DIY 1/2 sheepskin numnah - possible?

little_critter

little_critter

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My saddler has suggested I try a half sheepskin lined numnah.
Looking at the prices they cost a fair bit.
I was going to buy one, then try to DIY a back-up numnah.
I was wondering if I could buy a sheepskin (town nearby has lots of sheepskin shops and they don't seem too expensive), cut out the appropriate shapes and stitch them to an existing numnah.
Has anyone else tried this?
Did it work? And could you wash them? (I'd get the special detergent for sheepskin numnahs)
 
facebook group 'Show Gear for sale and wanted' often has them come up secondhand

Alternatively agree with the comment above, Ikea sell sheep sheepskins
 
I bought an entire sheepskin rug off ebay for about £25 in XL. I used it to line things (due a thin skinned woose) but it could have easily been made into a sheepskin pad. However it'd not work out hugely cheaper, esp if you buy second hand. Leather isn't easy to stitch!!!
 
Kallibear said:
I bought an entire sheepskin rug off ebay for about £25 in XL. I used it to line things (due a thin skinned woose) but it could have easily been made into a sheepskin pad. However it'd not work out hugely cheaper, esp if you buy second hand. Leather isn't easy to stitch!!!
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I'm struggling to find what I want second hand but will keep an eye out.
Ref stitching, I have an awl thing designed for sail making so should be ok.
 
seems like a good idea to me! might try it myself, I have a cheap fake sheepskin thing that I cut up to make bits of tack squishy and comfy, such as little sleeves to go around the buckles on my noseband or I stitch it on to my curb chains. If I buy a real one then my horses will be covered in my own fluffy creations haha
 
pootler said:
Here in Scandinavia you can buy reindeer hides quite cheaply, my dressage instructor says she buys them and then cuts to size and uses them under saddle - she swears by them. I would assume that you could do the same thing with a sheepskin, I have one of these which my dogs love lolling on next to the radiator: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/83235110/
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you can do the same with sheepskins - I have a couple that have lasted years and years. You don't need to stitch them onto pads or anything - in fact they are better without as they will mould to the shape of a horse (usual pad fitting rules apply, check all is smooth and that the pad is up in the gullet of saddle)

Best if you can buy them from a real shop rather than on-line so you can have a good look and feel of individual skins, and you can check the measurements to make sure they will fit your saddle.
 
Yes. I one met a very famous Natural Horsemanship person and admired his sheepskin numnah. I asked him where it was from and it was just a natural sheepskin cut to size. Some of the shop bought ones (the less expensive ones) are just loads of offcuts of sheepskin stitched together so you are far better off buying a sheepskin and trimming it to size yourself - then you know you've got quality and not just loads of offcuts
 
Well the old saying "measure twice, cut once" is sooo true!
Bought a sheepskin today, carefully made a paper template, drew round it onto the sheepskin, checked it twice and cut it out.....
Only to find I had marked out 2 left hand panels, of course I can't just turn one panel over because the fur would be on the wrong side.
Doh!
Luckily I could just about make a slightly smaller right panel from the area I had left. I have also trimmed down the previously perfect left panel so both sides are even (I assumed it would mess with the balance if one was slightly smaller than the other)
What a plonker!
I have enough little off cuts to sheepskin practically every strap on my tack
BS here I come ;)
 
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