M.I.A

Sorry about being M.I.A recently!
But I'm done with school for the year. The last couple of weeks have been hectic with getting homework done and studying for finals. But it's done and finished.
So now I have the summer to look forward to making, and enjoying model horse stuff.

Pic taken during Kentucky Parade of breeds showcase

But alas, I am about to leave you all again! I'll be on a cruise for a week and a week in Orlando. Generally they look down upon you heaving a load of drills, knives, and other dangerous tools, so no models for a week. Also, since I'll be in the middle of the ocean, there will not be any new blog posts for seven days. The fish are not swimming wifi. Then, afterwards, I'm staying in Orlando, so I'll still be apart from the studio and model horses. But we're going to Universal Studios, which is home to the Harry Potter world! Yay!
Since summer's close for anyone who's in school, good luck with finals if you have them. And for everyone else, have fun!

Getting Ready For Breyerfest-Making Customs With Performance In Mind-PT 3

Here is the final installment of Making Customs With Performance In Mind. It'll tie up the loose ends of the last two.
Customs with Dolls and Tack

When making your model, remember that if you want to use dolls that you need to remember the off limits box.  Remember what a person looks like on a horse. Remember where the saddle and saddle pad will be. Try not to have the mane flowing in that direction or in that section. Remember also where the reins will go. Imagine an imaginary person on top of your model if you think you may want a doll used.

If you do not want to use a doll, but decide on your model being a harness horse, be sure to remember where the harness will go. If your harness will have a bearing rein or a crupper, take that in account to how you do your model. Don't have a wild mane when you will have to find a way to snake a bearing rein through. If you want a crupper, don't have a tail that won't allow your horse to have one on that looks natural. Granted, I have models where the crupper can no fit underneath the tail. I had to cut the crupper then.

From Here

Well that's the end of the Performance Customs, next comes the fun customs and what to remember when making them!

Happy Mother's Day!

Hopefully everyone and their mothers had a great Mother's Day!

Assembly Line

That's pretty much what happened today. These many pieces will become four western saddle trees.. :)

The First Derby Winner

Tomorrow is the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby. But where did it all start from?

The First Derby Winner

Using this book, here's the story of the first Derby Winner. 

On May 17, 1875,  10,000 fans went out to Churchill Downs. They flooded the grounds in wagons, buggies, carts, and carriages.  The fashion was still the same as it is today. Ladies dressed with decorated  gowns, hats, and gloves.The first Kentucky Derby cost $1050 to enter. $50 was for the Stakes and $1000 was paid to the Louisville Racing Association. The award was a 300 ounce silver punch bowl worth $1000. 

I pulled the list of runners from Wikipedia

• Aristides
• Volcano
• Verdigris
• Bob Woolley
• Ten Broeck
• Grenoble
• Bill Bruce
• Chesapeake
• Searcher
• Ascension
• Enlister
• McCreery
• Warsaw
• Vagabond
• Gold Mine 

Instead of starting gates, the horses lined up and waited for the flag to be dropped. Once it was dropped, the horses took off. 

Source

In the 1875 race, Volcano took the lead, but Chesapeake broke last. At the half-mile pole, McCreery was in the front, but Aristides eventually won. He set a new track record at 2:37 3/4. Aristides was only 15 hands and was called the "Little Red Hoss."

Drawing of Aristides

A statue was made to honor Aristides. He won $2850 for his owner, H.P McGrath. I couldn't find any info about what happened to Aristides, but he'll always be a part of history for being the first Kentucky Derby Winner.

Source

Derby Week

It's Derby time! 

Today at my local library's sale, I bought a 1984 book about the past one hundred years of Derby winners starting from the very first one ever! So be ready for Derby and horse racing related things! :)

It has wonderful drawings,

and it does give a history about each horse in it.