Horse Furniture: Phase two Picking a Horse

 Creating the horse itself is a design element that will determine for me the best way to create the horse itself and the framework of support. I have 3 methods of crafting the horse available: paper Mache cement sculpting, plushie, or a mix of sculpting and plushie making (art doll). 

I've made large plush ponies before!

Here's a list of all the horse ideas I had:

  1. Circus Knabstrupper
  2. Gothic Friesian 
  3. Floral Unicorn
  4. Fire Unicorn
  5. Dark Unicorn
  6. Yuuto Kirin
  7. Gypsy Vanner/Irish Cob
  8. Classic Clydesdale 
  9. Gray Donkey
  10. My Quarter Horse Hans
So, 10's a pretty long list so to whittle it down I picked some qualifications. 
  • How large is the horse's frame? 
  • How complicated is the coat pattern?
  • Which craft would suit it best?
  • Would it be a good carousel horse or natural horse? (Basically would it look cool in the wild style of a carousel horse, bedecked in jewels and stuff or would I prefer to make it look realistic-ish.)
  • What is my connection to it? 
  • Do I have strong feelings for it? Or great interest? (Motivation or a driving force.) 

Circus Knabstrupper



This spotted horse I developed on my Costume blog as a character concept for a centaur. She's a cute circus performer that I had riding a unicycle. 
  • Size: I'd say it's an average horse size. 
  • Complication: It's signature spotted coat can be a problem for fabric.
  • Craft: Due to the spotted coat, Sculpting would be the easiest. I could air brush spots onto fabric I suppose. 
  • Carousel: My original concept was 'circus' so themes and decor easily pop into my mind. It'd make a good carousel design.
  • Interest Level: Mid. I don't have a strong pull towards this one, but it IS a solid idea in my mind. 

Goth Friesian 

The second centaur concept was a gothic style Friesian. These gorgeous black horses always fascinated me.
  • Size: I want to say these horses are average but look thicker because of all the feathering. 
  • Complication: The mane, tail, and feathering are iconic, but perhaps a bit much for what we want.
  • Craft: This one would be a good plush because it is a solid color. Then art doll, then sculpture. 
  • Carousel: I see this more as a natural horse than a carousel.
  • Interest Level: Mid. Again, solid idea, beautiful look, but no strong emotional connection.

Floral Unicorn

I also consider this to be the "classic" white unicorn style. It's just likely to have flowers associated with it. And I am a unicorn girl. 
  • Size: Small and thin
  • Complication: Lion tail, long mane, Cloven hooves
  • Craft: I like Art Doll for this one, then sculpt, then plush.
  • Carousel: Definitely could. 
  • Interest Level: Mid - the concept doesn't feel as solid or set as others, even though I am connected to the animal in general. 

Fire Unicorn

In the past I've made many elemental style unicorns. My current obsession with Demon Slayer and the Flame Hashira kind of make me want to make a unicorn with this design. 
  • Size: Medium in my imagining
  • Complication: Horn, Flame Effects, Cloven hooves
  • Craft: Art doll, then sculpt, then plush
  • Carousel: Yes, it could work. 
  • Interest Level: Low - while a bit more solid of a unicorn concept, it is (ironically) not getting me fired up. 

Dark Unicorn

Legitimately, just having a blank slate to create a night themed unicorn would be refreshing and fun. While I have an image of Luna here this isn't the design. I do like the idea of a galaxy or night sky theme. 
  • Size: Small, thin
  • Complication: Horn, cloven hooves, mane and tail, unclear design
  • Craft: Any 
  • Carousel: Possibly
  • Interest Level: Mid - I like having creative freedom and a chance to do more brainstorming. But my unclear vision for this makes me feel less interested.

Yuuto

This is a character from my current visual novel. I'm working on the CGI for his chapter and I look forward to someday releasing it. Again, a bit of a dark unicorn design but with some dragon mixed in too. 
  • Size: Small, thin
  • Complication: Horn, Paws, cloven hooves, mane, tail, scales
  • Craft: Art Doll, Sculpture
  • Carousel: I could see him as a carousel. 
  • Interest Level: Low - I love my character's design, but I don't think it's right for furniture and the complications are fare too intimidating. 

Irish Cob

I don't know what it is about horses with feathered feet but this one is another gorgeous one. The black and white piebald pattern just makes it more beautiful. 

