Continuing the theme of using products well beyond all reason, I'm sad to announce that the Horseware of Ireland Mio turnout sheet
finally bit the dust.
I say "finally" bc.... well, the thing has been in near-tatters condition for, uh, a while now. Basically it's entire life to be honest. Because this sheet does *not* get points for longevity.
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| ahem, apparently somebody had a little too much fun in turn out! |
I ordered this sheet in February 2018 (so not quite a year ago), and it immediately went into fairly heavy rotation. The sheet was extremely water proof, while also being extremely light weight. So it was really perfect for layering.
Unfortunately it's just not a hardy sheet, and began to shred pretty quickly.
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| i like how all the binding is still attached even tho the rest of the entire tail flap is gone lol |
I've kept using it through this winter anyway tho, again mostly bc it still worked more or less well as a top layer, especially in wet conditions. Obviously the more holes Charlie put in it, the less water proof it became... But oh well, I figured I'd squeeze every last drop of usefulness out of that $65 haha.
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| the bottom right tear on his haunch has been there for a while. that looooong top one from wither to loin is new tho. stylin, charlie. stylin. |
When I strapped it onto the horse two nights ago when temperatures were expected to spike to a rainy 55*F... Well, I had my doubts about it haha. The sheet was definitely in rough shape.
And sure enough, apparently the horses were all complete nut jobs in turn out. The initially warm balmy weather and freshly softened ground apparently got all their blood pumping. And then when the wind started gusting as another cold front blew in.... Well. These horses really couldn't help themselves haha. They just HAD to run around like lunatics lol.
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| "i regret nothing" - charlie, probably |
Honestly I feel kinda bad for Charlie. He's a big awkward thoroughbred who really hasn't been able to let loose and
run for a couple weeks now. The ground outside is too bad, and we're stuck to a tiny indoor for our rides. He's still a good boy, obvi, but he's having a little bit of a hard time holding it together lol.
Alas, the Mio proved to be the first casualty of Charlie's stir craziness haha. And... uh... Well, fingers crossed it'll be the last, too.
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| it's a mystery how these horses do these things. my poor beloved snuggy hood!! |
And I'm not really sure what to do for a replacement. On the one hand, this sheet was reasonably inexpensive, and really
really good as a top layer. Especially for the variably wet weather of spring, it would be nice to have something similar on hand.
On the other hand, tho, I don't really love the idea of a turnout sheet that can't make it through a complete blanket season. So idk.
Anybody seen any good deals on rain sheets lately?
I'm not wild about the current color (mine is green), but I've had good luck with these: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/weatherbeeta-genero-1200d-standard-neck-turnout-sheet-made-exclusively-for-smartpak-13662
ReplyDeleteHm ok that’s good to know. Is it very water proof? I have a smartpak ultimate sheet but it is crap at resisting water so I’ve used this mio almost like a tarp haha. Tho with how wet it’s been it’s been helpful to have two sheets anyway lol
DeleteI never had any problems with it, but my little house flower was also known to hide in the run-in rather than standing in the rain.
Deleteha nice! for as pitiful as charlie always acts about... well, literally everything, he's actually learning to be a pretty hardy beastie in the weather! which is good for him, even if it means it's harder for me to figure out how to dress him lol!
DeleteWhat size does Sir Charles the Blanket Destroyer wear? I have a couple of Amigo Bravos that I’m looking to rehome. They stand up much better than their poor cousins the Mios. And that level of destruction takes talent Charlie! ��
ReplyDeleteHa it’s a lot of destruction! I’m not gonna blame Charlie too too much tho bc the rest of his wardrobe is older and in just fine shape lol. He wears an 80-81+ ;) lmk if you have anything bronto sized!!
Deletewhat size do you have APitts? I LOVE the Amigo Bravos for Remus! I have (cough cough) 3-4 of them....And have used them all this winter (Up in PA 2 of them never came out of their totes!! Down here I need blankets?? WHAT?) HA HA let me know I am sure Charlie wears bigger than Remus so you never know! :)
Deleteso i texted her and she has 84s, which is actually charlie's true size and idk why i assumed that Duke would be so much smaller bc homeboy is BUILT lol. she's got a bunch of them too!
