The Art of Natural Dressage

Hello,

Finally I got my summerholiday, but still I've been hanging a lot around at the art academy... why... Well, they have this leather workshop. I could buy good leather there, use their skills (they helped me with everything) and make my own cordeo.

I just wanted to make the first one for a really good friend of mine, to give her this go to riding without a bit. It's for her shetlandpony called Umpire (since I'm actually studying graphic design I put the name on there :P)

Wanted to share it... Should this be in the art section or somewhere else... I'm really sorry when this is posted incorrectly... Somehow I can't figure out what to post where...


Oke, images... note: this is my first time ever, broke 5 needles doing this and probably controversial technics are used :P

whole


ring


Name


Buckle

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

that is great!

Now can you come and work for us?

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www.equusuniversalis.com

Sure I can !

Would love to work on your leather (vegetarisch gelooid... whatever that is in English... sounds awesome and your leather feels so soft and nice)!

I'm actually extremely proud of this cordeo and really loved the work, figuring it out and all

Thankyou

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Well, you should be proud!

And if your seriously are interested in working for us, just send an e-mail to info@equihof.be
We could start with cordeo's at first

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www.equusuniversalis.com

wauw, looks good it would be so much fun to be able to do that, I want to learn so much hihi only need some more time

if I could be so good at my first try

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Horseriding is an art

My horse is a beautiful living sculpture

Very nice cordeo!!!!

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"Ride reverently, as if each step is the axis on which the earth revolves"

You guys make me smile and proud...

Thank you so much!

Can't wait to start the one made for Ruphina!

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Oh, you should be!

Just beautiful!

Best,
Leigh

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"Ours is the portal of hope. Come as you are." -- Rumi
www.imaginalinstitute.com

Found the charger for the batteries in my camera... so finally pictures of the one for Ruphina... really got the hang of it now :P

Only one needle broke while stitching and the stitching was quite easy to do this time...






Tonight... pictures of Ruphina wearing it (now I've got my camera back... I'll use it... a lot )

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

This is very smart and profesional looking. Well done you.

So, stupid question alert, how do you measure for a cordeo? How loose should it be etc? I have no experiece of them, never even seen one, but would love to have a go at making my own.

The promised pictures of Ruphina and her cordeo...







I also been doing some running around with cordeo and even some sitting and trying to ride with the cordeo in the pasture... I'll spare you the pictures (though, they'll probably turn up in my diary)

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Stunning. And also answers my stupid questions. thanks.

Well, I thought a picture would be more helpful then me explaining in my english

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

that is a great piece of art!
I love the personal touch with the horse his name on it!

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I wish I knew your world

Thank you all

I'm still quite proud of it... though I still have in my mind that any craftsman would laugh at my piece of experimenting (I love giving people a good laugh so it won't be a problem I suppose)

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

so be it...its your first try and it works as we seen on the pics
good bebe!!

Hey,

Since my school finished for this year... I decided: time to keep myself busy

So I made a bitless noseband for a friend of mine that wants to try bitless dressage/longreining but didn't have equipment

PICTURES:










Jeej... Now start on one for Ruphina...

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Very NICE!!!!!

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"Ride reverently, as if each step is the axis on which the earth revolves"

Which reminds me to tell you that the try-out beta is finally on it's way from UK, hurah!

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www.equusuniversalis.com

ah really nice Can't wait to work... since I'm getting bored already... what to do when school is suddenly over... school where I used to work about 16 hours a day on

Even Ruphina is gettin sick of the attention so I'm really happy with the beta is on it's way

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

ah boredom... what would it feel like I wonder...

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www.equusuniversalis.com

rather... not so good... I've longed for it for months now...
Now I have it... it is not so exciting as it seemed. So I try to keep myself busy

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Kirsten,

I love the cordeo! I need to make one like that. Any tips!

Ivy

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http://www.ivyshorses.com
Blog: http://www.EquestrianHarmony.wordpress.com

well I think there are many ways to make your own cordeo... of old reins, or well anything :P

I simply ordered some pieces of leather and stitched it together... by simply 'doing' euhm... but that might just be 'me'.

My tip is be creative, look around you... a cordeo doesn't have to be anything more then a strip of material. Material should not be to thin or easy to brake... it can be practically anything

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Thanks everyone for the positive reactions... encourages me to go on

I really like doing this
Can't wait to get started (really I got up early so I could do some 'cleaning up' and then get my stuff again to start on Ruphina's noseband )

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Well...

