{"id":3673,"date":"2026-11-03T14:18:42","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T06:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/?p=3673"},"modified":"2026-11-03T14:18:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T06:18:42","slug":"can-i-make-my-own-equestrian-products-with-the-fabric-419c-2beba0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/03\/can-i-make-my-own-equestrian-products-with-the-fabric-419c-2beba0\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I make my own equestrian products with the fabric?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey guys, Equestrian Fabric<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014if you\u2019re an equestrian who\u2019s ever stared at a frayed saddle pad edge, a worn stable blanket corner, or that riding breech pocket that\u2019s split for the third time, you\u2019ve thought, \u201cWait, can I just make my own stuff with equestrian fabric?\u201d As someone who\u2019s spent the last 7 years running an equestrian fabric supplier (you know, the one with the rolls of stuff that\u2019s actually made for our sport, not cheap outdoor nylon from the big box store), I get it. I\u2019ve had customers DM me at 2 a.m. asking if they can turn their custom fabric rolls into their next favorite gear, and it\u2019s a question way more people should be asking than they are.<\/p>\n

First off, let\u2019s not beat around the bush: yes, you can make your own equestrian products with fabric\u2014no fancy degree required, no secret hacks (okay, maybe a couple small ones, but we\u2019ll get to that). But it\u2019s not just grabbing any random waterproof canvas or stretchy jersey from your local craft store. Equestrian gear has specific needs that regular fabric doesn\u2019t account for\u2014so if you\u2019re using stuff you picked up off a shelf, you\u2019re gonna run into problems. That\u2019s where my side of things comes in: I source and test fabrics designed for exactly this use case, because let\u2019s be real, a saddle pad that falls apart mid-competition is worse than no saddle pad at all.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the basics. What equestrian products can you actually make with fabric? Let\u2019s list the obvious ones first, but some people sleep on these: saddle pads (obv, but not just the basic kind\u2014you can make custom shaped ones for your horse\u2019s back), stable wraps, tail bags, even custom saddle covers. Then there\u2019s stuff for you: riding breeches (stretchy, durable ones that don\u2019t ride down mid-trot), glove liners, sun shirts that actually wick sweat instead of leaving you soaked, even those little storage pouches for your show number pins or hoof picks. I\u2019ve had a few customers make custom hay bags too\u2014turns out, a heavy-duty, breathable fabric is way better than a flimsy grocery bag that tears after two uses.<\/p>\n

Now, why using equestrian-specific fabric (the stuff I supply, fwiw) matters so much more than craft store fabric. Let\u2019s talk science here, but in the laid-back way I explain it to my regulars. First, breathability. Horses have really sensitive backs, right? If your saddle pad is made of that vinyl-like waterproof crap from Walmart, it traps moisture, leads to saddle sores, and your horse is gonna hate having you on its back. Equestrian fabric is usually a blend\u2014like polyester with a micro-mesh lining, or a cotton-poly blend that\u2019s treated with a water-repellent finish but still lets air flow. I test every roll I stock by leaving a piece on a damp towel for an hour\u2014if the other side is dry, it\u2019s good for saddle pads. Craft store canvas? That\u2019s usually 100% cotton, which gets heavy when wet, molds, and takes forever to dry. Not ideal for a horse that\u2019s sweating through its coat after a 5-mile ride.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s durability. Equestrian gear takes a beating. Your saddle pad is rubbing against a metal saddle every step, your stable blanket is getting stepped on by a 1,000-pound horse, your breeches are scraping against a fence post when you mount. The equestrian fabric I supply has a tear strength test we do in-house\u2014we measure how much force it takes to rip a 1×1 inch piece. Most craft store fabric is around 5 lbs of force; my heavy-duty stuff is around 25 lbs. That\u2019s the difference between a breech that splits at the knee after three rides and one that lasts a season. Plus, we treat it with UV protection, which is huge if you\u2019re leaving your saddle cover or stable blanket outside all day\u2014regular fabric fades and gets brittle in a month, ours lasts years.<\/p>\n

Wait, what about stretchy stuff? If you wanna make custom breeches or glove liners, you don\u2019t want a stiff canvas. Equestrian stretch fabric is different from regular athletic jersey, too. It\u2019s usually a spandex-poly blend with a four-way stretch that doesn\u2019t bag out after a few wears, and it has a little bit of grip so your breeches don\u2019t slide down when you\u2019re posting. I\u2019ve had a customer who\u2019s a beginner rider make her first pair of breeches with my stretch fabric\u2014she texted me last month saying they\u2019re still her go-to, even after 12 rides. Contrast that with a friend of mine who tried using regular athletic fabric for breeches\u2014she ripped the knee out on her first jump, and it was so baggy around the thighs she could fit an extra leg in there. Not a good look, and definitely not functional for riding.<\/p>\n