DeleteI use Mio's for the same reason and just stock up mid summer during big sales. I usually can get 2 for $75. I know that they die much quicker than the rest of my blankets, but I have not found similar waterproofing with in $50.
ReplyDeleteSee 2 for $75 sounds almost worth it for these sheets. They’re basically glorified tarps anyway, right? But damn do they work for that purpose! Do me a favor and lmk next time you see that kind of sale!!
DeleteI like Schneider's Dura-Tech Viking Turnout Sheets. They run big from what I remember, but they seem to hold up pretty well. I originally bought Batty an 82 but it was too big for him by itself -- it's fine layered. He fits in an 80 and can wear Subi's 78. Subi could probably get by in a 76. It doesn't have a warranty, but if the lining rips or you need basic repairs, they'll pay for those.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.sstack.com/c_blankets-sheets_horse-blankets_waterproof-turnout-blankets-sheets/dura-tech-viking-turnouts-37478c/
Ooh nice! I’ve heard good things about Schneider’s and that’s not a bad price on the matching neck cover either...
DeleteI like my Schneider's too! I got the Nordlund model..
DeleteI had a mio for one season and it got totally shredded too :/ I'd buy it on sale in a pinch because it is SO waterproof for how cheap it is, but it really doesn't hold up.
ReplyDeleteI've been all about the shires blankets lately. I have a highlander sheet by them and let me tell you they were out in the pissing down rain and he was only wet because the rain was flowing in the neck hole. Totally dry under the blanket.
yea i basically feel exactly the same about the Mio. good to know about the Shires tho! the water proof element is really the only piece i feel like is missing from charlie's wardrobe without the Mio....
DeleteI have a Baker Rain sheet that has lasted since I bought it new in 2011. It got ripped up and repaired once, the liner is totally gone, but the outside is super durable and while I've re-waterproofed both professionally and DIY, it's still going.
ReplyDeletehm that's helpful. i had kinda been thinking about getting something super super light bc i already have kinda a normal sheet, but it's just not very water proof (the smartpak for anyone curious). i liked that the Mio was so so light that it could layer on top of anything else without necessarily adding weight, or could be used on one of those sorta in-between 55*F rainy days where maybe the horse could get away without a sheet at all, but probably wouldn't be too warm under something light... really tho, i just need two sheets so one can always be dry-ish...
Deletei just got a smartpak delux high-neck for like $75 and that thing is WAY better constructed than the Mios, which I have also had. The Mios used to be a lot better constructed but now they just aren't. Way to make them last, though!
ReplyDeleteyea i probably should have written in the post, but i already have a smartpak sheet that acts as charlie's "main" sheet. the issue is that it's not waterproof for crap. the Mio was great as a top waterproof layer that didn't add any weight. or in instances where it rained for days, having two sheets (plus liners as needed) was useful to switch them out and allow one or the other to dry between wears. agreed 1,000% that the Smartpak sheet is a much better constructed blanket tho, that one is in top notch shape well into its second season!
DeleteWe had to get the matching barn turnout sheet where my stepmom's horse lives (eye roll) and they are the Amigo ones. So far, Eros' is holding up well, seems to be quite waterproof. But I've only had him and the sheet since October. He's a disgusting pig pen though, and so far no rips or tears. They go out about half the day, but individually, so maybe less stress on it.
ReplyDeleteFor the two old men at home, I just ordered turnout sheets from Horze, but they're first arriving today, so I can't tell you how good they are yet. I do have the same one in a blanket, and it's been great, but also fairly new also so can't report on durability.
omgosh i've heard tell of the "whole barn must match!" management styles but never had to live it lol. glad to hear that their choice in blankets is at least lasting??
Deletei'll be curious to hear your thoughts on the Horze blankets too! so far i've actually been pretty happy with everything of theirs that i've tried, tho it isn't much.
