Homemade Saddlecloths/Numnahs

[Jamey]

I have been using regular saddlecloths on Cossack but I usually end up getting off half way through a ride to lift them back up and off his withers (he's got prominent withers at the moment). I want to get a high wither numnah but (with his vaccinations and visit from the dentist this month) I'm a bit strapped for cash and thought I might have a go at making one. I've got a friend who uses a high wither numnah so I could take a pattern off of that but I just wondered if anyone else had tried this? The main thing I'm worried about is keeping the wadding nice and flat when I quilt it as I don't want to end up with pressure points. I guess careful pinning before I start would eliminate this but has anyone got any tips?

Was thinking I could then have a multitude of different coloured and styled saddlecloths for loads less money than buying them - what do you think??

[raggydoll]

Will be very interested to see response to this as bizarrely i was wondering just the same thing last night while browsing ebay!!

[Jamey]

Ahh, great minds obviously!! :)

[Lucyad]

Sorry, this isnt hugely relavent but my mum used to make me numnahs out of her old sheepskin coats she had left over frorm the '70's (this was back in the 80's). They were great but we have to watch out for seam locations! You can get old sheepskin coats for a pittance in charity shops, and they are easy to make, as you dont need to hem them.

[Jamey]

That is a really good idea Lucyad! You could make the sheepskin halfnumnahs that everyone seems to have at competitions as well.

[rachelmy]

Hello there

I just bought a used copy of "Make your own horse clothing" by Jean Perry from eBay (just about to buy my own horse so I'm already on the look-out for money-saving ideas!) It's got a pattern for a basic saddlecloth that I'm planning to use - this does not include wadding which I find strange. However there's another pattern for a numnah which recommends thin foam padding. You can use quilted material for the outer layers or quilt it yourself - by machining rows of stitches in 2 different directions through all layers of the numnah.

If you want I can copy the pages for you - PM me and I can send you them if you post me an SAE. The patterns aren't to scale but are displayed on gridded paper - you scale up by transferring the pattern to newspaper on which you've drawn a grid.

[Jamey]

Hello!

I'm okay for a pattern but thank you very much for offering me the photocopies! It was more the actual quilting that I needed practical advice on but I think it's just going to be a case of make it as carefully as possible and avoid rucking the wadding and outer layers as I quilt. I'll give it a go and see what happens!!!:D

[rachelmy]

No probs - be interested to hear how you get on!