Paris woman sews blankets for her four-legged friends
PARIS – Vicki Austin sews for horses.
She sews for dogs and people, too, but her work for horses is reinforced with love.
“I love to sew, and sewing for horses is an extension of my love for them,” she said.
Austin has trained horses for 32 years; she teaches riding for fun and competition. She trains in dressage, a ring competition where the horse takes commands from gentle movements of the rider; and in long-distance competitive trail and endurance riding of 25 to 100 miles a day.
A simple day of caring for the horses takes about three hours, she said.
“Horses need special care every day,” Austin said. “Before riding them, you need to warm them up, then after riding, cool them down.
“They take time and an income.”
Her sewing helps with the latter.
Behind the Austins’ cozy country home, King and Sierra wander the pasture. King is a 14-year-old Arabian. Sierra, who belongs to Austin’s husband, Ron, is a 15-year-old Spanish mustang.
While the horses nibble the new spring grass, Austin custom sews warming blankets, butt rugs and special riding blankets that cover both rider and horse in the cold of winter.
According to Austin, horses’ muscles can get very tight and sore in the cold, but their chest gets hot. The special rider’s blanket is open in the front to keep the horse’s chest cool.
Austin will make blankets in custom colors, sizes, styles and materials. “I have been sewing since the 1970s,” she said. “I make custom riding clothes, trail gear including banana bags, and I repair and mend.”
One of the items she designed is the Beach Buddy Horse Poop Bag that comes with its own giant scoop.
“Ron and I like to take King and Sierra to the ocean and ride on the beaches,” she said. “It is now required by law to bring a container and clean up after your horse. The Beach Buddy Bag hooks right onto the saddle. It is one of my bestsellers.”
Austin also designed for a vest for a rider friend who has no arms. “She wanted to be able to ride her own horse,” Austin explained, “so I designed a vest with reins attached and Velcro closures, and it worked! She even drives her own horse carriage,” Austin said.
Vicki says she will continue to sew, train and care for her horses. “I wouldn’t want to do any other job,” she said.
For more information: phone 743-7665 or e-mail [email protected].
Comments are no longer available on this story