Guess I could update this blog, right? (IMG heavy!)

So let's show off some tack and some new herd members, shall we?

First up is custom order harness #1, a large-ish Trad scale breastcollar style harness with collar bells.

A study of the breeching and saddle. The buckle is on the crupper top/backstrap base instead of on the backstrap between the saddle and crupper. This is a new design based on a photo I found online, I like it!
The blinker stays are another new design based on another photo found on the internet, instead of splitting 1/8 lace I just take a single length of 1/16th and loop a strap of 3/32 around the midway point, which buckles to the crown piece. Makes adjusting a little easier IMO.

A study of the main lines and checkrein and how they attach to the bit.

A study of the collar bells buckle. I do love these little craft bells, but since many real life collar bells vary in size (smallest at the ends, largest toward the middle), I'm trying to figure out how to make my own. Rio Rondo's concho doming article gives me some ideas...

Custom order harness #2.

Look the same as the first? Well, it might be hard to tell from photos on some monitors, but it's actually dark mahogany and not black. Yeah. I'm going to be working on patterns to get some slightly different shaped saddles, blinkers, etc in the future so I'm not just making clones. :p


I used the same "saddle tan" garment leather that I use for blinker lining to line the saddle here.


And now for a bosal and a halter. (I really love the Stone Palouse mold, can you tell? :) Though her mane makes fitting anything that crosses her withers a pain.)


I got two Amazon gift certificates and some birthday money a couple of weeks ago, so I was able to add some new members to the stables and kennels. (and Lost season 1 on DVD, too)

"Northern Raven", OM TB mare, garage sale find.

"Hello Darling" G2 WEG TB.
My sister actually won him along with an Esprit in the Blab Birthday drawing,
but she gave him to me as an early birthday present. Thanks, Meredith! *hugs*

"Stop it Ron", OP G1 Citation, found at the same garage sale as Raven.
I was watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince while I was trying to think up names for my new SMs, so I used lines from the movie that made me laugh. :D I think that will be the naming rule for my male TBs.

"Ghost Wolf Tell Me No More Lies", Breyer SR liver spot Dalmatian. (another naming rule, all the Dalmatians get "Miss Suzie" song related names)

"Kamots", Schleich Wolf Cub. A lot of the Schleich puppies are in scale to the adult Breyer canines...

"Chemukh", Breyer Wal-Mart SR black wolf.

And last but not least, my Breyer Rachel Alexandra. I've been wanting a Ruffian mold for performance showing, but so far I've been "meh" on the color choices. I liked Rags To Riches, but when Breyer announced RA I knew I had to get one. Such a gorgeous bay with lovely markings! I still want a RTR, though, "Katie" here needs a friend to race her. :)

That's all for now! Well, maybe not, Mom just walked in with a package for me... and it's a trade model I've been expecting! I have a Hickstead now! Yay! Pictures to come soon.

Until next time!

Addendum to last Tuesday's post

There was a placard that went with the Mexican vaquero saddle display in the previous post, which I thought had some interesting info:


The text reads:

"The Mexican vaquero saddle, developed from the 16th century Spanish military saddle, was widely used in early Texas and the American southwest. As the region became more settled, ranchers and Rangers began adapting this saddle to better meet their needs. Combining elements from English, cavalry, and vaquero styles created a more efficient and comfortable saddle for long periods of riding.

Early vaquero saddles were held on the horse by a single cinch located at the front of the saddle. Texans added a second cinch at the rear of the saddle for safety and stability. As the needs of Rangers and other horsemen changed, leather ties, straps, and buckles were added to the saddle to hold extra equipment, bedrolls, spare clothing, and other necessities. Rangers would sometimes remove or muffle buckles and metal parts of horse tack that might give away their position."

And you'll notice the saddle with the rifle scabbard in the previous post does indeed have an extra ring on the shoulder. Neato.

Now wouldn't someone like Smart Chic Olena or Lone Star look cool tacked up as a Texas Ranger's mount, out patrolling the prairie and brush country looking for bad guys? I smell a future live show setup...

It's Taciturn Tuesday! (IMG INTENSIVE)

(because it's too early for Wordless Wednesday and I won't have time to post tomorrow :p)

A 1940's Mexican saddle from the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, TX. (feel free to save to your reference folder)














A saddle with a rifle scabbard (sorry to say I didn't get a good shot of the info placard):





Another saddle with a ring set in the shoulder to hold the rifle scabbard:




A Plains saddle repro:

An (almost) Wordless Wednesday of my own...

A custom order.

For sale on eBay.

Fun with model horses in the snow

2010 so far has been cold and snowy. Brr. But still I had to get a couple of snow shots with Amaranth, my usual snow model. The mold's wild, windblown look lends itself perfectly to these kinds of shots.

A couple more from over the years, this one from 2005, with her mate Redtail:


And in 2002 with Dana, ponying Carnelian out to Christian, who seems to have gotten the ranch truck stuck in a snow drift (this was a multi-TOPSA winner back in the day) :

This was well before I started making Western saddles (indeed, any saddles at all!), the saddle on Amaranth is a Rio Rondo kit assembled by Kim Janes, the pad by Deb Messner(sp?), and the saddle and pad on Carnelian were by an unknown maker. The halter, bridle, and doll customization were all done by me, however, as was the CM Breyer Aussie.

New tack photos to come soon! Stay warm!

Well I guess I didn't need the light box just now, anyway...

Ah, the joys of cat ownership...

Friesian sjees harness

A custom order, and a harness design that I'm using for the first time:

The saddle was made with a coke can "seat" with skiver stretched over it.

The blinker stays are adjustable...

And the reins are the cotton cord I've been using for leashes and lead ropes.


This is also the first harness I've made using tongue buckles! A bit more difficult than regular friction buckles, but I like the look and it's easier to adjust!

With the crupper attached. (whoops) These do not come with breeching, interestingly enough.

And last but not least, a new dog collar set for eBay, this time with some Swarovski bling:

Interesting what one can find around the house to take photos for eBay, the box the dog is standing on was a box for a bracelet that was a gift, and the backdrop is one of my old vet clinic scrubs. XD

eBay auction can be found here.

Until next time!