I had to take pictures of this one... Simply because I feel I really succeeded with this
Oh how I wish I could keep it, but it's a birthday present for a friend of mine... the leather is so supple, and all went really well, and it fits probably perfectly on Ruphina. And ah... though the friend really deserves this present !

So I'll give it away and one day, will make my own :P

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

This is beautiful, Kirsten!!

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"Ours is the portal of hope. Come as you are." -- Rumi
www.imaginalinstitute.com

Thank you, I feel I get the hang of it now and I so much love making these sort of things... there is no study for this in Holland except for getting close with a person that already works like this and 'watch the trade' I suppose...

Simply do and grow I suppose Oh , I can't wait to make more

Right now a friend wants reins... for longreining about 4 meter long. And another kaptoom and after that... I'm waiting impatiently for Josepha's biothane... to start on that haha

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Wow, those are so beautiful Kristen I am extremely impressed. I love doing stuff like that but can't even begin to imagine working with leather.

Thank you, I am amazed by myself right now for doing this haha

I must say it's simpl a question of 'starting' and then getting 'the hang of it' with lots of practise.

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

So I got myself a little more practise...
Just before I go on my holiday
I wnat to make lots...

So I finished one other kaptoom (cavesson) and one cordeo with three rings... (to use when longreining as well) for someone else

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

These are beautiful!!!

How does the cavesson attach to a headstall?

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"Ride reverently, as if each step is the axis on which the earth revolves"

I've made small 'wholes' (those long 'stripes) in the sides, so that the piece of leather that would be attached to the bit can be put through and be put on the cavesson... the noseband is usually seperate from the bridle so it cna be removed... the cavesson takes the place of the bit how wonderfull

well I'm unstoppable...

so... yet another sidepullnoseband (to be attached in the same way as the cavesson)
And a set of reins Yet to be matched with a yet to be made cavesson
My... I'm overexcited

Pictures will follow

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

I've made small 'wholes' (those long 'stripes) in the sides, so that the piece of leather that would be attached to the bit can be put through and be put on the cavesson... the noseband is usually seperate from the bridle so it cna be removed... the cavesson takes the place of the bit how wonderfull

well I'm unstoppable...

so... yet another sidepullnoseband (to be attached in the same way as the cavesson)
And a set of reins Yet to be matched with a yet to be made cavesson
My... I'm overexcited

Noseband:


reins:

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

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Diego's Journal
There's no more looking back - no more grey skies black.

Thank you very much Hope one day I'll have more time to make stuff like this... like whole days instead of couple of hours per day...


I stitch by hand... it takes some time to get the hang of it... and probably some time to harden the fingers out so to speak. It takes quite some muscle power but also when your fingers are soft and smooth... it is really painfull. Lucky me my fingers are not soft and smooth, but still they are not strong and hard enough to feel nothing after hours of stitching

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

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Diego's Journal
There's no more looking back - no more grey skies black.

You don't have to wait any longer, I made part of a bridle today

The part that goes around the head from one side of the bit/bitless noseband around the ears to the other side of the bit/bitless noseband.

I must admit... I love simplistic. Nothing fancy simply what it is. Leather stitched together by hand, clean and nice
I suppose that's why I make it like this, I had the possibility to make it more fancy, and I know how to... but won't start with it. It's just 'not my thing'

So yet even more picture overkill a bit? Relax, I will be on a holiday for several weeks soon

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Hi Kirsten! Did you make anything else since the last entry? If you did, I would be interested in pictures .
I just started with working leather myself and I´m eager to learn more. I just finished my first piece. Nothing fancy - a leather band at the end of the lunge line to fasten it to the caveson. Saw this once at the Spanish Riding School and liked it more than the usual iron clasps that clink and rattle at the nose.

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Volker

The horse owes us nothing.

thank you!

Well, I made some stuff, but not that much, should be off to a pair of reins... but proper leather is rather expensive and actually I have a cordeo lying here that I should be sending to Josepha, due to some troubles and illnesses I haven't come to it just yet... Will do soon

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

That´s right! I´ve cannabalised shoes and belts so far for my things, but it´s hard to get the right quality of leather that way

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Volker

The horse owes us nothing.

Yes, especially for a pair of longreins... haha... searching for some meters of leather... hmm...

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

It look all nice
If you can make pictures of the details, can I maybe give a bit useful commands...

