colder months, if you exercise your horse regularly, an exercise sheet is an essential part of your riding kit.
Available in fleece, wool, waterproof and reflective options, Exercise rugs can be selected in either a wrap-around style which also covers underneath the saddle area up to the withers, or a quarter sheet style which covers the hindquarters of the horse. Fleece and waterproof exercise sheets are ideal for clipped horses in work to keep a chill of their back, our fleece and wool exercise sheet range is perfect for the hunter or competition horse who is exercised between meets but requires a full clip and needs an extra layer to maintain a comfortable body temperature. Our waterproof exercise rugs are ideal for any horse or pony to keep dry during rain showers, available in options for use on the horse walker in addition to styles for use under saddle. A further variation in our exercise sheets range is a choice of reflective exercise rugs. With the roads becoming busier and increasingly unsafe for horse and rider, it is highly recommended by safety bodies including the British Horse Society and the Pony Club that full reflective equipment is used when riding on the road. Reflective exercise sheets are an excellent way to ensure your horse is visible to traffic in all weathers – designed in florescent colours with additional reflective stripes, the sheets are breathable and waterproof. It is important that when selecting an exercise sheet that you measure your horse correctly and ensure the fit is snug without restriction in movement. An exercise sheet that does not fit around the hindquarters has the potential to flap in the wind which can spook even the quietest horse. Exercise sheets are not measured in the same increments as turnout rugs or stable rugs, for more information please visit our page on sizing advice.
There are several styles and many materials from which to choose in our wonderful collection of Exercise Sheets. For instance, we have fleece, wool, waterproof and reflective exercise sheets available, along with wrap-around, three-quarter length, full coverage, and even fly sheet style exercise sheets.
Fleece exercise rugs are ideal for clipped horses during colder months, as they keep your horse from feeling a chill without being so heavy as to cause them to sweat. Examples of some of our bestselling fleece exercise sheets:
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.”
Woollen exercise sheets are brilliant for riding during cold, biting winds as they’re heavy enough to resist most breezy conditions, whilst also keeping your horse cosy. Here is our most popular wool exercise sheet:
Rhinegold® Newmarket Wool Exercise Sheet – “This three-quarter, wool, ride-on rug has a traditional, stylish Newmarket stripe design and offers enhanced comfort through use of a wither pad. Also offers extra security with a girth loop and fillet string.”
Waterproof exercise sheets are perfect for riding or lunging in the rain, since they keep our horses comfortable, as well as keeping valuable tack dry. Following are just a few of our finest waterproof 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.”
Mark Todd® Horse Walker/Lunge Rug – “Ideal for use with an outdoor horse walker, or when lunging, to keep the chill off. Made with waterproof, breathable polyester with a fleece lining, this rug is both durable and protective. It is secured with a single front surcingle-style fastening, with D-rings for a neck attachment and a fillet string. The fleece wither pad adds extra comfort and protection for your horse, too.”
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 whilst riding at dusk. Most of our fantastic reflective exercise sheets conform to safety standards recommended by the British Horse Society and Pony Club, too. Top-selling reflective products in our brilliant Exercise Sheets range include:
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.”
Mesh exercise sheets are fabulous for summer rides, as they prevent biting flies from irritating your horse. The following exercise sheet has proven to be effective at repelling flies, which is especially helpful for keeping horses with sweet itch comfortable:
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.”
Please note, it is vital that exercise sheets are fitted correctly as they can cause your horse discomfort by rubbing or chafing, and exercise sheets that are not properly secured can cause your horse to panic and spook. However, fitting an exercise sheet can be more challenging than fitting a rug, because exercise sheets do not follow the same measurement guidelines. For information on correctly fitting an exercise sheet, please visit our Size Guide.
If you require any further assistance in fitting or selecting the right exercise sheet for your horse, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly Discount Equestrian team – we’re always happy to help!
For more amazing rugs that won’t break the bank, you can visit other incredible subcategories in our unrivalled Horse Rugs range.