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Post by Beth on Jan 17, 2021 14:45:19 GMT
My Christmas present to myself arrived last week but I've only just got round to photographing him in daylight. He's my first heavy horse and he is gorgeous! He's a portrait of a Shire that lived in the village I grew up in until a few weeks before Christmas. Here he is and a photo of his real life counterpart. Jester3 by Beth Ghest, on Flickr Jester2 by Beth Ghest, on Flickr Jester by Beth Ghest, on Flickr Plus a photo I've just come across on a local Facebook page of him in his heyday in all his finery. RealJester by Beth Ghest, on Flickr I shall have to start making him some tack now, has anyone got any idea how to make a traditional style heavy horse collar?
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Post by juliporiginals on Jan 18, 2021 10:15:24 GMT
So pleased you like him, the real one looks so smart in all his finery.
I think I've made the collars out of those sort of rounded handbag handles in the past but other collectors have probably got much better ideas.
I think Jan is going to have a go at trying to make a collar for the heavy when she get a bit of spare time (we are keeping her busy with all our julip tack orders at the moment!) and we were also thinking of having a go at trying to make one out of latex but unfortunately just haven't got round to trying that either!
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Post by george on Jan 18, 2021 14:55:15 GMT
I did make one with a fake leather handbag bought from the charity shop for recycling into mini tack and harness, I think it was a bit of strap for the rounded part and some of the flat side folded back on itself to make the front edge. Then a paperclip unbent and shaped to make the metal hames which fit onto the collar, with the rings to take the traces and reins. There wasn't any lining in mine cos it was pretty basic and a long while ago when I was still figuring out tackmaking, but you could do a little roll of fabric if you wanted to make it look more accurate.
Something like Fimo polymer modelling clay would work lovely, too, you'd get a more realistic shape much more easily, and the fit would be custom made - wrap Jester in cling film so it doesn't actually touch his paint while it's soft and sticky, mould the collar shape on him, press the wire hames into the clay, then carefully take it off over his head to bake it. Remember collars go over the heads twisted upside down, otherwise you're trying to get the narrow pointy top over the wide bit of the head, and it just wouldn't fit! You could stick a strip of cream colour felt all round the inside to look like lining and give a bit of protection and he doesn't get rubbed while wearing it, and paint the outside with clear varnish for extra shine like patent leather.
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Jester
Jan 18, 2021 18:56:05 GMT
Post by stacey on Jan 18, 2021 18:56:05 GMT
He’s lovely, and it’s always a nice bonus when they’re a portrait We’ve made traditional collars with flat leather, rolled leather and cast latex. The easiest was to cut a shape from flat leather, then hold it in the right shape with the hames - very similar to the ones you used to get on China shires. It’s relatively easy to do, and lies flat. The ones we have been happiest with were the cast latex ones, but they’re still a work in progress!
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Post by fourcorners on Jan 20, 2021 12:30:30 GMT
I did do a tutorial on making a collar using soft gloving leather. I need to dig it out as a few people have been looking for one. Will post on here or facebook when I find it!
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