do you make things for your horse?

cobsarefab

cobsarefab

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Hi, as someone who keeps horses on a budget I am always digging out the sewing machine making things for my mare. Most recently a pair of hi viz orange leg bands and matching ears. Do you make anything for your horse and if so what? I'll upload pics when ears are finished.
 
I am hopeless at making things, but I have always wondered if it is possible to make a saddle cloth. Have always fancied a patterned one rather than plain would someone handy with a sewing machine be label to make one? Are there patterns available?
 
I've made hi viz leg wraps, a sheepskin half lined numnah (bit of a disaster, the sheepskin is too thick, OH was a bit miffed when I blunted his hair clippers trying to shear it!) and a wool exercise sheet adapted from a pony show rug.
I've also cobbled together a m/w turnout rug neck (basically cut the neck from an old stable rug and sewed it into a no-fill turnout neck) and found a way to attach it to a neckless turnout rug.
 
My wife was a bridle stitcher many years ago so she has the tools & ability to repair & remake tack for our horses. Over the years it's saved us hundreds of pounds.

I've handy, I've made numerous things for the yards we've been on. I've made mounting blocks, jump wings, fillers, arrow heads, rug racks to name a few things. If we need anything I always have a think to work out if it can be made first because as we all know as soon as something is labelled equestrian the price soars!
 
Just to add I tend to make do and mend, so the hi viz leg wraps were made from an old hi viz coat that was no longer waterproof, lined with bits of breeches that were ready to go in the bin.
 
I have no skill whatsoever, but sadly for the horse, yes I have made stuff!

Early days included getting a double duvet and sewing on a dog collar as a breast strap. Cheap as chips under rug. These days under rugs have gone down in price so now I just buy one!

One winter even a duvet under rug was not warm enough, and I thought that a rug stuffed with the balls that are in a bean bag seat would be warmer. I got a summer sheet and a blanket and set to making channels and stuffing them. To be honest I think that should be marketed as it was steamy hot. Maybe the outer should be fire resistant though, just in case!

I have made a ride on fly outfit from a fluro mesh exercise sheet and chopped up fly rug. Full, high viz coverage with no rubbing. Bit of a faff to put on though.

Changet a Boett fly rug to include shorts. Flies were still attacking his legs, so he needed shorts. Brown cotton ones :D
 
I have made slow feeders with double nets of soaked hay stuffed into tyres, tied down then tied to the wall.

It didn't actually slow the pony down but whether that is a reflection of my craftmanship (or rather lack of it) or the pony, I couldn't say!

I'm also always making things with cones, poles, etc. to keep my spotty mare occupied and stop her trying to play with my wheelbarrow when I'm poopicking because she is just so NOSEY and I swear one day is going to know a barrowful of **** over....which doesn't bare thinking about. Picking it up once it bad enough, thank you.

Been thinking of stringing some fly fringes on a washing line style set up between the fence and the field shelter so when they walk under it it brushes the flies off - and bombproofs them at the same time. But haven't worked out how to reach the roof of the shelter yet, save standing on 16hh Alfie's back and hoping he doesn't get bored and wander off! :lol:
 
There is a book by Jean Perry (?) with patterns and instructions on how to make things for horses. Can't remember exactly what it's called something like make your own horse stuff. She had a second book on making things like breeches.
 
Diva&Rosie'sMum said:
I have made slow feeders with double nets of soaked hay stuffed into tyres, tied down then tied to the wall.

It didn't actually slow the pony down but whether that is a reflection of my craftmanship (or rather lack of it) or the pony, I couldn't say!

I'm also always making things with cones, poles, etc. to keep my spotty mare occupied and stop her trying to play with my wheelbarrow when I'm poopicking because she is just so NOSEY and I swear one day is going to know a barrowful of **** over....which doesn't bare thinking about. Picking it up once it bad enough, thank you.

Been thinking of stringing some fly fringes on a washing line style set up between the fence and the field shelter so when they walk under it it brushes the flies off - and bombproofs them at the same time. But haven't worked out how to reach the roof of the shelter yet, save standing on 16hh Alfie's back and hoping he doesn't get bored and wander off! :lol:
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I once had to pick up the same barrow of pop 5 times! :mad:
 
When I was younger (teens) I couldn't afford rugs for my pony so salvaged from the bin with permission a destroyed rug (buckles and straps) and out of my grans old blankets made a pretty amazing woolen day rug type thing it was incredibly handy and in fact quite smart.
I've not tried since though!
 
I have made more for the dogs than the horses... but did make a little roller for my diddy shetland when the shop bought ones weren't small enough (made out of straps and buckles off old rugs and a lot of padding). I always 'harvest' bits off old rugs before throwing away, so next time one breaks I have a spare strap/ patch or whatever. When my welsh was a baby he used to love ripping rugs, so I got quite used to sewing bits back on, and I'm currently in the process of making a stable rug out of a duvet for the shetland, if only he would stand still long enough to be measured!
My nan used to knit jumpers for the dogs, but she would never make a horse sized one!!
 
c2b said:
There is a book by Jean Perry (?) with patterns and instructions on how to make things for horses. Can't remember exactly what it's called something like make your own horse stuff. She had a second book on making things like breeches.
Click to expand...

I had this as a kid! It was fab. Made my own summer sheet with red binding and my pony's name embroidered on. I still have it 30 odd years on though only as a keepsake as she's long gone.
 
I did when I was a kid - a fleece numnah out of my brothers dressing gown (mother was not happy) a quilted stable rug out of my sleeping bag (mother was not happy) travel rug out of a tartan wool picnic rug( mother was furious because not only did I destroy the picnic rug but I didn't have quite enough to finish the project, so she had to buy a 2nd picnic rug so I could complete my rug!!) and matching travel bandages!😂
 
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This is my legband £2 hi viz vest of eBay made 4 legbands and ear covers as well as some armbands for me.
 
I'm a bridle maker, so yes; currently designing a hackamore bridle for my mare since recently going bitless.

I'm also a good needlewoman so make various bits and bobs (mainly hi viz) for both of us.
 
If I could only post a photo here directly from my computer I have some fab stuff I have made - from Hi Viz saddlecloths to a wooden tack horse to a show jump made from leftover wood in the wood shed.

H&H, over to you........
 
I have made my own chambon, equi ami, replaced the ramp on my horsebox, do most of my own mending on my trusty ancient sewing machine, made my own hay feeders......
 
Yes. I make money, which my horse then endeavours to spend for me.

On a serious note, I'm training to be a bridle maker, so there are bits of tack that I've made myself. I usually do my own repairs, this being one of my favourites...

 
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