Hair growth nerdery

My sister is "painting" a horse for NaMoPaiMo.

I'm using the word "painting" loosely here, because what she's doing doesn't seem to involve any actual paint.

I can't tell you anything more about her project because I'm not allowed to look at it.

I have some theories, though.

Heh.

She joined the NaMoPaiMo Facebook group partway through the month, and that has been a real deep dive into the world of model horses, model horse painting and model horse nerdery. 

"I like it," she told me, "But dang, the discussions about painting individual hairs."

I laughed and said, "Oh, but hair growth patterns are really important."

Then, I launched into how there are general rules, but some horses - like Sage! - are rebels.

The hair growth pattern on her flanks is more like a mule than a horse, with the cowlick starting several inches above the lowest point of the flank skin.

She's not symmetrical. The right side cowlick is higher than the left side one.

She also has a really low facial cowlick. It's down below her eyes!

And yes, you better believe the NaMoPaiMo Facebook group had to look at a lot of these pictures, too.

Anyway, hi, my name is Jennifer. I am the queen of the very intense horse nerds.