JHL Essential Lightweight Plus turnout
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Anti-rubbing features, including fleece wither pad and shoulder gussets
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True to size
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Great lightweight option for warmer weather
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Baggy fit on the quarters
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Buckles are less practical than clips
JHL Essential Lightweight Plus turnout
The JHL Essential Lightweight Plus in burgundy and navy was a great lightweight turnout option for the warmer, wetter times of year.
As well as being breathable and light on the horse, it was easy to hang up and would be quick to dry when it got wet during a downpour. The 80g of poly fill would also offer some warmth for those chilly spring mornings. It seemed ideal for natives, though if you had a finer horse or a horse prone to feeling the cold I would go for something thicker.
It was priced at £59.99, which is a good price for a turnout. If you wanted a neck cover this would be an additional cost.
It boasts “a 600D waterproof and breathable polyester ripstop outer” so this rug is a good choice for spring or summer when the weather is warmer but you want to keep your horse protected against the elements during competition season.
We tried a 6ft rug on a chunky 14hh Fell pony mare who usually wears a true 6ft. This rug was a suitable size for this pony though it didn’t fit very well behind and was slightly baggy on her quarters. However, it was a deep rug which would offer a lot of protection and wouldn’t be too tight on her stomach area or over her back. It was slightly too tight on her neck, but it did not rub or cause any problems when she was out in the field.
The finish was excellent and the bindings were high quality.
The adjustable and removable leg straps kept the rug in place if the horse rolled or galloped around when in the field.
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The front adjustable double front buckles are sturdy and durable, though clips are always favoured over buckles which take more time to do up.
One of the main features of this rug was the option to attach a neck cover if needed, which is a very welcome addition if you want to keep your horse’s neck protected for the duration of the time, but also want the option to take it off if temperatures rise unexpectedly.
The fleece protection at the wither was a welcome feature and negated concerns over rubbing, as did the reinforced nylon anti-rub shoulders with shoulder gussets.
I think this rug would be the ideal rain sheet for wet autumn or spring days, even for an unclipped horse, due to how lightweight it was.
Verdict
A great option for warmer weather or horses with more coat.
View now at viovet.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
Who tested these rugs?
Alex Robinson joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor and features assistant. She graduated from University of Leeds in 2016 and has freelanced for specialist equestrian magazines, including The Native Pony Magazine and has contributed to the National Pony Society annual journal for the past few years.
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the show scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Olympia and has extensive knowledge of current issues in the showing world and the horses, ponies and riders who compete. She has a rare insight into the sector that comes with riding amongst the best at top level. She has produced a variety of rides to the highest level and has a passion for bringing on youngsters through the ranks. She has several ponies, mainly natives of all types, on the yard and rides most days each week before work.
At H&H Alex is responsible for the all aspects of showing coverage and is continuing to cement its place as the leading publication for both reports and current showing news. When not writing, she will be found competing her own ponies on the county show circuit.
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Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.