Merry Christmas!

Brighty "Claus" wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

Memory Foam Saddle Pad Take One

A few weeks ago, I was reading Braymere Custom Saddlery blog post revisiting a list of real horse things that some hobbyists would like to see in the model horse world. I followed the link featured in the post to an earlier post of the original list one particular hobbyist had listed. I don't remember reading this post before, but I'm glad I found it now. There were quite a few different horsey things that were listed. The one thing I found that I could make was the Memory Foam Saddle Pad made for English Saddle.

I was originally wanting to go to Joann's to get some thinner foam, but that didn't happen and I figured I'll test it with what I have. The fabric is a two way stretch fabric that I had originally gotten for an American Girl Doll Ice Skating Dress that I was going to make with my little sister for her birthday. It was a total flop, since I wasn't experienced enough sewing stretchy fabrics. As far as the saddle goes - that's a Breyer saddle. I had gotten it during a time when my mom told me that I needed to get some riders and tack before I got another horse (my favorite form of play was mustang herds traveling single file all over the house - who needs riders!). The saddle isn't great, the flaps don't lie correctly on the horse, and the girth isn't a real girth. But it'll just have to do.

As usual, all things must start with a pattern.

Cutting down the foam was interesting. Scissors didn't work whatsoever. I did reflect back to when I got the foam and the person at the cutting table used a kitchen knife to cut it. I ended up using the serrated blade on my pocket knife. I then used the scissors to even out the cut side.

Cut it to shape.

A little lumpy, but I don't think it would show once fabric is put on it.

Cut and pin two pieces of fabric. This would make a casing for the foam to fit into.

I had to look up what kind of stitch to use for stretchy fabric. The three lines of stitch marks is the symbol for the Stretch Stitch. Also, when using stretchy fabric, it is a good idea to buy a specially made Stretch Needle for your sewing machine.

I ended up needing to make the casing smaller (and it could be even smaller and rounder still).

Foam in...

And ready to sew up.

This is a cool stitch. I can't explain it successfully without pictures to show, so I'll have to write a post on that later. It is really helpful when sewing up stuffed animals whose seams burst open revealing a hole in their backs or bellies.

All done! It needs to be less square and shorter for the seat.

And the foam needs to be thinner. I might do a seam on the bottom next time, so that it sits on the horse properly.

However, the shape worked for the Western Saddle (another Breyer saddle - only with a customized cinch and rear girth). 

Apparently, there are memory foam Western saddle pads available, but they are constructed differently than the English saddle ones.

And because I don't like the saddle, I wanted to do an oops series. Hwin is frisky enough to be a bit of a handful for these two girls: Jenny (on Hwin) and Serena (trying to stop Hwin).

Oops! Jenny's fine, she's a rough and tumble kind of girl.

Note how the flaps stay elevated instead of laying flat on the horse.

Let's try the Western Saddle....will she cooperate?

Nope!

I don't know if I should try to modify this pattern with my existing saddle first or try to make a saddle and then the saddle pad. We'll see.

MEPSA

After I realized that Breyer probably is not going to do another year of photo contests, I decided to jump in and try out MEPSA (Model Equine Photo Show Association). I was already aware that competing in MEPSA would be challenging due to its popularity; but I figured that it wouldn't be a problem since the Breyer photo contests were tough enough as it is. My main goal in my first year is to learn what the judges are looking for and how to improve my photography skills (especially while using a manual camera and not a little Casio that's only auto - though, I do get some pretty awesome pictures with that camera!).

The first show I entered was the Vintage Special at the end of October. The ones who did place, are rather low. But remember! It's all about the experience!

 Rosie Sunshine is a Hartland model horse from the 1960's. I have her as an Arabian x Quarter Horse since she is a Palomino and pure Arabians don't come in Palomino. got 8th in the Gender Division: Draft/Pony/Carriage/Other Foal and 9th in Collectibility Division: Other Plastic.

