DIY Ponyplay Tack

 

The cost of gear can be an apparent barrier to entry into pony play. However, there are lots of ways to make your own gear even if you don't have a lot of know how. It's really amazing the things you can do with rope alone. Moreover, if you appropriate things from the bio-horse world, you can save a lot of money.

Below I have listed some of the common items of pony play tack and equipment and included links to tutorials of how to make them on your own. For most of these, all you will need is a length or two of rope. Some of them (like hooves) will require you to purchase an item or two, but the cost will typically be minimal.

  1. Hooves
    1. You can try the Davis Hoof Boot. With correct sizing, these are essentially pony fist mitts for around $30. Add leather cuffs (or some vet wrap or duct tape), and your pony will not be taking them off. Not strictly DIY, but a nice inexpensive alternative to the hand hooves from fetish shops.
    2. Or, you can make hand hooves completely from scratch if you're feeling adventurous.
    3. While not completely trivial, you can make your own hoof boots if you have the time and patience - though do be careful when making boots like these if you intend on actually walking in them. There are a couple tutorials available: how to make hoof boots in the Reactor style (front of boot goes inside the hoof), and how to make hoof boots with a solid hoof (where the boot attaches to the top of the hoof).
  2. Bridles, Halters, and Headgear
    1. Make your own head harness bit gag out of rope. I have not tried this one yet, but it looks really cool.
    2. If the head harness seems like too much rope work when you're just starting out, then try making a simple rope bit gag. Rope bit gags can be quite comfortable, but the rope will be really messy after use.
    3. If your pony has a big mouth, try a double thickness rope bit. The thickness of the bit will depend on the diameter (and type) of rope you use, but these can really jack the jaw open.
    4. The BOS*PAH (Boston Area Pony and Handlers) website has a bunch of great resources including a few DIY tutorials, such as this illustrated guide to making your own plume and base, which can be attached to your bridle of choice.
    5. The Veterinarian also has a great illustration on making a bit or ball gag head harness. For this one, you will need a length of wood (for a bit gag), or a length of wood and a rubber ball (for the ball gag) in addition to a length of rope.
    6. The Stampede has a nice tutorial on making a rope field halter for human ponies.
    7. Finally, you can convert a bio-horse bridle for use on a human - the text is German, but the photos illustrate how to make the conversion. This is a brilliant idea that saves you money (assuming you buy an inexpensive bio-horse bridle and not a nice show bridle (which would cost more than a nice custom human horse bridle)).
  3. Harnesses
    1. You can make your own rope harness. This might not be ideal for distributing a load for a cart pony, but a rope harness is a great way to get into pony role if you don't have a dedicated leather harness.
    2. An illustration showing you how to make a rope harness for a ponygirl that even incorporates a butt plug. The illustration is by The Veterinarian. You could certainly make it without the butt plug, in which case all you would need is some rope.
    3. How to make a leather pony harness using belts and a few O-rings, D-rings, buckles and screws.
  4. Tails
    1. The Veterinarian shows you how to make a butt plug tail with a photo tutorial (the first couple intro paragraphs are in French, but the tutorial itself is in English, just scroll down a little).
  5. All fours trainer
    1. A conceptual design for an all fours trainer. It's listed as for puppy girls, but it would work for human ponies as well. This one would require some leather working, but it would be a fun project to attempt. Moreover, considering this type of bondage device can cost well over $1000 for a set of four, you could save a fair amount of money by doing it yourself.
  6. Saddles
    1. I would not advise making your own load bearing saddle - the risk of injury to pony and rider can be high. However, if you want a saddle purely for show, you could buy an inexpensive English bio-pony saddle (check the saddle's measurements before you buy) and use a dressage saddle girth (again check the length).
    2. Use a bio-horse bareback pad. These are often shaped like saddles, and since they do not have a tree, they will more easily conform to the human pony back.
  7. Bits
    1. The Boston Area Ponies and Handlers website has an excellent tutorial on making your own bit from neoprene rings, which are soft on the mouth. The end result looks really cool and actually resembles a twisted wire bit.
    2. It's also worth pointing out that nearly all bits for pony play are identical to those used in the bio-horse world (yes, even the straight mouth rubber snaffle (see second to last item on linked page) that is sold as a rubber bit gag in fetish shops). So, if you're not doing it already, buy your bits from bio-horse tack stores. Why spend $50 when you can spend $5?

Also, check out The Human Pony Registry's DIY list, and while you're there, consider registering as a pony or trainer! They have several hundred registered members so it's a great place to network in the worldwide pony play community.