Getting Started in the Model Horse Hobby: Tools

    Hello!  I know how hard it can be when your just starting out and you don't know what to buy or how to make anything. Thats why over the next few weeks I'm going to tell you exactly how to get started in the model horse hobby.

    So one of the big things that your going to need are tools and supplies. There are an endless amount of tools and supplies that you can buy, but I'm just going to go over the basics. 

Glue:

    So, Ive tried many different types of glue and I found that when working with real leather, Tacky glue works best. It dries really quickly and its non toxic and still flexible when it dries. Another option is Duco Cement.  I've also used this but it smells very strongly of chemicals and its harder to wash out.  

Scissors:

    Most people think that you're going to need some heavy duty scissors to cut leather, but no. Since model horse tack needs thin leather most regular scissors will cut very well through skiver leather. Just make sure that the scissors are sharp.

Exacto knife:

    I probably use the exacto knife the most. For cutting leather lace, skiving, and many other things. When you buy an exact knife I recommend buying lots of replacement blades, I go through a lot! In fact I bought a pack of 150 replacement blades.

Awl:

    I use my awl for punching buckle holes in my leather. (Also for getting my tack glue bottle open when I forget to put the cap on :) You could potentially even use an awl for making stitch marks on saddle flaps.

Pounce Wheel:

    If your looking for something to create perfect stitch marks on your model horse saddles, then a pounce wheel is for you! This little wheel creates perfectly even stitch marks on leather. While it does take a bit of practice to master, its a really awesome tool.

Ok, thats it for today! I hope this post helps you to find the tools that you need. If you have any tips or tricks that you'd love to share then feel free to tell me! I love new tips and tricks!        

Cookie looking really cute over her sand bath!

   

Camping

 Hello! We just came back from a long camping trip. Sorry for the silence I didn't have my computer, hmm maybe I could do pre-written posts? Anyways we just got back from point lookout state park in Maryland. It was about a two hour drive away. I'm so sorry that this post isn't going to have many pictures... I just never had my phone on me. 

    My family went camping in a tent, and there was no electricity, or wifi. Let me just say, when you don't have an outlet to charge your iPad and the bathroom is a long walk away, you start to really appreciate the things that you have in life. 

     It was really fun, except it rained a lot. We had to wear ponchos and sometimes when the wind picked up I felt like I was going to blow away!

    When the rain stopped we went fishing. I've never been fishing before but my dad knew how to fish so he taught me. It was really fun! I only caught one tiny fish but it was still very entertaining. 

    Now onto horses! I was going to bring my models to take photos, but looking at the weather forecast, I decided to leave them at home. I wanted to go trail riding, but due to COVID-19 they were closed.

     In the end, our camping trip was really fun, it’s always great to spend a few nights outdoors!   

Coronavirus Vaccine

 Today I got the COVID-19 vaccine so that wasn’t very fun. At first I felt fine, but after a few hours I got a fever and body aches. So I spent most afternoon in bed. My mom gave me some medicine so I feel a lot better. 

Since I’ve been feeling sick today I couldn’t work on tack very much. I just wanted to introduce our new fosters, Midnight and Oona. They are both gorgeous guinea pigs, Midnight is Oona’s mom. 

Ok so that’s it for today. Check back tomorrow when I’m feeling better.😊

Trail Riding

Today I went trail riding!

So since I’ve been playing Softball, I had to take a break from horseback riding. (I’m going to start again soon) I REALLY missed being on the back of a horse so my mom took me, two of my friends, and my brother trail riding. It was partially her ,late, birthday present to me. 

Where I ride they don’t have any trails so we got to go to a different stable. It was great! I already forgot my horse’s name, but he was a good boy and very easy to ride.

While the trail riding was fun, walking around the barn was just as fun. To our surprise there were many animals just roaming around, how do they not run away? There was this mare with her foal just walking around the parking lot, It was the cutest thing ever! 

Did you know that gray horses are born black or dark brown and as they age they turn white? 

It was a pretty hot day so most of the animals were sleeping or finding shade like this donkey.

Have you ever seen a goat play with a dog? Well I never had until I saw

this goat wrestling with a dog. Is was obviously not trying to hurt the dog, as the goat could of hit a lot harder with its horns. Instead the dog was tugging on the goats horns and the goat was running after it!

This lama was just staring back at us as we walked to the car.

So this trail ride was really fun. It felt so good to be on the back of a horse again.

 

Being A Kid in the Model Horse Hobby

 Hello! So, don’t get me wrong sometimes I love being a kid, but sometimes I wish that I could do more things, independently. So I just wanted to share my struggles being in the model horse hobby.

1. Money

Ok, so this is a big one. I’m broke. I don’t have a job so I rely on my Etsy and birthday money to do the things that I love, such as making model horse tack. I want to buy really fancy artist resins and custom painted model horses, but no. Instead I use what little money I earn on supplies such as leather and mini hardware.

2. I can’t drive

Since I can’t drive I have to rely on my parents to drive me everywhere. This makes going to future (hopefully soon!)  live shows really difficult. 

3. School

I know that many people go to work all day, but school takes up a lot of time. I finish school at 2:00, but then, every day, I have HOURS of after school activities to go to. Singing, Cello, Math, and Softball just to name a few.

4. Bedtimes

So yes, I still have a bedtime. If it were up to me I would stay up all night working on model horse tack, but I am limited to a few hours until 9:30.

5. Expectations

When people hear that I make model horse tack, I feel like they don’t take me that seriously. I know that I’m not as good as other tack makers, but this is more than just “playing with toys”. 

Now for some photos! Today I made my first ever show halter! I had a tiny chain in my toolbox and I had nothing to do with it until I had the idea. Now let me just say it took a lot of fiddling with the tiny chain to loop it through the check rings, but I made it work!

Here are my newest drawings:

It’s My Birthday

It’s my birthday today! I’m turning 14, can you believe that I started this blog when I was only 12?! For my birthday I had lots of cake, my parents also gave me the black beauty Breyer web special. I love her/him so much (it’s a bit weird that Black Beauty was a mare, but this model appears to be a stallion?) Anyway I love this mold and I think that she adds to my whole collection.

Look at this saddle set that I finished today! It was my first time making a dual colored saddle, a breastplate, and a martingale, so many firsts! I’m definitely going to keep this one, I love it too much!

 

Horses on Display

Hello! Yesterday afternoon we just finished our kitchen. My parents decided to add display cabinets along the ceiling and I put two of my model horses in there! I think it adds the finishing touch to our kitchen. The good news is that once coronavirus is over, whenever people come over they can see my model horses on display!

Another thing is to make sure to be careful with sharp objects. I was opening my tacky glue bottle with a needle, and I stabbed my self. It hurt but I’m okay. I guess you could say that my tack really is made out my own blood, sweat, and tears!