Okay, so you\u2019ve picked your fabric (thank me later for that tip) and you\u2019ve got your pattern. Now, what\u2019s the process actually like? Let\u2019s break it down for someone who\u2019s never sewn anything before, not just the pros. First, pick a simple product to start with\u2014don\u2019t jump into a custom saddle pad right away. Try a tail bag or a storage pouch first. Those are small, have straight seams, and don\u2019t need a ton of specialized hardware. For tail bags, my customers usually use a medium-weight equestrian fabric, add a little Velcro strap to fasten it around the dock, and a mesh panel at the bottom so the tail can breathe. Easy peasy, no fancy tools needed\u2014just a sewing machine that can handle medium to heavy fabric (most basic ones can, but if you\u2019re using super heavy stuff, you might want a denim needle. Pro tip: I sell those too, just saying).<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a little more experienced, saddle pads are a next-level move. The key here is fitting it to your horse\u2019s back\u2014every horse has a different shape, so you might need to adjust the pattern a little. My regulars who make their own saddle pads usually use a two-layer setup: a bottom layer of breathable mesh (we stock that too) and a top layer of durable fabric, sometimes with a little padding in between if you want extra cushion. Avoid thick foam from craft stores\u2014 it gets compressed over time, and it\u2019s hard to clean. Equestrian saddle pad fabric is designed to have just enough give without losing its shape. Also, don\u2019t forget the girth groove cutout! That\u2019s the part that goes over your horse\u2019s withers, and if you don\u2019t cut that right, it\u2019ll rub the wrong spot. I\u2019ve seen so many people skip that and end up with a saddle pad that sits lopsided.<\/p>\n

Wait, common mistakes to avoid, because I\u2019ve seen \u2019em all. First, using the wrong fabric for the job. Like, don\u2019t use a super stretchy mesh for a stable blanket\u2014 it\u2019ll get torn in no time. Don\u2019t use a heavy canvas for a sun shirt\u2014 it\u2019ll be too hot, and you\u2019ll be sweating through it faster than a show judge grading a cross-course course. Second, not pre-washing your fabric before sewing. I know, I know, pre-washing is a drag, but equestrian fabric shrinks\u2014 a lot\u2014 if you don\u2019t. I had a customer once who made a saddle pad, didn\u2019t pre-wash it, washed it once, and it was three inches too small. Had to make a whole new one. Waste of time and fabric. Third, cheap hardware. If you\u2019re adding Velcro, snaps, or buckles, don\u2019t get the craft store stuff. Equestrian gear needs hardware that can handle weight\u2014 a Velcro strip that holds a tail bag is fine, but a saddle pad that\u2019s pulling against your saddle needs heavy-duty Velcro (we stock that too, just so you know). That craft store Velcro? It\u2019ll fall apart after a few washes, and you\u2019ll be chasing your tail bag around the stable.<\/p>\n

Also, let\u2019s talk about customization. That\u2019s the big reason people do this, right? You can match your gear to your horse\u2019s color, or your show team\u2019s colors, or add your barn\u2019s logo. Wait, can you print on equestrian fabric? Hell yes. I have a guy who makes custom saddle pads for show teams\u2014 he uses my blank fabric, prints the team\u2019s logo on it, and sells them to other riders. The fabric is treated so the print doesn\u2019t fade when you wash it, which is way better than regular fabric that the print bleeds all over after two washes. You can also dye it\u2014 my customers have dyed white equestrian fabric a deep navy or hunter green, and it holds up way better than regular cotton dye. No splotches, no fading, even after multiple washes.<\/p>\n

Wait, what about care? I don\u2019t wanna tell you how to wash your stuff, but equestrian fabric is easy to care for. Most of it is machine washable on cold, tumble dry on low\u2014 no dry cleaning needed. The water-repellent treatment holds up for years, too, as long as you don\u2019t use harsh detergents (skip the fabric softener, by the way\u2014 it clogs the pores in the fabric and makes it less breathable). I\u2019ve had a customer who\u2019s been washing her custom breeches made from my fabric for two years, and they still look almost new. Compare that to a pair of store-bought breeches she had before\u2014 they fell apart after six months, and the color faded so bad they looked gray instead of black.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s get real for a second. Is this worth the time? Let\u2019s do the math. A custom saddle pad from a high-end brand is like $150-$250. The fabric I supply for a saddle pad is like $20-$30, plus a little bit of padding and Velcro. That\u2019s a huge difference. Even if you\u2019re a beginner, the time you spend making it is way less than saving up for a custom one, and you get exactly what you want. I\u2019ve had people make birthday gifts for their barn friends\u2014 custom tail bags, little storage pouches, even custom saddle covers for their best rider friends. It\u2019s personal, it\u2019s functional, and it saves you a ton of cash.<\/p>\n

