Best Waterproof Turnout Sheets for Horses [Top 5 Sheets]
For horse keepers, keeping their horses healthy and happy is their number one priority. Apart from healthy and balanced nutrition, keeping your horse dry and warm is also essential if you want to keep your horse healthy.
In cold weather, when it’s raining outside, you would need to cover your horse with a cloth, just like you will be protecting yourself with that warm jacket.
For covering, you will need a waterproof sheet so that your horse remains dry and has good insulation so that it is warm as well. If you are looking for such type of sheet, then look no more; in this article, we will be sharing some of the best waterproof turnout sheets for horses.
List of Top 5 Waterproof Turnout Sheets for Horses
Guide to Select the Best Waterproof Turnout Sheets for Horses [Key Factors to Consider]
When buying a waterproof turnout sheet for horses, there are more factors to consider than meet the eye. To find out about such elements, we contacted a few experienced horse keepers who have been keeping horses for a long time.
1. Waterproof material
We all know that for a material to be waterproof, it needs to be built with material that does not let the water go through it.
In turnout sheets, the best waterproof material that is most successful in stopping water from getting through is a good quality fabric with thickness between 600 and 1700 denier.
The type of coating and its quality also have an impact on the waterproofing of a sheet. Turnout sheets from brands like ARMORFlex and Dura-Tech are some of the most waterproof and durable sheets.
2. Waterproof Coating
Besides the material of your sheet, another vital factor that makes your turnout sheet waterproof is coating.
Silicone coating is the most durable and waterproof coating, whereas PU and PE coatings are good options. But for PU or PE coating, you will need multiple coated.
3. The thickness of the sheet
The thickness of your turnout sheet depends on various factors, including weather, your horse’s ability to cope with low temperatures, their coat, and the kind of shelter you have provided them. For horses living in a cold area, you will need a thick sheet or a blanket.
You will also have to look into the remaining factors as well. For instance, if your horse has a thick coat, you will need a thin coat. You consider all the elements we mentioned and decide which should be the thickness of your horse’s turnout sheet.
4. Waterproof turnout sheet shape
There is a difference between a stable blanket/sheet and a turnout sheet. For a sheet to be turnout, your sheet needs to have a particular shape.
- Your sheet must have a tail flap to cover your horse’s tail from rain and keep it warm.
- It must have leg straps to provide stability and stop the sheet from shifting when the horse is moving around.
- For freedom of movement, your horse’s turnout sheet must have shoulder gussets.
- The buckle front and the quick clip front closure provide the best protection from the rain.
- Neck cover, this option does not come with most turnout sheets, so you will have to buy this piece separately.
5. Waterproof blanket or waterproof sheet
Don’t get confused while choosing between the two; the turnout sheet is for horses living in places with hot temperatures.
On the other hand, a turnout blanket is for horses living in cold areas. A turnout sheet is thinner and more lightweight, whereas a turnout blanket is much thicker and warmer.
6. Durability
Durability is a must-have feature when it comes to turnout sheets for horses. As horses can do all sorts of things to put their turnout sheet through all kinds of physical wear and tear, you must make sure the turnout sheet you buy for your horse is super-durable. Turnout sheets from ARMORFlex and Dura-Tech are some of the most waterproof and super-durable sheets you can buy in the market.
Top 5 Best Waterproof Turnout Sheets for Horses
1. Tough 1 600 Denier Waterproof Horse Sheet
Value for Money
First on our list of best waterproof turnout sheets is the best value for money waterproof turnout sheet, the Tough-1 turnout sheet.
The sheet is made with 600D nylon polyester, which makes it highly waterproof and durable. The sheet has 70 deniers lining to make it more resistant to wear and tear and give it a perfect look.
When it comes to the shape of this sheet, the design of this sheet makes sure to keep your horse completely protected from water when it’s raining and provides maximum comfort and breathability. Thanks to the shoulder gussets, your horse can move freely with this rain sheet on.
For a tighter fit, it has leg straps and crossed surcingle belly that doesn’t bother the horse while it’s running.
This sheet also covers your horse’s tail with its tail flap and covers the chest and front area with its buckle-front closure. These sheets come in various colors, i.e., hunter green, navy blue, purple, and turquoise-brown.
Specifications
| Brand | Tough 1 |
| Material | Polyester |
| Color | Hunter green |
| Size | 69 inches |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Benefits
- Durable and sturdy; made of 600D polyester
- It is Lightweight
- This sheet fits well, so it is more comfortable and breathable.
- Affordable
Drawbacks
- It isn’t for horses living in hot places, since it is a bit thick.
- Buyers complain about not getting the color they want.
- It might not fit on giant horses.
2. One Stop Equine Shop Turnout Sheet
Breathable and Lightweight
It is very important for your turnout sheet to be lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. In case you are looking for one with similar features, you should try the One-Stop Equine turnout sheet.
It is the best go-to cover option for your horse when it rains suddenly. This turnout horse sheet is made from 600 deniers Ripstop fabric, making it perfect for horses that prefer to live outdoors.
Ripstop fabric is well known for its waterproofing and durability, and it is most commonly used for outdoor things.
When it comes to the breathability and comfort of your horse, these sheets wick away the heat and moisture of your horse and make sure it is warm and dry.
The best feature of this turnout sheet is that you can use it both in winter and in summer. You can put a blanket under the sheet when it’s winter and remove it in spring or summer.
This sheet will fit perfectly on your horse. It has a leg gusset to ensure your horse moves freely. It also has a tail flap to cover your horse’s tail from rain. The front closure of this turnout sheet is a buckle-front closure which works best at keeping your horse dry when it is raining.