Remus has the same Mio on (and Remus may or may not have JUST rolled in a mud puddle and gotten soaked ugh) and he has another one that needs repair. They usually do okay being patched up but if you get them thru even a year you are doing great. The one that needs patching is the newer one the one he has on is at last 3 years old sooooo) I have gone to the Amigo Horsewares now. They are waterproof as heck (ask me how I know TENN WEATHER!) and I layer them up and down as needed. I do have a horseware liner I love and want another one! I keep waiting for this current Mio on Remus to die a brutal death. Tate has one too that has been patched galore and I am sure won't last the winter. They both have two plaid smartpak sheets that Sarah made me buy last fall (HA) and i havent used them yet due to all the mud! (I laugh that my horses match)!
ReplyDeleteomgosh i'm OBSESSED with my horseware liner too!! it's made all these other sheets so much more versatile! that Mio combined with a liner was really so so perfect for all that sorta in between low-40s type weather. and i really did like the Mio, Charlie wore it a ton. so maybe i'll grab another if they're on extra sale. but this one was pretty well beyond "patching" pretty early on, alas.
Deletemy bad Sarah made me buy from DOVER and i got a steal on these...they are on closeout now they look nice...havent used them yet...https://www.doversaddlery.com/riders-int-turnout-sheet/p/X1-24280B/ as I said mine are purple plaid but they have normal colors HA for you nonpurple people!
Deleteoooooh hm. that's not a bad price, thanks for the link!!!
DeleteI love Canadian horsewear blankets- they are waterproof and durable. Fortunately my two are easy on blankets.
ReplyDeleteif it weren't for this Mio i'd say charlie is easy on his blankets too! his others are basically spotless after multiple seasons, the worst he's done to them is rolling!
DeleteAgree with Teresa. The Horsewear blankets are amazing!
Deletegood to know - that's not a brand i've heard much about before this!
DeletePleasantridge saddlery sells them and they often have this deal where you pick the size and they send the colour that they have. Both times I’ve ended up with black and navy. For a significant discount it was totally worth it
DeleteAmber and Whisper have rain sheets from Dover, and they've been wonderful at keeping the horses dry the...well...FEW times that it rains haha. They're pretty affordable, and of course we loved the navy/royal combo, but I really like that this sheet only has the outer waterproof and a nylon liner. If the temps are in that mid-range, like you I stick a cotton sheet on Amber underneath that blanket and it works well. I honestly can't remember whether we have the turnout sheet or the mid weight one, but I'll throw both links on here lol. I can check later too which one we have if you'd like :).
ReplyDelete-Turnout sheet: https://www.doversaddlery.com/pessoa-alpine-turnout-sheet/p/X1-24709/
-Mid-weight blanket: https://www.doversaddlery.com/pessoa-alpine-midweight-turnout-blanket/p/X1-24378/
oh nice! looks like a nice sheet! it's substantially more than i'm looking to pay bc i already have one "good" sheet (supposedly) and am looking for kinda a cheap go between or top layer.... not sure what i want exists in any other form than something that isn't likely to be durable, unfortunately haha
DeleteOh gotcha!
Deletei'm honestly starting to believe blanket shopping is kinda like saddle shopping haha. it's hard to find exactly what i want for exactly what i want to spend!
DeleteI just got a Horze sheet on clearance at Riding Warehouse (I think it was a whopping $42), it sheds water really well, but I can't speak to longevity yet. It feels like it will hold up, but we'll see.
ReplyDeleteSolo's rainsheet is a very old, very cheap McAlister sheet, it won't die, doesn't have a mark on it, although he is boss horse, no one bites him; I've also had great luck with Centaur's blankets (also cheap). I don't buy anything less than 1200D (I had to get 2400D or greater for Encore because he didn't care if Solo bit him, but Echo gets out of the way much better).
I have 2 SP Ultimates - a sheet & a blanket, that are both excellent at being waterproof. If you haven't already, I would contact SP about yours if it's not, they have ALWAYS sent me replacements with no questions if I have a problem.
You can also get re-waterproofing spray at SS Tack or your local Target (I refuse to give Walmart $ or encourage anyone else to do so) for much less $.
i'm i actually did replace my SP sheet and the second is also not at all waterproof. like, at ALL. i've had it treated with waterproofing too to no avail. idk. it's a mystery. ive heard from my barn mate that they're also having a hard time filling orders and providing replacements right now, tho i haven't reached out to them directly.
