Q&A with Jenny Zonghetti of EquiRibbon Creations
DIANA: What inspired you to start EquiRibbon Creations?
JENNY: I was inspired to start EquiRibbon Creations after my mom created a ribbon pillow for me as a Christmas gift, made from my own ribbons, in 2013. Not knowing how to operate a sewing machine, let alone hand sew, I was confident that these were pieces that I could start making. My mom taught me how to use her 20+ year-old Singer at the kitchen table, and it was a lot of trial and error from there. I then started creating pieces for friends and eventually advertised them on the local horse Facebook groups. I opened my Facebook page in 2015, and EquiRibbon Creations took off from there.
DIANA: What does a typical day look like? Is there a time of day that we would be more likely to find you in your ribbon room?
JENNY: My days are always different, which keeps things fun, but sometimes it can be hard to juggle an always-changing schedule. My mornings are spent massaging, running errands or doing ribbon office work such as cleaning, organizing, consultation calls for orders, or prepping ribbons. I do my best artistic work in the afternoon and into the evenings so that is usually where you will find me then.
DIANA: How do you balance EquiRibbon Creations with your other business, Revitalizing Equine Services?
JENNY: It can be a challenge balancing both businesses, but these two businesses complement each other well. Revitalizing Equine Services provides bodywork for horses in the area. I have a limit on the number of horses I work on per day and per week, to protect the wear and tear on my body. Because of this, it has allowed me to work on a couple of horses in the morning or afternoon, and I ribbon the other half of the day. Depending on what my schedule looks like, I may also have a full day of massaging and traveling with no ribboning, but the following day my body gets a break and I ribbon all day. It’s nice being able to balance a physical job with an artistic job. My artistic side needs a break at times as well.
DIANA: The equestrian keepsake space is growing. What do you think sets EquiRibbon Creations apart?
JENNY: EquiRibbon Creations currently offers the largest number of products offered by a ribbon creation company. From sewn items like pillows and table runners, to holiday items like ornaments and stockings, and hanging pieces like wall hangings or frames, there is something for everyone in every price range.
I also offer many different patterns for each creation. When I first started out, pillows were all I offered so over the years I have created a variety of different pillow patterns and many of them have also transferred into the wall hangings, too.
DIANA: Which item or design is currently your most popular among clients? Is it your favorite as well?
JENNY: A pillow in the Classic pattern has been the most popular item for the past two years. This is the first pattern I started working with and it works with every group of ribbons I receive. It showcases the full ribbon so you can see all the text and you can incorporate one to three rosettes across the center.
Pillows were my favorite, but I think the new frames are starting to take over.
DIANA: Do you have a favorite color combination?
JENNY: I like unique color combinations so anything with uncommon colors is always fun such as maroon, teal or even black. Otherwise, I love blue, pink and yellow.
DIANA: What has been the biggest milestone for EquiRibbon Creations?
JENNY: My biggest milestone so far was last year when EquiRibbon Creations celebrated 10 years!
I never thought I would be a business owner, or operating a sewing machine daily.
DIANA: What are the most memorable ribbons you’ve ever received to turn into a custom keepsake?
JENNY: I try not to pick favorites since everyone’s ribbons have such a large meaning to them, but some of the coolest ribbons I got to work with were from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games that was held in Tryon that year. These ribbons, along with others, were turned into pillows.
My biggest suggestion to everyone who earns ribbons is: Do not throw them away!
I hear from too many people who regret throwing their childhood ribbons away. While I did create this business as a unique way to display your ribbons and to get them out of boxes, it is ok if they need to stay in storage for a little bit.
DIANA: Are there any new designs or exciting projects on the horizon for EquiRibbon Creations that you can share with us?
JENNY: I am excited to share that my mom will be more involved in EquiRibbon Creations than she has been. Currently, she is the one who has been sewing all the ribbon pillows and stuffed animals closed since I (still) have not mastered the hand sewing part. This fall, she will be learning how to create some items to help me process orders in a more efficient way.
DIANA: For young artisans looking to turn a creative passion into a business, what advice would you give them?
JENNY: Find out what makes your product unique and find your niche. Anyone can create candles, apparel, or keepsakes, but what makes your product different from someone else’s?
Also, protecting your business aka the legal stuff that no one likes to think about. Check to make sure your business name isn’t already trademarked, trademark it yourself and keep your personal and business funds separate.
DIANA: Where can we find and order your pieces?
JENNY: You can find EquiRibbon Creations online at equiribboncreations.com,
on Facebook at facebook.com/equiribboncreations
or on Instagram at Instagram.com/equiribboncreations.
Written by Diana Bezdedeanu
A native of Westwood, Massachusetts, Diana Bezdedeanu is the founder and lead practitioner at Horses Offering People Education (HOPE in MA), an unmounted equine-assisted learning program. She has written for Sidelines Magazine, Community Horse, and Westwood Living. Diana is the proud owner of two retired bay off-the-track Thoroughbred mares, Coffee and London.
This article is from the September 2026 issue of Equine Business Magazine
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