04.23.08
Arabian native costume created from scratch
When daughter Emmie at age 12 started riding our new Arabian mare (Willow’s Bask) in 1992, it was MY first horse too and I got to enjoy her riding lessons and show experiences vicariously. Em was dying to show in Native Costume classes (because they got to hand-gallop entering the ring!) so I conceived the idea of making a costume for her and Willy mare, knowing we couldn’t afford one otherwise.
Em on Willy showing in Arabian native costume class, Deerfield Fair (click to enlarge)
True to form, I had to research ideas by studying books on Arabic design and traditional native costume, and also seeing how other costumes were made. (I knew how to sew from 7th grade Home Ec but had not made anything in years.) Next were trips to fabric stores, where I found velvet-like upholstery materials and tapestry-like cloth with an oriental/Arabian motif similar to a fleur-de-lis. These fabrics and motifs became my primary theme for colors and design; the colors were medium turquoise and sky blues, burgundy/roses, and black and white, with accents in gold.
Motif on Arabian costume poll cover, which is worn on top of horse’s neck just behind ears. Decorative fringe is applied, also a throat chain, glued-on imitation jewels and removable tassels.
Our existing tack used was a western one-ear headstall, a breastplate, and my Simco cordura nylon/leather endurance saddle (very lightweight and hornless). I decided to make coverings for the saddle, bridle, and breastplate; braided reins with coordinating rein covers; a rump blanket; and a poll cover. And that was only for the horse!
At left are the braided reins with decoration attached at front. On right are covers for the side-cheeks of the western bridle (the leather ends which attach to the bit are seen at bottom.) Stings of beads were sewn on.
This closeup shows a beaded applique sewn onto the bridle cheekpiece cover.
Black tapestry-like material on left is the saddle cover, and blue velour-like upholstery fabric was used for the horse’s blanket, with appliques, jewels and trim applied.
For Emmie I designed a vest, cape, and head scarf which was held in place with a head wrap, all matching the horse costume’s colors and motifs. There was decorative beading, fake jewels glued on, tassels, braids and trims. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started, or how costly trims and braids were!!!
The vest fabric matched the saddle cover, with braid and fringe trims and frog closures. The blouse was storebought, and I sewed embroidered trim onto the neckline, front plackett and cuffs.
Fabric for the cape was like a sateen, subtle blue and rose stipes with a rose-colored wrong side. I added metallic gold nylon edging, trim and appliques. The arm slits held the cape in place while Emmie was riding.
Closeup of the cape lower edge, and glued-on fake jewel. I used a pattern for the cape.
Once I start something though I do go all out (a drawback of being artistic and a perfectionist I guess), so making sketches, newspaper patterns and a mockup or two out of old sheets I plowed ahead. Having a calm sensible horse was a bonus, none of the fittings or trial runs ever bothered our Willy!
At the neckline, the cape tied with gold cord. The rose fringe you see is what the fabric did all by itself when I unravelled the cut edge.
This is the headband which held Em’s headscarf in place, made of yarn wrapped with gold cord.
Closeup of wrapped yarn headband.
End results pictured here reflect close to a year of effort; these many years later I have a mental block against recalling just how long I spent on it, but I was truly obsessed! The only things I didn’t make from scratch were the tack and part of Emmie’s outfit– I bought her white blouse and cotton pants from Goodwill and applied decorative trim. The pants leg braids were velcroed on so I could remove them for washing the pants.
How was it??? Lots of frustration, learning and relearning… breaking and changing needles and thread tension on the sewing machine… fabrics from very thick to very delicate, some gold wrapped thread, hand-applied beading, decorative stitching, appliqued motifs on the cape, gold lame lining of cape and vest, removable tassels (fastened on with fishing snap-swivels) again for washing ease… reins braided from parachute cord, frog closures on the cape and vest, braided gold-wrapped yarn to hold on the headscarf, and lots of strategic velcro especially on the saddle cover…
Geez, did I really do all that? If YOU want to make your OWN costume, may I suggest a simpler design!!! I guess it ended up costing at least two or three hundred dollars, probably more, although I gave up trying to keep a total. Plus, I had to hand-clean and wash it myself; although I had used launderable fabrics, the dry cleaners were afraid to touch it because of the beading and braids and handwork!
Was it worth it??? YOU BET!! Some of my best horse-show-days memories were of the Arabian Native Costume classes! I’m pretty sure Emmie’s are too!
More Arabian costumes and also Frie-sian fantasy horse costumes at Costume blogs…