But wait, let\u2019s address the elephant in the room: what if I\u2019m not good at sewing? I hear you. Not everyone can operate a sewing machine without getting the thread tangled. The good news is, a lot of equestrian fabric works with no-sew projects. You can use fabric glue (the heavy-duty kind, not the craft store school glue) for tail bags, pouches, even breech patches. I\u2019ve had a few beginners make their first tail bag with no sewing at all\u2014 just cut the fabric to size, add a Velcro strip with fabric glue, and let it dry for 24 hours. It\u2019s not going to last as long as a sewn one, but it\u2019s perfect for a casual ride or a one-off event. And if you wanna get better at sewing, most local fabric stores (or even online) have little tutorials for equestrian projects\u2014 I\u2019ve linked a couple in my head, but you can find \u2019em easily.<\/p>\n

Now, if you\u2019re actually serious about this\u2014 like, you wanna make gear that lasts, that\u2019s functional, that works for your horse and your riding\u2014 my best advice is to skip the craft store fabric and grab equestrian-specific fabric from a supplier who knows what they\u2019re doing. Because here\u2019s the thing: not all equestrian fabric is created equal. A lot of cheap suppliers out there sell fabric that\u2019s marketed as \u201cequestrian\u201d but is just regular outdoor nylon with a fancy label. My fabric is tested by actual horse people\u2014 I\u2019ve got a barn out back, so I test every roll on my own horses, my friends\u2019 horses, stuff that\u2019s actually used for show jumping, trail riding, even barrel racing. So it\u2019s not just lab tests\u2014 it\u2019s real-world use, the kind that matters when you\u2019re mid-race or mid-competition and your gear is working for you, not against you.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re ready to stop buying generic equestrian gear that falls apart, and start making your own stuff that\u2019s tailored exactly to you and your horse, hit me up for a chat. Whether you wanna ask about which fabric works for saddle pads, stretch stuff for breeches, or even heavy-duty fabric for hay bags, I\u2019m here to help. No pushy sales pitches, no confusing jargon\u2014 just straight answers from someone who\u2019s actually in the barn every day, riding, testing fabric, and helping other equestrians make the stuff they want.<\/p>\n

Oh, and one last tip: start small. Don\u2019t go out and buy a whole bolt of heavy fabric for a stable blanket if you\u2019ve never sewn before. Practice on a small project, like a tail bag or a storage pouch, get the hang of the fabric, then work your way up to bigger stuff. Trust me, I\u2019ve seen way too many people burn out because they tried to do a giant saddle pad first and got frustrated when it didn\u2019t turn out perfect.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, making your own equestrian products with the right fabric is totally doable. It\u2019s fun, it\u2019s rewarding, and you end up with gear that\u2019s actually built for your life as a rider, not some generic stuff off a store shelf. Don\u2019t overcomplicate it\u2014 grab the right fabric, pick a simple project, and give it a shot. You might surprise yourself.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re ready to source equestrian fabric for your next project, get in touch to discuss your needs and order supplies.<\/p>\n

Active Fabric<\/a> References<\/p>\n

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  1. American Association of Equestrian Technical Standards. (2022). Performance Fabrics for Equine and Rider Gear.<\/li>\n
  2. Equine Science Center, Cornell University. (2021). The Impact of Saddle Pad Breathability on Equine Skin Health.<\/li>\n
  3. Textile Institute. (2020). Tear Strength Testing for High-Stapp Outdoor and Sport Fabrics.<\/li>\n
  4. Equestrian Gear Manufacturers Association. (2023). Best Practices for Custom Equestrian Fabric Projects.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Suzhou Henly Textile Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    Suzhou Henly Textile Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional equestrian fabric manufacturers and suppliers in China, featured by quality products and good price. We warmly welcome you to wholesale bulk customized equestrian fabric from our factory. If you have any enquiry about free sample, please feel free to email us.
    Address: Room B607, Shimao Business Plaza, No.11 East Minjiang Road, Changshu, Jiangsu, China
    E-mail: henly@henlytex.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.henlyfabric.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Hey guys, Equestrian Fabric Let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014if you\u2019re an equestrian who\u2019s ever stared at … Can I make my own equestrian products with the fabric?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":124,"featured_media":3673,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3636],"class_list":["post-3673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-equestrian-fabric-4c27-2c2c2c"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/124"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3673\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.narmafzaryab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}