Patterns for Horse Gear

[roo4u]

there are a couple of books that have lots of measurements...western tack tips and more western tack tips by tom hall...they have stuff about braiding but lots of measurements for various types of headstalls.

[Zoej]

David May at The Cumbrian School of Saddlery produces a pattern book http://www.saddleryc...other/tools.htm;. I use Bridlework by Robert Steinke which is a really useful book as it has measurments for sizes from shetland to extra large, and patterns for headcollars, bridles, breastplates, martingales ect; Both of the above are english style, but you could work out western style from the sizing. These 2 books will give you a good basic idea and then you can adapt for each horse, you do find some breeds are different, I make mainly for arabians and they need a large brow band, short cheek pieces, large throatlash, and small nose, as you can see in the photo Edited December 23, 2010 by Zoej

[dirtclod]

I have used a flexable stick looking piece ( i can't remember what it's called but i think it came from a dress material place or hobby shop ) anyway you can form it on the horse and it will hold the shape to make curves on a breast strap and transfur that to your pattern. Then you can straighten it back out.

The measurments i use to make a regular brow band head stall are 30 inches for the crown " top piece", 23 inches start for the brow band, 15 inches start for the cheeks, and 43 inches for the throat latch. That will fit most horses and you could make one with lots of holes for a custom fit. Don't belive most people when they say they have a horse that needs a extra large headstall unless it's a draft horse because in my experinse they don't what their talking about.

[dangerdan46819]

The only reason you would get sued for copying a protected pattern is if you were making them to sell. Nothing they can do if you make one for yourself.

Thanks for the input here I just got asked to male a halter for my nieces horse. Never made one before.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Through the years I've made patterns of items that clients have brought in for repair, especially if it was something that they really liked the fit or design of. And sometimes they'd bring in an old item that was no longer useable, wanting it duplicated. If you're starting from scratch on a prototype, about the only thing you can do is go out and measure up your horse. I've done lots and lots of that. For years I had horses and ponies of about every size around the place, for making patterns as much as anything! I made a "measuring jig" of sorts back when I started in business, for sizing a horse for a driving bridle. Dimensions for those can be pretty critical. I have boxes, totes and folders full of patterns, from over 30 years of making horse equipment, but no amount of money would buy them:)

[mulefool]

I can just see my mule roll her eyes when she sees me coming with the tape measure again. ;-) Chris