The model horse world is made up of fascinating people, many who exhibit extraordinary talents at making equine miniatures. Meet four such people:
- Kim Ford, tack maker
- Bill Duncan, scale vehicle maker
- Kevin McFarland, prop maker
- Deborah McDermott, sculptor
Each expert artist shares his or her tips to help you get started crafting, creating, and having more fun with your Breyers and other model horses. Whether you start by painting models, making tack or trying you hand at making a fence or a scale vehicle, now is the perfect time to try a creative aspect of the model horse hobby.
Tack Maker Kim Ford Hoffman - Tips for Making Breyer Model Horse Tack
Copyright 2011 by Kim Ford Hoffman. Used with permission.
Tack maker Kim Ford Hoffman got her start making model horse tack as a teenager. She used materials she found around the house - a wallet her parents were throwing away, old purses, felt and beads - to create saddles and bridles for her Breyer horses. Later on, she perfected her technique and learned more about leathercrafting, metal work and more. Her work is prized for its accuracy and realism.
Meet Kevin McFarland - Model Horse Prop and Jump Maker
Copyright 2011 by Kevin McFarland. Used wit permission.
Kevin got his start creating miniature scenes, props and dioramas when he and his wife attended their first live model horse show. He studied the winning entries and called upon his skills from years of experience building model railway scenes and accessories. Today, his work wins ribbon after ribbon at live and photo shows, and the Breyer model horse company asked Kevin to participate with other artists in the creation of a diorama that was on display for the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Kevin also shared great tips for building your own dioramas and acccessories.
Bill Duncan - Model Horse Vehicle and Tack Maker
Copyright 2011 by Bill Duncan. Used with permission.
Bill Duncan's model horse and scale replica wagons, carriages and other horse-drawn vehicles are in private collections and museums worldwide. Bill started making leather model horse tack, but his love for antique horse-drawn vehicles and woodworking led him into creating some of the finest, most accurate vehicles ever seen. Learn more about Bill and the amazing world of model horse-drawn vehicles, including photos of some interesting and unusual model horse vehicles Bill has made over the years.
Deborah McDermott - Collecta Horse Model Sculptor
Copyright 2011 by Deborah McDermott. Used with permission.
Do you dream about sculpting a model horse that will one day be featured as a Breyer, Schleich - or Collecta model? Meet Deborah McDermott, who began as a Breyer collector just like so many people in the hobby. Deborah began sculpting and learned the finer points of sculpting before her work was noticed by the people at the toy company, Collecta. When they launched their new line of 5" tall plastic model horses, Deborah's work was chosen for the entire line. Learn more about this talented sculptor and her contributions to Collecta's range of new plastic model horses.