Celsie's BCC entry

The award for the most carefully documented entry in the 2026 BreyerFest Best Customs Contest just might go to Celsie Rae Abelt. In this guest post, she shares so many progress photos it's like we're literally watching her model come to life! Thank you, Celsie!

The Making of Baroness, Dutch Harness Horse Mare

by Celsie Rae Abelt

After Breyerfest 2025, I already knew what I wanted to do for my BCC 2026 entry. I had a fantastic reference and the intimidating prospect of sculpting a horse doing a suspended trot.

I started with the Dundee mold and proceeded to chop it to bits. Then I let it sit for months until the deadline started looming and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

Manipulating the bar stock for her right foreleg was the most challenging part of this piece. 

It had to be *just so*, because if that part of the armature was off, I couldn’t just remove it. 

I began sculpting in April and had her in primer less than six weeks later, which is the fastest turnaround I’ve ever done on a drastic. 

My husband and father-in-law helped with the woodworking on the base. I sculpted the arena dirt – including hoof prints – and my favorite little detail is the sculpted cloud of dirt around her toe.

I base-coated her with acrylic to save myself some time.

The rest of the layers were oils. I’ve been working hard the last few months on chestnut, since it’s one of my weaker colors. 

She turned out just like I hoped!

I wanted to push myself with capturing movement and power, and I could not be more pleased with the results.

This contest always gets me out of my comfort zone, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to participate. 

Congratulations, Celsie. This was an ambitious project and she turned out great. Also, I love, love, love that shade of chestnut. Good luck at BreyerFest!