04.29.10 -- 3 Times the Fieldtrip Fun

On April 17, Idaho horse lovers had the opportunity to see a variety of horses showcased at the Idaho Horse Expo in Nampa, Idaho.  This filly is Poppy, a Mustang weanling demonstrating how much she has learned with her 4-H trainer.

Poppy was one of the Mustangs hoping for a great new home the following Saturday, April 24, during Mustang adoption day at the BLM Horse Corrals south of Boise. 

In addition to seeing the finals of the 4-H In-Hand Trail Challenge, visitors to the BLM corrals watched Mario Johnson of Georgetown, Idaho, demonstrate his gentling techniques with a young Mustang gelding. 

After the bay youngster became accustomed to Mario's first training aid, a plastic grocery sack attached to a dressage whip, Mario introduced the gelding to a larger piece of tarp attached to a longer more flexible whip.

I hesitate even to type the word "whip" for fear that you envision "whip" as a violent verb. In Mario's hands it's not used that way at all.  He explained that the teaching aids he uses (dressage whips, driving whips, plastic flags and ropes) serve as extensions of his own arm.  Mario's objective is to let the horse learn that the touch of a rope, or the flutter of plastic will not hurt him. I commend the BLM for providing this demonstration of humane training. 

The third recent field trip took me to the opposite end of the equine learning curve, a dressage show on Sunday the 25th. This is Leslie Tengelson with her elegant warmblood mare Callie.

Horses --  feral and furry or trained and trimmed --
we love them all.

04.28.10 Scritchy Mule Update

The mule has been through her first firing to set the base body color.  Next, I've begun to add in the darker points.  "What points?!" You may ask, "She's a high-white sabino spotty, right?"    Well, mostly.

The mule that is my primary reference has one dark leg.  Look at the photo below, see the little black sock on the right fore foot?

I just think that's the coolest! ~ Lynn

04.27.10 Guest Sculptures, "Elsie and Oliver"

 In a previous post you saw my husband, Barry Moore, working on Toot Sweet, the adorable Miniature Horse mare sculpted by Adalee Velasquez.  Currently, Barry is making a mold of  Elsie & Oliver , a Halfinger mare and foal sculpted by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig.

Above left,  Barry uses non-hardening clay to form the foundation piece of the production mold for Elsie.

Barry alternates between working on the mold for the mare, and the mold for the foal. Here Barry is putting the finishing touches on the foundation piece for the foal, Oliver.

Working with different colors of clay helps the mold maker visualize the different pieces of the multi-part mold he is designing.

Once everything is just right, Barry pours silicone mold "rubber" over the piece.  The mold material will set overnight, contained within walls of non-hardening clay.  The next day, he will strip off the clay walls, then turn the mold over to design the next section of the mold.  Molds are really three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles.

Do you have questions about mold making?  Just click on "comments" below.  (Perhaps we can talk Barry into being a guest blogger here!)  In the meantime, if you have a project that you'd like to receive a quote on for mold making and resin casting services please email Barry.  Or visit his webpage for general information about Bear Cast Molding and Casting Services.