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http://egeziezale.jimdo.com/

Thank you, I will, as soon as I have the time to do so

One thing I discovered: After wearing it for a while... the first time you clean it up... it stretches up quite a lot!
It grows a couple of centimeters
Fina's bridle fits better now then before. But something to keep in mind the next time I make something

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

That´s good to know! Do you think it´s depended on the leather quality?

Do you have any other tips for making cordeos? What do you think would be the best design? What´s your experience with your selfmade cordeo?
I think a cordeo would be a rather simple piece for me to work with in the beginning.

Is there any chance a horse could step into a cordeo, if he lowers the head? Should I build in a predetermined rupture point or something?

Would appreciate any thoughts on that...

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Volker

The horse owes us nothing.

I think... the horse could step in the cordeo, when the cordeo is right after his ears, and the head is very low... that is the reason I always 'braid it into her hair' IN that way... she must be very atheltic to be able to step in it.
Leather can break when a lot of pressure is used so it is not unbreakable... nontheless... if your horse steps in it and panics... I myself would like to have it break more easily.

My thought: just prevent the horse from stepping into it... act girly and make a little braid in the hair around one pice of the cordeo (don't know how to explain, will try to take pictures soon).

The only point I worked on was: 'where to put the buckle and where to put the ring' because I don't want the buckle to be lying on her manes, nor do I want the buckle to get all entangled with her manes. So that's a thing to think about.

Next one I'll make I'm thinking about adding two more rings, so that with longreining I can attach the reins to two seperate rings, and not one on the ring and one to the buckle... this works, but not like a charm

But... it's been a while I've been longreining, and even longer since longreining with the cordeo... such a shame .

It's not hard to make one just try practice and see what comes out, and try again (got a fantastic bag filled with leather from a friend... so I'll see what I can make from that... starting with a new wallet. not horse related but still needed )

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

It is strange that it stretches, what type of leather do you have?
You has to look for (tuigleder) harness leather, has had an intensive process.
Chrome tanned leather, is mostly good but it is bad chemical for horse en human.
But it takes years before you know how to see the difference, they like to sold normal leather as good harness leather.

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http://egeziezale.jimdo.com/

For as far as I know I used 'tuigleer' but it was rather thin...
You seem to know a lot about this! Interesting!
Where did you learn? (still trying to find a way to get some education... although I seem to enjoy the 'trial and error process' as well )

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

I did send you PM

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http://egeziezale.jimdo.com/

I want to show you my second piece I did with leather. It´s a gift for Anna & Lily. Lily just turned 5 yesterday!
It´s a standard lunge line, I just removed the metal clasp and attached a leather strap instead. I like it more that way - no more clicking metal on the nose... The sewing is far from perfect, but given the tools I got, it turned out quite alright. Don´t know if it stands the test of Lily´s gallop though

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Volker

The horse owes us nothing.

Very nice and such a pretty blue!

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"Ride reverently, as if each step is the axis on which the earth revolves"

Wow, you make great tack! I'm thinking of making my own. Do you have any advice as to what tools I should buy and where to get leather?

I buy my stuff in Holland, my advice is to simply try and figure out. I've tried several ways to get the needle through the leather. And a device to pinch the wholes first is a must have because with only a needle... it won't work (or your fingers will hurt a lot ).

It's fun to do, try something simple and then just 'trial and error' has been my way... looking on the internet you can probably find ways of stitching leather

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kirsten
time is what you make of it

Okay thanks!

Keep a bar of that crude yellow laundry soap by your work. Run the needle in for each stich you are about to make.

Find a hunk of metal with an indentation (to keep the back end of the needle from slipping out of your control - I used to use a very heavy soup spoon, that is thick enough the eye end of the needle can't accidentally punch through and hit your fingers. Ouch.

Between those two helpers you should be able to put a standard leather workers needle through fairly easily. I take it you are using a leather workers' stitching pony (or larger ones, stitching horse) - two boards bolted together upright that can be clamped tight by knee pressure on an extension of the bottom of one of them. A light spring between releases the leather quickly by parting the boards enough to move the leather piece.



The soap idea is ancient information.

If you have a pair of shoes repaired, those with leather soles, and look very closely at the stitches you are likely to see some of this residue soap unless the repair person has cleaned it very carefully.

Of course shoe repair people are going to know all the tricks of handling leather stitching and fastening. That's the place to go for definitive answers.

Donald, Altea, and Bonnie Cupcake

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Love is Trust, trust is All
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So say Don, Altea, and Bonnie the Wonder Filly.