Mojo 2012 - Appaloosa

I was asked to present to you next horse.
So, here they are, two lovely Appaloosas, black near-leopard and chestnut snowcap :)




Appaloosa is a breed of quite diversified conformation. Modern type developed after the addition of Quarter Horse and Arabian bloodlines - so it can be called a stock horse type, but not as muscled as QH.
Appaloosa patterns are often connected with sparse hair in mane and tail, but many current breeders try to eliminate this feature.

These models show nicely some characteristics of appaloosa patterns - striped hooves and white sclera. They only lack of mottled skin (black in pink spots or vice versa) on muzzle, round eyes, and genitals. But generally they are terrific, I can't wait to get one

I like him, though I see a couple leg issues. It looks like someone did a quick fix on the right and changed the position on the lower leg without taking time to fix the upper part? Still, that looks easily fixable, and they may get it straightened out by the time it's in regular production.
Overall, though, he looks great! Reminds me of the Breyer SHS, a proper old-fashioned stock type. And I love that he's got his head up and has a normal length tail!
(I hate the modern WP look with a vengeance... it looks uncomfortable in real life, and makes models look like zombies.)

They are very nice horses, and as Magda writes, they have several of the typical Appaloosa-features.

Look here, my little Spotty whith his funny, thin tail



Just compare to the tail of Albina to the right

A new great year for our horse-collectors!!

Sumo wrote:

(I hate the modern WP look with a vengeance... it looks uncomfortable in real life, and makes models look like zombies.)

Yeah, me too. I can't imagine how one can ride a horse which carries its head so low, especially in some kind of Hunter Shows:

I once rode a horse (draft cross) which had an annoying habit of trotting with its head really low - that was awfully annoying, and I felt really insecure.

Lovely herd, Susanne What breed is Spotty?

Lovely, thanks for posting Magda
Are these sculpted by Anna?

HKHollinstone wrote:

Are these sculpted by Anna?

I suppose so :)

Thanks Magda for posting one more wonderful figure from Ana's hands!
Spotty is Danish, maybe a Knabstrupper? Ahahah, I love Albina's tail!

Awww, he's adorable! Chubby ponies are awesome - and with spots! Does it get any better?

Roger wrote:

Thanks Magda for posting one more wonderful figure from Ana's hands!
Spotty is Danish, maybe a Knabstrupper? Ahahah, I love Albina's tail!

There is a pony type Knabi (and a driving type, and a baroque one, and of course the more popular sport type ), so I suppose he might be one.

Thanks friends, yes, Roger is right, Spotty is a miniature Knabstrupper

Spotty does have a pedigree, and when he was 2 years old he got a limited approval as a stud horse, - but unfortunately he developed this sort of problem with his one hind leg, it "locks" sometimes. So now he is a gelding
Btw, the problem with the hind legs proves that they have used Shetlands to make the miniatures.

But it seems he has not discovered it yet, even if it is almost 10 years since he had the operation

Thank You so much Magda for showing Appaloosa figure here
And also thank You for comments Sumo, Susanne, Harriet and Roger
Harriet, yes it is my work
Susanne, Your Spotty is very cute, and all Your horses Thank You so much for showing this photo

Here is Mojo Appaloosa in my color version (gift for my mum)

Anna, yours is of course the prettiest! what a lovely pattern
I'm glad they don't try to do the appy mottling, because it's so hard to do well that with a mass-produced paint job it would probably be terrible.

Sumo wrote:

(I hate the modern WP look with a vengeance... it looks uncomfortable in real life, and makes models look like zombies.)

totally agree!
we call them "peanut pushers" because they look like they're rolling peanuts with their noses.

I agree, Anna's version is the best

Ohh, yes, Anna`s version is WONDERFUL
And Carolynn, you are right, it would not be possible to mass-produce such a fantastic paintwork
But I am very, very happy that you showed him to us, Ana

I don´t really like the back left leg, it seems like "blocked" to me. But the rest of the horse is so beautiful!

LOVE it! :)

-Kristie

Great job Ana!

Anna, your version is just beautiful, I love your paintwork

Thank You very much for Your comments Carolynn, Susanne, Magda, Silvia and Harriet.

Silvia, Sumo I think I see that something is not exactly right in left hind leg of this horse. I'm just not sure where is the mistake but I can feel it I just got news about this, and this leg will be slightly changed before production

Carolynn, Susanne You are right about mass production paintwork, it's better the melted skin is not showed there. This is detail which may look not fine if it's not painted very carefully. But I think factory paintjob may be also better, maybe suggestions will be possible to do. Maybe another color version for next year?

About posture of this horse, I wanted to give him look of "normal" ranch horse which may be good for many kinds of work but not for special shows of this kind. The word "normal" was important for me in this project I also didn't wanted to sculpt him walking with very low position of neck like on the photo showed by Magda. I don't really know what are advantages of such position of neck and this kind of walking. This isn't look very fine and must be also strange feeling when You ride, like always riding downhill. I'm sorry for saying that, I would love to learn more about it, and if anybody can explain it, I would be very happy. But honestly, my favorite riding discipline is dressage and there pose of neck and movement of all horse are so much different

They are amazing!!

Mastiffcat wrote:

Sumo wrote:

(I hate the modern WP look with a vengeance... it looks uncomfortable in real life, and makes models look like zombies.)

totally agree!
we call them "peanut pushers" because they look like they're rolling peanuts with their noses.

Yes "peanut rollers" they all are...and they have to be trained to do this..totally un-natural. Beginning ground work - you've already taught the horse to drop it's head in a halter when you pull down on the lead rope. The trainer then puts the colt in a snaffle bit, pulls down on the bit and releases quickly when the horse responds. Once the horse learns this (and the horse has been saddled) the ground work continues with the reins being run behind each front leg and tied up to the saddle horn. The colt is lunged in a Round Pen and the reins are gradually shortened bringing the head down closer to the ground. Some of you know that if a young horse suddenly can't raise it's head - they may flip over backwards. So important that you don't "freak them out" and do proper ground work. After the horse "gets used to that" and learns to "back off the bit" they start to ride them. The "trainer" uses a see-sawing motion (back and forth on their mouth with the snaffle bit - the reins are run thru a running martingale) until the head drops and then they release the pressure when the horse does, so that the horse learns to keep it's head down/low and the pressure off it's mouth. They travel "heavy on the forehand" and all "strung out" which doesn't allow them to be "ready for anything". An un-natural Fad which has been around much too long.

Sometimes this form of training can be helpful if you have a problem horse with a "hard mouth". Just to get them to "back off the bit" a little. The important word there is "little".

In fact Sumo and Ana when you ride a horse like this the horse isn't "collected" or "balanced" so it hits the ground harder, and because the head and neck is carried so low you just feel like you are sitting on a saddle only and they never travel very quickly at a trot - practically walking, even the lope is slow. Not a horse I'd want to trail ride because it would take you forever to get anywhere! If the horse stops suddenly you feel like you were going to go off over their head! Horses trained this way don't do well anywhere but in an Arena, soft level ground, no rocks. Out on a trail they would be picking their head up for balance. I have wished since they first started riding this way that it had NEVER been accepted by the Show Judges. You would never see a horse out in the field moving like this. So sad.

I love your work Ana. So happy to see you have the horses moving and carrying themselves "naturally".

~ Sue