Making your own horse clothing.....

DragonSlayer

DragonSlayer

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I've made the odd saddle cloth and fleece rug in the past, but need some new Hi-Viz stuff for this years Trec..

Really, I just want to make some over-boots to go over my horse brushing boots, and a tail guard, along with some strips to attach to her bridle and martingale....

I can get reflective strip tape from anywhere (will be stitched on too) but finding blinding yellow material is a bit more difficult! BUT I found THIS site -

http://www.fabricuk.com/fabrics.php?fabric_type=320#dataform

I did find this though, seems to be the best bet, breathable as well as waterproof!

I'll add a thin padding of some sorts on the inside, and use velcro for fastenings.

It'll cost me the best part of £50 + to get the stuff I want, so I'm aiming to get it all done for less than £20, AND I'm pretty handy with the sewing machine!

Anyone else made their own horse gear before?
 
I had a pair of ride on waterproof sheets, I found they rucked up under the saddle and made the girls uncomfortable so I cut them down to fit behind the saddle over the rump, hemmed them, recycled 2 tatty old numnahs by using the straps to attach my new waterproofs to the girth straps. I probably wouldn't go to a show in them but I am not very domesticated and they look smart enough out in the menage or lanes in the rain!

I did the same with a small whitaker fleece, picked it up for a fiver though I knew it wouldn't fit any of my horses! so now I have a lovely whitaker ride on that doesn't bother my horse under her saddle, I used the striped binding to make the girth tabs on that one.

Oh and when I rescued the shetland I didn't want to spend money on him (skint!) and he was growning like a weed but he was soo thin and it was soo cold and he was living out. so I cut down an old rug Beau had lacerated (fairly regular event with her) and re attached the straps (shortened obviously) to fit him, didn't hem it or anything as it was just to get him through the worst of the winter and he outgrew it really fast. Did the job though he put on weight nice and fast.

Ooh, I AM domesticated!! I never knew it!!

You'll be so proud of yourself once you've done it. Cut bigger, you can always trim more off but putting back on is really hard!!!
 
Very impressive! I probably couldn't be bothered to have a go these days (even though I am pretty handy with a sewing machine), but when I was very young I used to make my pony all sorts of peculiar kit, most memorably a delightful 'sweat rug' crafted from an ancient yellow holey blanket of my mum's... As you can imagine, I stuck out like a sore thumb at pony club!
 
Before I had my kids and actually had free time I used to make rugs, exercise sheets travel boots etc. Now I find that by shopping on the internet I can often find things cheaper than I can make! I still do my own nylon head collars tho as I have minis and it's hard to find anything to fit properly.
 
I've just had a brain-wave!

I've got a few old hi-viz vests kicking around the tack room, you know how they loose their 'stickiness' on the velcro after a while...I might just have a crack at adapting them in some way!

:D
 
I've just made a fluorescent quarter sheet to attach to the rear Ds of a western saddle with lots of extra reflective tape - works a treat. I used cheapo fluoro waistcoats from the bargain shop. I do like the American apparel site posted by Rhyandir - I fancy a medieval horse costume for the Appy - that'll stop the traffic!
 
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