  • Size: Large, but toned
  • Complication: Potential Piebald coloration, feathered feet, long mane and tail
  • Craft: Prefer plush or art doll
  • Carousel: I prefer it as a natural horse
  • Interest Level: High-ish - the striking look and the larger frame make me feel confident it will hold. 

Clydesdale

So this is a bit of the more practical choice to have a large, feather footed horse. But I do find them beautiful as well. I'm not a beer drinker so there's nothing like that, but just a classic looking draft horse. 

  • Size: Large, bulky
  • Complication: Feathered feet, Blaze, Thick Mane, Size
  • Craft: Plush or art doll, a bit too big for sculpt. 
  • Carousel: Nah...I'm sure it has been done, but I prefer the natural look
  • Interest Level: Medium-High - I find this to be a good practical choice and that does appeal to me. I feel confident in it and it's pretty. 

Donkey

This idea is mostly my own amusement of having the name Mary and riding a donkey. I also do like donkeys and relate to their stubbornness. 

  • Size: Small, but stocky
  • Complication: Stiff mane, long ears
  • Craft: Plush or sculpt
  • Carousel: I think it could be in a funny way
  • Interest Level: Low - this was mostly just a joke idea, I really want to make a horse or unicorn. 

Hans

Hans was my horse when I was a pre-teen. I still have dreams about him. It would be nice to have a recreation of my good boy since he passed in 2016. (I found his death certificate online through the AQHA. Surprised they kept the records!)

  • Size: Medium, a little chonky...IMO...but probably average tone
  • Complication: Roan coloration, replicating real horse, need better references
  • Craft: Sculpt makes the coloration and markings easier, art doll and plush will be a challenge with the blaze, socks and random speckles of white here and there. 
  • Carousel: I could see it, it'd be cute.
  • Interest Level: High - I have a strong emotional connection 

Decision Tree

Okay so, I'll take out all the ideas that I have low interest in. (Donkey, Firecorn, Yuuto)

I think there are a few practical things to consider about the finished product:
  • A long mane and tail may need maintenance, become burdensome, or be a target my cat enjoys destroying. 
  • A small frame may need a lot more reinforcement and may look silly with my size. 
  • For a first time project, I may need to focus on simplicity 
  • Remember than I can in some cases make costumes or changes of clothes for the horse. So I could mount a unicorn horn, add knight barding and other things for fun. 
  • Think of nice alternatives for the other ideas. 
So my unicorn ideas have small frames and long manes and tails...making them less than ideal as a finished project for now. I have enough unicorn items around I don't feel the need to make anything extra. 

The Friesian has a significantly longer mane and tail that would absolutely get attacked by the cat for fun. I could get a Breyer horse model if I really want one or make a carousel model. 

The Knabstrupper's spots are kind of an annoyance that I don't want to deal with so I'll take it off this list and maybe make a carousel horse figure out of it or keep the centaur design since I intend to make a ball-jointed doll of this character.

So that leaves me with:
  1. Irish Cob
  2. Clydesdale
  3. Hans 
Looking at pictures of Irish Cob/Gypsy Vanner, they can have long manes and tails but not a long as a Friesian's. The coloration can also vary. I really like the dark coat with white mane combo. It's also a small draft horse so it has the thicker build that makes for a stead seat. So, in short, I can make it easier in coat design. AND it would look pretty dressed up as a unicorn or war horse. 

The Clydesdale has the benefit of a short mane and tail and the largest frame. Super stable and would be a good looking piece. Maybe not so great as a unicorn (although I still love it), but excellent as a war horse and the coloration is so appealing. 

Hans had a very short mane and average tail. No feathering on the feet. Just a slightly complicated coat design and blaze. I could get around that with clever fabric coloring tricks like sublimation, fabric printing, or paint. I really, really want a 3D rendition of my horse. 
I think though, I'll just make a smaller art doll or paint a Breyer Horse model or something. Or if I make a second attempt at this. 

I might take some of my "rejected" ideas into a small carousel model. But we'll see. 

Okay...at this point it's between the Clydesdale and Irish Cob. 

I think between these two I'm more interested in the Irish Cob, so for now, that will be my guiding principle for the project. A natural looking stuffed animal or art doll is the route to take. 

I think I might go for a more solid coat but have the mane, tail, and feathered feet be light colored. May add a star or stripe down the nose too. 

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