Slow progress =/= no progress

It's not just me. In the last couple years, a whole bunch of my barn buddies - all of whom are old enough to know better - bought baby horses.

Although she's not the youngest, Sage is perhaps the most babyish.

 All the other 2021 babies are a lot further along in their training.

That's okay. I've had a lot going on, plus Sage needed the time grow up both physically and mentally.

But now, Spring has sprung, and it feels like time to ask for a little more.

Obviously, this includes riding, which is still very much a work in progress. We are off the lead rope, though!

We're also working on other things, including mounting from the fence and objects other than a mounting block,

ponying, both from a horse...

and from the golf cart...

and trailer loading.

Sage hadn't been on a trailer since last June, so when I saw Heather practicing loading with her babies, I immediately asked if I could have a turn.

The front half went on immediately.

Then there was a long pause, while the back feet decided what they wanted to do.

We didn't push her, and eventually, she came to us.

Then we hung out for a while, eating treats and taking selfies.

So cute!

Good girl, Sage!

It's been a leisurely stroll, but slow progress does not equal no progress. Step by baby step, it's all beginning to come together.

Look who's here, part two

Earlier this week, I received a shipping notice from Stone Horses. My Sage model was on its way!

Since then, I have been obsessively refreshing the tracking. Yesterday, she was finally out for delivery.

I had an afternoon shift, but the first update indicated a pre-work delivery was possible.

Sigh.

Of course, she arrived after I left. Seth sent a photo. It contained two Stone boxes, which was confusing, until I realized the other was for Angelo.

After what seemed like a century, I clocked out, drove home, dealt with some dog drama and - finally! - opened my box.

Sageeeeeeee!

Since I know everyone wants better pictures, I took some studio shots this morning. Here's the left side,

right side...

and belly.

I'm so glad they used the flippy tail. It's my favorite for this mold so far.

I also love the shading on the legs...

and look at her cute little brand!

And here's the part I was most excited about, Sage's funny little blaze.

It's perfect!

Thank you so much to Erin Corbett, Ellen Robbins and the entire Stone Horses team.

I absolutely love Little Colorado Sage.

Slowpoke

My custom Stone weanling wasn't the only project horse who was set aside during NaMoPaiMo and my recent trip to California.

Although not neglected by any stretch of the imagination, funny, little Sage managed to go nearly six full weeks without wearing a saddle.

That ended yesterday.

So dusty!

She didn't miss a beat, so today we did it again, except this time I lined her up at the mounting block and sat on her one, 

two...

three times.

She didn't take a single step, and in truth, I didn't ask her to. Maybe we'll do that tomorrow.

In addition to being a really slow customizer, it turns I am also an extremely slow horse trainer.

It's good. It's all good. 

We'll get there... eventually.

Just like that

Ten years and one month ago, I drove up to Evergreen to spend a day with Jennifer Scott.

We played with the horses,

toured the studio...

and made a Rajah resin.

It was a really fun day.

I went home with two party favors, the Rajah we'd poured and a half-finished custom Stone weanling custom.

I discovered her on the abandoned projects shelf in Jenn's casting room. I pulled her out, admired her and told Jenn, "She's really cute. You should finish her."

Then Jenn - who famously does not enjoy customizing plastic models - said, "No, you should finish her."

Well, okay then.

In theory, this should have been easy. The only part that really need work was the neck, but let me tell you, necks are hard. Jenn had blocked in the muscles on the left side, but the right was a blank slate. I had to finish her side and then match it. Not easy, at least not for me. I've picking away at it for year, but this past January - finally! - I decided it was as good as it was going to get.

I put her aside during NaMoPaiMo and my trip to California. When I got home, it was back to work. The first order of business was giving her a mane. It's been a while since I sculpted hair, so I used an appropriately old but still awesome tutorial by Charlotte Donahue for guidance.

At this point, I was pretty sure I'd be scraping the whole thing off and starting over.

Trust the process, I told myself...

and eventually, it came together.

Not perfect, but definitely cute!

I added armpit wrinkles because Angelo told me I had to. Then I blobbed on some modeling paste chestnuts a la Kristen Cermele.

And just like that - and ten long years later - baby is done.

Well, I'm sure there's some nit-picky prep stuff to attend to, plus - I suppose - paint.

 But those are issues for another decade day.

For now, I'm happy to call this one finished. On to the next!