Deletegood to know about those other options. i'm intrigued by the Horze option too, i might nose around a little bit!
As I previously said - I use the Canadian Horsewear blankets. Annie likes to come in with random rips at the shoulders and butt (I think when she is itching herself??) and they repair quite well and stand up to a lot of abuse. I've had 2/3 of my Horsewear's since owning Suzie, so they're going on Year 6 nice and strong with only a few minor repairs. That being said tho, Annie doesn't have bigger horses to play with or destroy her blankets but they've held up nicely regardless.
ReplyDeleteI like the Horze blankets as well - I have one of them and it's going on Year 2 now. Unfortunately, without a hood, rain water drips down her neck and into her chest... and even when you have the hood on the bottom part of it constantly flips up so the rain drips down Annie's neck and into her chest/shoulders. Very frustrating, but thankfully with the hood on it lessens how wet she gets.
The horsewear blankets have a high neck, so completely eradicate this problem.
that's good to know!! i can live with rain and wetness getting in through the openings of a blanket, but the blankets that soak through entirely really bug me haha. meanwhile tho charlie just goes wallowing around in mud puddles anyway so maybe i should just take my hints from him and let him decide how to live his own best life??? lol....
DeleteI really like my Weatherbeeta rain sheets. I have two so I can swap them out if needed and so that I have a spare. The oldest is in the 4 year range and is still going strong. Have yet to have to re-waterproof it and it's only needed a couple of small repairs.
ReplyDeleteBoys are hard on blankets. Most of the boys at my barn are in Amigo Bravo's and they hold up quite well. They are 1200D vs the 600D that the Mio is which is what makes the differece.
If you ordered via a website in Canada it would probably end up being a good deal for you. If you just want more Mios', they are $80 CAD from Apple Saddlery.
having two sheets really seems to be the critical piece to my particular puzzle, esp with the weather where i am. tho i wish the one sheet i have now was more waterproof! that's good to know the weatherbeetas are so good on that front! also good idea on ordering from canada.... i hadn't considered that!
DeleteThis whole post is the story of my life with Pig. I think his Amigo sheet lasted all of 1 day on him. Ugh. Once I went Rambo, I never looked back. They're the only blankets I haven't had to replace yearly. That said, they're an investment. I have no other advice. Haha
ReplyDeleteha see charlie actually doesn't seem to be truly hard on his blankets, but that Mio just was not up to the task haha
DeleteI got a killer deal on a Smartpak Rainsheet several years ago. $50 but I just checked I guess they don't make it anymore which is a bummer. It's a size 81 and living in San Diego I don't think I will be using it anymore. text me if you want it and we can hammer out a deal (gently used Ramone was a good boy on his clothes)
ReplyDeletetext sent ;) part of me is a little skeptical now of SP waterproofing but maybe it's worth a shot!
DeleteI have a couple horseware Ireland blankets that I LOVE because they are so waterproof!! I just make sure to buy 1200 denier + if I want it to survive... our mini has a sheet from shires that seems really nice and waterproof/lightweight... but she is also really gentle on her blankets. Our big horses are definitely not!! Haha
ReplyDeleteyea the 1200D probably would have been fine, i've just been such a miser about spending those extra $$$$ when i already have one lol! that might be more of a *me* problem tho lol...
DeleteYes, I wouldn’t be able to justify spending the extra $$ if Rasty wasn’t such a blanket destroyer! he thinks it’s a fun game to rip blankets up/off him and him friends... :(
ReplyDeleteBack when we used blankets, we tossed on the appropriate size/weight Rambo & turned them out into the field 24/7. No layers. No hassles. No leaks. Last forever.
ReplyDeleteOMG there are some crazy blanket sales right now! So, long story short I bought two blankets for June at our Pony Club tack sale totaling $50. I wanted to see what size and shape fit her. I ended up with a Schneiders sheet that I really like! So much so that I ended up buying a medium weight turnout for about $100 with a hood! They're worth looking into! Oh, and they have a 10 year warranty! Seems like Charlie may need that? lol
ReplyDelete