Specifications
| Brand | One Stop Equine |
| Material | Ripstop Fabric |
| Color | Grey |
| Size | 72 inches |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Benefits
- Super-durable; made of 600D Ripstop fabric
- It is super-lightweight and highly breathable
- Super comfortable
- Fits perfectly
- It is versatile; you can use it in any season.
- Affordable
Drawbacks
- There is no padding, which will put pressure on your horse’s sensitive area.
3. Tough-1 1200D Poly Waterproof Sheet 78 Red
Most Durable
Most turnout sheets cannot withstand daily wear and tear, most break within months of use.
There are very few turnout sheets that are designed to withstand all kinds of wear and tear. The reason why we shortlisted the Tough 1 1200D turnout sheet is that is super-durable.
This turnout sheet is made from 1200 denier nylon polyester. As we mentioned above, the durability and the quality of waterproofing depend on the thickness and sturdiness of a fabric.
Since this sheet is made of much thicker polyester it is more waterproof and even more durable.
When it comes to the design of this turnout sheet, it ensures that your horse is comfortable and can breathe in this sheet.
It has shoulder gussets to ensure your horse can freely move, and an adjustable leg strap for better grip. It also has a tail flap to protect the horsetail from rain, and has double buckle-front closure for better grip and to keep your horse dry.
Specifications
| Brand | Tough 1 |
| Material | Polyester |
| Color | Red |
| Size | 78 inches |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Benefits
- It is made of super-durable material i.e. 1200 denier nylon
- Fits perfectly on all size of horses, especially bigger ones.
- Perfect fit for large horses
- It is best for horses living in cold areas.
Drawbacks
- Not for small sized horse, below 74 inches.
4. One Stop Equine Shop Fly Sheet
Best Price
It is hard to find a comfortable sheet for your horse nowadays; if you are looking for one with the best price, then the One-Stop Equine flysheet is your best option. This turnout sheet material is mesh fabric which makes it super-lightweight and comfortable to wear.
It is also one of the most durable and waterproof turnout sheets. High-quality mesh fabric is one of the best water-repellants; since this sheet is mesh-made, it also allows no water to get through it.
Mesh-fabric made sheet is also one of the most comfortable sheets to put on. It fits well and improves airflow, which makes it more breathable than other turnout sheets. Its material is also the best anti-rub material, so if your horse is rolling in the mud, the sheet won’t get damaged.
As far as ergonomics are concerned, this sheet offers as much comfort and control as possible. It has a belly flap to cover the belly portion and avoid pressure on the sensitive areas.
To protect the tail, it has a tail flap, and for better fitting, you can put the tail cord in its place. It also covers the chest area with its buckle-front closure.
Specifications
| Brand | One Stop Equine |
| Material | Mesh Fabric |
| Color | White |
| Size | 72&78 inches |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Benefits
- Lightweight, easy to put on, and exerts no pressure on your horse’s body.
- Comfortable to wear; smooth and breathable material makes it comfortable to wear.
- Anti-rub; it doesn’t get damaged when your horse is rolling on the ground.
- Flexible
Drawbacks
- The tail rope doesn’t work; it should have leg straps instead.
5. Shires Tempest plus Rain Sheet
Flexi Fit
Waterproof turnout sheets come in various sizes, it’s hard to find the best waterproof sheet that fits perfectly on your horse.
Some sheets are meant for small-sized horses others are for giant horses, our next sheet on this list comes in multiple sizes and all of them fit perfectly as well.
The Shires turnout sheet is made from 1200 denier Ripstop, making it one of the most durable and lightweight sheets. The sheet makes sure your horse is warm and dry when raining outside, with its perfectly layered structure.
As we mentioned above, the waterproofing of a sheet depends on its thickness and material; since the material of this sheet is Ripstop fabric with 1200 denier thickness, it is one of the most durable and waterproof sheets you can get at said price.
The thickness impacts breathability, but that’s not the case with this sheet. The makers of this sheet made sure your horse was comfortable and could breathe in this sheet. The nylon added interior wicks away sweat, heat out of your horse, and keeps it as comfortable as possible.
This sheet fits perfectly; it comes in various sizes, so you won’t have to worry about sizing. It also has eye-chest closure to protect the chest area. To cover the belly area, it has a cross surcingle. The D-ring leg straps make sure your horse can move freely.
Specifications
| Brand | Shires |
| Material | Ripstop Fabric |
| Color | Navy/Grey |
| Size | 66 to 84 inches |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Benefits
- Most durable
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Fits perfectly
- It comes in various sizes
- Affordable
Drawbacks
- The D-rings leg straps aren’t as effective as leg straps.
Comparison Of Above Listed Waterproof Horse Turnout Sheets
| Tough 1 600D turnout sheet | One Stop Equine turnout sheet | Tough 1 1200D turnout sheet | One Stop Equine fly turnout sheet | Shires Tempest Plus sheet | |
| Brand | Tough 1 | One Stop Equine | Tough 1 | One Stop Equine | Shires |
| Material | 600 denier polyester with interior nylon | Ripstop Fabric | 1200 denier polyester with nylon interior | Mesh Fabric | 1200 denier Ripstop fabric |
| Sizes | 69 inches | 72 inches | 78 inches | 72 & 78 inches | 69,72,75,78,81,and 84 inches |
| Color | Hunter green | Grey | Red | White | Navy/grey |
| Top feature | Best value for money | Breathable and comfortable | Most durable | Best price | Perfect fit and most durable |
Final words:
It is essential to keep your horse dry and warm to avoid sickness in the rainy season. Since it is almost impossible to keep your horse inside while it’s raining for hours, you need to have the best waterproof turnout sheet for your horse to put on and go out while it’s raining.
There are many turnout sheets, but few are worth buying. By either choosing one of our listed turnout sheets or buy considering the various critical factors we mentioned, you can quickly get yourself the perfect waterproof turnout sheet for your horse.
