Quarter Sheets: Protecting the Horse's Back While Working in Cold or Wet Weather

Quarter sheets are designed to protect the horse's back, loins, and hindquarters while working in cold, windy, or wet weather. Placed behind the saddle—or under the saddle flaps for some specific models—they help keep the muscles warm without hindering the rider. They are essential in winter, outdoors, for clipped horses, or for those with particular back sensitivity. Their role is simple: to preserve muscle warmth to ensure flexibility, relaxation, and comfort throughout the session.

Why use a quarter sheet?

1. Keep the back warm during warm-up

The loins, lumbar region, and hindquarters are particularly sensitive areas to cold.
A quarter sheet helps to:
• activate circulation,
• limit stiffness,
• encourage engagement,
• start the session with a more relaxed horse.

2. Prevent muscle tension

A cold back often leads to:
• a contracted horse,
• a lack of availability,
• a stiff back,
• more difficult head carriage.
The quarter sheet stabilizes temperature and facilitates relaxation.

3. Protect from wind, cold, fog, and rain

Depending on the model, it can be windproof, fleece, waterproof, softshell, or even warm-lined.

4. Improve comfort outdoors

Essential in the arena or for hacks and trots, the quarter sheet:
• protects from moisture,
• reduces thermal variations,
• increases the horse's overall comfort.

Different types of quarter sheets

1. Fleece quarter sheets

• Gentle warmth
• Very breathable
• Perfect for clipped or sensitive horses
• Ideal for warm-up and cool-down

2. Waterproof quarter sheets

• Protect from rain, wind, and moisture
• Often thinly lined
• Perfect for outdoor use or wet winters

3. Softshell quarter sheets

• Windproof and water-repellent
• Flexible, comfortable, and breathable
• Especially suitable for cold and windy days

4. Modular double-layer quarter sheets (waterproof + fleece)

• Very practical 2-in-1 system
• One waterproof layer + one fleece layer
• Both can be detached or combined as needed
• Ultra-versatile for riders who ride very regularly

5. Long quarter sheets

• Extend further down the flanks
• Provide greater protection from cold and wind
• Suitable for ridden work, trotting, hacking, and horses with very sensitive backs

6. Square quarter sheets

• Flat, compact, and very stable shape
• Ideal with monoflap saddles, as they create no extra bulk under the single flap
• Do not hinder the rider's leg
• Very versatile outdoors and in the arena

7. Reflective / fluorescent quarter sheets

• High visibility
• Essential in winter or outdoors in low light
• Often waterproof and windproof

9. Faux fur lined quarter sheets

• High-end comfort
• Soft, anti-rub lining
• Ideal for horses with sensitive skin
• Stabilizes warmth while remaining breathable

How to choose a quarter sheet?

1. Depending on the weather

• Rain → waterproof
• Wind → softshell
• Dry cold → fleece
• Very cold + humidity → double layer
• Low visibility → reflective

2. Depending on the horse

• Clipped → fleece or lined
• Back-sensitive → long or faux fur
• Horses that warm up quickly → softshell
• Compact horses → square quarter sheet
• Horses with long loins → long model

4. Depending on the type of attachment

• Pommel attachment → easy to put on/take off
• Under saddle flaps → very stable for dressage
• Side attachments → optimal balance outdoors

Practical cases

• Trotting in a cold wind → Importance: windproof softshell.
• Working in the arena on a damp winter morning → Importance: thinly lined waterproof.
• Back-sensitive horse in winter → Importance: warm fleece or faux fur lining.
• Technical dressage session → Importance: square quarter sheet.
• Winter hack with reduced visibility → Importance: reflective model.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using a fleece quarter sheet in the rain → it gets soaked
• Choosing a quarter sheet that is too long → risk of snagging
• Choosing a model that is too warm → horse sweats
• Neglecting breathability → condensation under the rug
• Using a waterproof in mild weather → overheating
• Buying a model not compatible with the saddle and therefore not properly secured → instability during work