 Sea Star is a Chincoteague Pony colt with very poor conformation. I find it rather interesting that the Misty and Stormy molds have really good breed conformation, while Sea Star and Phantom Wings (who came later as apart of the Misty of Chincoteague collection) are the complete opposite. Anyhow, I needed to have more light coming at him than from behind. He placed 9th in the Gender Division: Draft/Pony/Carriage/Other Foal.

 John is one of my very first Stablemates and is very yellowed now, so this picture is from several years ago. He placed 10th in the Gender Division: Draft/Pony/Carriage/Other Foal (he's a Paint x Morgan x American Spotted Draft Horse mix).

 Sasha is one of those Paddock Pals scale Breyer Horses that was geared toward little girls in 1999-2000. The judge said that the mold is too cartoony like to compete with more realistic horses. She was also one of my very first Breyer Horses.

Maybelline is one of my newer vintage models that I got at Sugarfoot Live. She didn't place because she needed more lighting on her.

Another thing that was against me - was the non-realistic background. Though, I was trying to imitate the famous equine photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand's method (you should really look up his equine related photos - they are amazing!).

But....it wasn't what the judges were looking for. And, maybe I need to make a new "canvas" that's less tie-dye looking.

The next show was an Original Finish (OF) Regular Qualifier; which are basically model horses shown in their original pose/coloring with nothing added or changed to the mold.

 Lou placed 4th in the Head study class. He's a cute boy. Another of my first Breyer's.

 I could have gotten a little more on Paint Me A Pepto's level here. That was a fun photo shoot. My family and I stayed at Bear Lake (yes, that's a lake!) 'till sundown; so, in true form, I brought a handful of horses to take beach pictures. Anyways, she placed 4th in the Collectibility Division: Breyer Traditional Current RR, LE, CE (as of 2019).

This was from the same photo shoot as Paint Me A Pepto's. Lionheart wasn't quite square and I didn't notice until after I got the photos back from this show. He placed 9th in the Collectibility Division: Breyer Traditional SR Other.

These are some of my other horses I had entered in that show.

 I think that both Partly Cloudy (pinto) and Elska (Icelandic) might do better in the Scenes class for Performance.

Does anyone else collect Wind Dancers? Of course, little girls want their winged horses to be able to flap their wings. But that means placing the "flapping" mechanisms in the back of the horse and not the shoulder. In the end, making them not anatomically correct. Also, the trend is Unicorns Galore; so Pegasus', not to mention Wind Dancers, have slim chances against the multitude of Unicorn Stablemates.

OK, one more. The most recent show I had received the results for was the Light/Sport/Spanish/Gaited Special.

 I had originally labeled Starshine as an Orlov Trotter, but I cannot find the source of the possibilities of the Cream Gene being present in the breed (in which it does not). So, if anyone knows of a harness racing breed where the Cream Gene is present, please comment! She placed 9th in the Breed Division: Trotters/Pacers.

 Note the floating wood plank above the grass/leaves on the next few photos. I had to give enough room for Shutterfly to crop off to make a 4x6 photograph. Bear got two placings - 6th place in both the Gender Division: Light/Spanish/Gaited Gelding and the Color Division: Black.

 Man 'O' War placed 10th in the Collectibility Division: Breyer Classic RR/LE/CE/SR/OOAK.

 Izzyachampion is hard to place in a class. He's a 3 year old colt and there is no proper age category to place him. He's too big for the foals category, so he ends up with the adults with a "3 yr. old" label. He's 3/4 American Paint and 1/4 Tennessee Walking Horse. His photo is a little too dark - need to re-do that. He placed 10th place in the Breed Division: Other Pure/Part Gaited/Spanish.

Miss Ranger's picture was too dark as well as Izzyachampion's. She ended up placing 8th in the Color Division: Roan.

I am using a Canon with a kit lens now. I also have a great tendency to place the camera too close to the object - since I am majorly nearsighted and look at everything up close anyways. So, please comment  if you have any tips.