To begin with I should mention that I am not a specialist in repairing horse equipment; I simply share impressions of my work, from sewing quilts, beanbags, instrument bags and pet mattresses to repairing furniture and horse equipment.
Perhaps this account with pictures will help you if you want to do something similar but do not know where to begin.
At first I do not even dare to say how long that unfortunate rug waited its turn with me.
First it blocked my washing machine and, as a punishment, was put through the machine 4 more times. Then it hung and flapped on the line outside for several weeks, so that it would not shed a single hair into my spotlessly licked sewing room, and finally it went through the machine once more, because a gale threw the rug off the washing line into our wintry muddy flower bed.
Coming back to mending the rug... There were 3 proper wounds in the rug, because the horse had probably wanted to get free of it. Opening the straps and buckles could not be managed any other way than by throwing himself on his back and helping a little with a hoof. 🙂
The rug itself is of fleece, and I decided to use thinner woollen felt for the patches. First I pinned the patches under the holes. For the stitching I chose a three step zigzag: 3 steps to the left, 3 to the right. That stitch allows stretch and at the same time secures a pleasantly wide area with the stitching. That way I went round the torn places several times and cut off the surplus edges.
In these two pictures, for instance, is the chest area, where a piece of fabric was missing along with a strap and buckle. Now with the patch, seen from below and from above. An attentive observer will notice that I have moved to the other machine. I sewed over the places at the edge binding with leather sewing thread, and now it is on to sewing the straps on.
And it is finished.
Earlier repairs can be seen on the rug too. Apparently fusible nylon was used there and sewn back and forth over the tear. But otherwise as good as new. Perhaps a couple more years of careless treatment.
