Well on doll on a parade saddle anyway. The horse is Skippa Latte and she is very close to a NAMHSA merit award in performance versatility. I hadn't had any idea she was so close to the award until I was counting cards and found that she just need 2 cards in "other performance" to get there. And parade is one of the classes specified in other performance.
So I decided I had to make a parade set. I have never done one before so it was a bit of a challenge. Where to start? What color? What pattern? I have made a few Western saddles over the years but nothing to this level. I can't tool and sold most of my stamps (I am not a tack maker after all. So what to do? Well put on some fabric and crystals of course!
And add a lovely doll to match.
I recently made a cheetah print and tan western pleasure doll and had a very nice response to her. So when I decided I needed to put cheetah print on the saddle I had to make a doll to go with it. 
I think she is very nice and her outfit perfectly matches the seat on the parade saddle.
So now I am looking for opinions. Not totally mean harsh ones, I am not a tack maker looking to improve I just want to know what people think. Is the set OK? Does the doll match well enough? Should I be embarrassed to bring it in public (I'm going to show it next month anyway, lol).
The workmanship is not superb but I don't think it's completely atrocious (I could be wrong I guess, lol). One of the big things I was unsure of is the silver studs on the set. All I could find at the time I was looking was the domed ones but in the photos they sort of look like cheap plastic "silver" beads to me. I might just be imagining that though. It does look different in person and I do like it more when I am not looking at it in photos.
I had a lot of fun with the swarovski crystals. But I usually have fun with crystals
And I have never seen another set like this one so I am pretty sure it really is one of a kind.
I guess a fun fact about this saddle set is I followed only a few instructions and then kind of just put the rest together. But maybe that shows ☺
5 comments:
FWIW--the one parade class I saw at a real live horse show featured tack that was decorated up with flowers and ribbon--there was ONE entry with what hobbyists would consider and actual parade saddle (it won) I suspect that our parade saddles/sets may border on fantasy. Not that there is anything wrong with that. So you may be closer to real than you realize.
And photos of that parade class are on my photobucket account--can provide a link if you want
I would LOVE to see photos. I was amazed at how hard it was to find reference material for parade sets (that were on real and not model horses) while I was making this one. I had a good time with it and I think that's what's important.
imo, the silver dots on the jockey and the fender are too big (having made that mistake myself :-)), the stirrups are too far forward and the jockeys need to be leveled out. And did you cover the resin seat? I can't tell if it's leather or resin :-) I can help you fix it if you'd like. PM me at irishrosemodels@yahoo.com. Otherwise, the set looks great! I'm sure it won't take much time to earn your NAN cards.
Jennifer Bontrager
I think you'll need to cut and paste this but the link to all the photos I took at this show (it was a research project, and I really should go back to the horse park and shoot more this spring) is this:
http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/drsteggy/2009%20NJ%20All%20Breed%20Show/?start=all
The parade class (4 horses,limited to palominos) are images 541 through 564
The winnner, doing his Lone Star impression:
http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/drsteggy/2009%20NJ%20All%20Breed%20Show/?action=view¤t=IMG_6359.jpg#!oZZ557QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb65%2Fdrsteggy%2F2009%2520NJ%2520All%2520Breed%2520Show%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DIMG_6352.jpg
that's what I was expecting in the entire class. But get a load of some of the other entries
http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/drsteggy/2009%20NJ%20All%20Breed%20Show/?action=view¤t=IMG_6359.jpg#!oZZ552QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb65%2Fdrsteggy%2F2009%2520NJ%2520All%2520Breed%2520Show%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DIMG_6347.jpg
http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/drsteggy/2009%20NJ%20All%20Breed%20Show/?action=view¤t=IMG_6359.jpg#!oZZ550QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb65%2Fdrsteggy%2F2009%2520NJ%2520All%2520Breed%2520Show%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DIMG_6345.jpg
And yes, if you need any for refs, feel free to use.
Thanks for the photo link! I guess it doesn't take too much to be a "parade" horse after all (and all that work I put in...). I was just happy to see some trotting. I was thinking about real parades and wondering if a judge would mark me down for using a trotting horse.
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