Costume party

I love Halloween horse costumes, the more ridiculous the better.  When I saw the dragon costume Tiffany made for this year's Breyerfest Live show, I just had to have it.  Fortunately, Tiffany is bribe-able.  The dragon costume now belongs to me.

In addition to being ridiculous, Halloween horse costumes must also be safe and functional.  This one is.  The hood fits over a regular bridle, and the blanket has girth slits in the side.

The wings are attached to a square pad. 

This is exactly the sort of thing a crafty and enterprising horse mom might whip up in her sewing room! 

The princess outfit is very princess-y... 

but it's worn over boots.  Perfect!

As an added bonus, that princess also looks good with my unicorn bridle.

 It's like receiving two new costumes in one!

Thanks a million, Tiffany.  Pictures of the totally different but equally awesome Native American costume will be next!

What's in the box?

All kinds of good stuff!

There were presents from Disney World,  

Because everyone need Princess Kleenex!

not one...

but two amazing costumes,  

and no less...

Yes, that's Princess Trillium.  She had spent the last four months vacationing in Illinois

than... 

three plastic ponies!

This one is a portrait of my beloved Snickers. 

Tiffany did such an amazing job capturing Snickers' expression... 

I can't stop looking at her!

Occasionally, people fuss at me for spending so much time working for my "one favorite customer."  I understand their frustration, but Tiffany has earned her spot on my work list.  She is a true, generous and talented friend, and I can't imagine my life or my hobby without her in it.  Thanks so much for Snickers, Tiff!  I just love her.

Still thankful

Today I went riding...

with James... 

and I got a big box from Tiffany. 

 Darcy says, "I smell epoxy!"

Life is good and I am still thankful.

Thankful

A little more than thirteen months ago, my horse and I had a hard fall over a little jump.  I hit the ground first, breaking my collarbone on impact.  Rev went down beside me, and rolled on top of my left leg.  He was fully upside down, balanced precariously on my shin, and for a moment which seemed like an eternity, I thought he was going to roll over my entire body.

He didn't.

The next several months were spent recovering from what did happen.  It wasn't until much later that I allowed myself to really think about what almost happened.

Here's one thing I know for sure:  I am so thankful.

My life isn't perfect, but it's mine, and I am thankful for everyone and everything in it.  If you're reading this blog, that includes you.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Small scale performance

Yesterday's post featured some of the large (1:6 scale) entries at last weekend's Mid Kansas Live All Performance Show in Rose Hill, Kansas.   Today, we're focusing on the other end of the spectrum--the Mini Performance Division.

"Mini scale" is a catch-all term used to describe anything smaller than Classic (1:12) scale.  These Breyer Little Bit/Paddock Pals draft horses are approximately 1:24 scale.

Stablemates are smaller: approximately 1:32 scale. 

The advantages to these smaller models are obvious.  They're (usually) cheaper, and they take up a lot less room.

An entire mini scale diorama can fit inside a shoe box!

Tiny scale props...

 are relatively easy to make...

and there are more excellent mini scale tackmakers in the hobby than ever before (welcome back, Leah).

It's still much too small for me...

but entries like this...

make me happy...

regardless of scale!

In addition to taking these photos, Janna Shepherd showed one horse in the English Mini Performance Division. 

He is Naughty By Nature, a Breyer G2 Warmblood etched by Janna. 

Janna's usual attention to detail...

and excellent documentation...

propelled Naughty By Nature to both the English Performance Championship and the Mini Performance Overall Reserve Championship.  

The Overall Champion was this little mule.

Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to Janna for once again allowing me to share her photos!

Large scale performance

My friend, Janna Shepherd attended last Saturday's Mid Kansas Live All Performance Show in Rose Hill, Kansas.  This show was a performance junkie's dream with a full day of English, Western, and Other performance classes, separated into three divisions--Original Finish, Customs/Artist Resins, and Minis.

Janna brought her performance superstar, All Glory and kicked some serious butt in the CM/AR division.

But that's not what this post is about.   

It's about something bigger... 

1:6 scale performance horses! 

This guy is an Old Man resin by the Mexican artist, Luis Mariano Aguilar of Nohuanda Equine Art.  He is 1:6 scale, which is the size of the Best of the West Marx horses and much, much bigger than traditional scale.

All the horses pictured in this post belong to Amy Jones.  However, it's worth mentioning that most most models this size aren't made specifically for the mainstream model horse hobby.  Instead, they tend to be marketed to male collectors, who specialize in cavalry and other historic and Western themed set-ups.

This horse is a customized Marx model...

(another view)...

as is this one. 

My favorite is the bay Cavalry Horse resin, also by Luis Mariano Aguilar.

I am pretty devoted to my 1:9 scale world, but I understand the appeal of these larger models.

Also, I think it would be really fun to make 1:6 scale tack!

Thanks for allowing me to use your pictures again, Janna.  I wish you could go to a model horse show every weekend!