NAN odds and ends

I am almost finished with my NAN orders--I have one more bridle to make for Lisa Sharpe's versatile cutter and then I am all done. Such a relief!Just a little reminder for everyone who will be attending NAN this year--I would love to feature your NAN pictures on my blog. Of course I'm most interested in the performance divisions, but anything you send will be greatly appreciated. I'll also be most grateful to anyone who lets me know the final price on Jane's and my auction donation.Speaking of which... NAN auction proxy bidding ends this Saturday. All starting bid amounts and proxy bid updates are currently posted on Model Horse Sales Pages: http://www.modelhorsesalespages.com/sales/searchlist.asp?Accid=11794. If you haven't checked the offerings yet, be sure to do so. There are some absolutely amazing pieces from some of the hobby's top artists. Many thanks, too, to everyone who's already bid on our donation!

Breyerwest pictures

Kim Haymond sent a few pictures from the Breyerwest live show.She showed her Tiffany Purdy custom Breyer with a BCS tack set in all six English division classes.Her efforts were rewarded with two firsts, two seconds and two thirds. That was good enough to win the English division championship!

Congratulations Kim and thanks for the pictures!

More stripes

There are two zebra enclosures at the Denver Zoo. The second group of zebras was not nearly as rowdy as the first, but they were no less enchanting.Are these not the cutest faces ever?Oh, just look at those ears! And those eyes! And those whiskers! It's cute overload!Now I want a zebra!

Summer fun

The boys and I made our annual summer trip to the Denver Zoo last week. The weather was wonderful and all the animals were awake and lively. Nowhere was this more evident than the Grevy's Zebra pen.Like most horse lovers, I'm fascinated by zebras and I always want to linger at their enclosure. Usually this is pretty boring for everyone else. Not this time, however!These two zebras were really feeling their oats.
They couldn't seem to leave each other alone. It just went on and on and on!

I had the best time watching them.

And as you can see, I took a lot of photos.

Every now and then it would look like they might settle down...

but then they'd be all over each other again!

Ya know, they kind of reminded me of my kids!

Weekend show report

Many thanks to Kellye Bussey for sending these pictures from yesterday's BYO Performance Show in Boliver, Texas. First up is her beautiful Eberl Pure Oro resin painted by Sheryl Leisure. I made the tack and Sheri Wirtz dressed the doll. Kellye mentioned in her note that she wishes the doll wasn't leaning so far back, but this entry was still good enough to get a NAN card.Kellye's OF Breyer Elegance named "Illusionist" was triumphant in a big dressage class. I made the saddle and Corinne Ensor made the bridle and pad.Kellye's brand new customized Cooper resin was fourth in Natural Trail. Kellye received this horse the night before the show and couldn't wait to get her in the ring! She is wearing a saddle by me and a bridle made by an unknown tackmaker. Apparently this resin has a teeny weeny head and will need a custom bridle. Cooper is sculpted by Maggie Bennett and customized and painted by Sheryl Leisure.

I made this Charro saddle set for Tricia Wolford back in 2007. Unfortunately, I neglected to take a finished picture of it for my records. I am so glad to finally have one now!

Thanks again, Kellye and congratulations on another successful show!

Plantation saddle pictures

I didn't have any grand vision for this blog when I started it last October. Mostly I was just trying to create a single place on the web where people could view pictures of my model horse tack. That's it.

It never occurred to me that blogging might awaken long dormant interests in writing and photography, or that a blog called Braymere Custom Saddlery might end up covering such a wide variety of equine topics. The past nine months have been filled all kinds of pleasant surprises, number one of which is this--people are actually interested in what I have to say. I never expected so many people would read this blog, and I am ridiculously happy each and every time someone leaves a comment or sends me an email about a posting.

There were a lot of comments on the Carriage Museum postings. As always, I am impressed by the wealth of collective knowledge in the model horse hobby--no matter how obscure the topic, it seems there is at least one hobbyist who knows something about it. One of these wise women is Desirae Corbett. She is a model horse judge, painter and tackmaker (check out her work here:http://ttebrocwd.home.mindspring.com/RafterC.html ) and also a collector of real tack. She was kind enough to send me pictures and information about two of the real saddles in her collection. One is a sidesaddle similar to (but nicer than) the tapestry seated sidesaddle at the Carriage Museum. The other one is this Plantation saddle.

Des bought this saddle on eBay. It is stamped Buena Vista and 316 just below the near side flap. It's not dated, but is most likely from the early 1900's. The stirrups are old English iron type, but the leathers thread through western-style fenders.The near side stirrup leather is torn. Des has the stirrup but it's not attached.The leather girth attaches to a single billet strap on each side. If you look carefully, you can just make out the stirrup leather which is threaded through the slot near the top of the flap.
Here's a look at the saddle's panels. Tackmakers take the best reference pictures. They know that what's under the flaps and on the bottom is just as important as the seat itself!This close up picture of the cantle clearly shows the rivets that hold the saddle together. Predictably, I now want to make a traditional scale plantation saddle--and then buy a Stone TWH to wear it! Oh, to have more time...

Thank you SO much, Des, for the pictures and information. If anyone else knows a little about plantation saddles or has a unique tack item they'd like to see pictured here, please be sure to leave a comment!

Still more foal pictures

Houston is the fourth and final member of the Ambleside foal class of 2009. I took these pictures of him yesterday as he enjoyed his first ever turnout in the shady confines of the indoor arena.

The rest of the foals have graduated to outdoor turnout. The weather was lovely with wispy clouds and soft even lighting. It was a perfect day to take lots and lots of pictures and that's exactly what I did. Here are some of my favorites.This first chestnut is sweet little Daisy. She has unfolded nicely in the last week and the pink skin on her face has turned grey.
She's still the friendliest foal in the group, but she's begun to develop a little bit of sass.Here she is kicking up her heels and looking just like a Hartland Jade!The other chestnut filly, Iris, is still my favorite.

She is all sass and attitutude.

There is never a quiet moment with Iris.I think she starts running everytime she sees the camera.This is my favorite Iris picture so far.

Last but not least, it's Austin.

He's the oldest of the group and it shows--what a nice, sturdy colt!Don't let the pictures of Austin and his "mama" fool you--this boy is all Arabian. His biological mother is a Muscat granddaughter who is no longer able to carry a pregnancy to term. Austin and Daisy are both the results of an embryo transfer procedure.

A rare quiet moment.

This is probably the best picture of the day.