September 2004

Saratoga Offers Warm Riding

Saratoga Horseworks’ Windhibitor Quarter Sheet makes the difference in harsh, windy weather warmups.

We loved the traditional elegance of KR’s Customs wool Black Rose Quarter Sheet, which will also cover the rider, but not its dry-cleaning requirement.

Quarter sheets get their name because they cover the horse’s hindquarters. They’re also sometimes called exercise blankets, or riding blankets, or exercise rugs. The purpose of these blankets is to keep the horse warm as he works in cold weather. While riding, quarter sheets can help halt overly fast muscle cooling, which can lead to muscle cramps. 

Quarter sheets aren’t really made for use during serious work and training, however. They’re primarily for the time in between rounds at a show or in between work sessions during a lesson, when horses can get cooled too fast. Quarter sheets fit with a saddle, and some permit a rider to keep his…