Owning a Breyer model horse is fun, but what’s even more rewarding is creating your own custom versions. You can achieve incredibly realistic and beautiful results by adding a mohair mane and tail, for example.
To get started, you will need to collect some materials. First, you will need a painted horse model (made of wood or plastic) and a mohair cane in a coordinated color, at least a foot long, maybe two feet. It doesn’t have to be a Breyer horse because these same steps will work with almost any make of horse model. One glue that works well is Aleene’s tacky glue. You’ll want a pair of embroidery scissors and another pair of small scissors with pointed blades (a set designed for children is usually small enough). You will use round toothpicks to hold the hair in place.
In the end, the really fun part is styling – you can style and lather your hair instead. For this, you’ll want to use an alcohol-free mouse or spray gel (the “extra hold” type). Small brushes that work well for styling are a toothbrush, brow brush, or gun brush.
To prepare the horse model, you will need to drill a narrow ditch in the neck (with some Breyer models, you will need to trim the stiff mane that sticks out) and trim the stiff tail to the size proportional to that of a horse. coccyx.
Next, you will begin to glue the mane. You will want to start at the withers and start with shorter manes. You will want to cut each piece an inch wide. (This is where embroidery scissors come in.)
Try to crush the glue on the ends of the mohair piece well. Then cut straight and hold this cut straight carefully (use normal children’s scissors to avoid glue sticking to embroidery scissors). Apply glue along the edge and insert it into the trench in the neck (remember, you are starting with this short piece at the end of the cross). Use toothpicks to help push hair in.
Cut a slightly longer piece of mohair, still keeping it about an inch wide. Repeat the cut and paste process and push it into the trench a little higher. Continue until you reach the top of his neck, where his bridle path would be.
Now you are ready to create your lock. This will use three separate pieces of mohair. Cut them longer than you want your strand to be, using the embroidery scissors. Crush the glue into one of the pieces and trim it square with normal scissors. Apply a little more glue to the end of the cut. Glue this piece on the forehead just in front of the ears.
Crush the glue, trim, and apply an extra dab for the next two pieces, adding just behind the ears so the ends hang down and blend into the first piece.
Now, you’ll create the bridle path, adding realism that transforms a model horse into a real horse – well, not quite real, but much closer anyway.
Take your embroidery scissors and cut a small amount of mohair into very fine pieces. Apply a thin layer of glue to the area you want the flange path to have; think about the shape you want it to be and how far you want it to spread. Trace this shape with the glue.
Carefully apply the small, finely cut pieces to the glue and press them into the glue realistically.
Let the mane dry for at least an hour. You can work in the queue while you wait.
It will start to glue at the end of the tail and work its way towards the horse’s body. Measure the necessary length from the end of the tailbone to the floor (or to the height you want the tail to end). Use the embroidery scissors to cut a piece of mohair slightly longer than this.
Apply glue to the cut end until it is saturated. Trim straight with normal scissors and apply more glue. Glue the mohair around the end of the tailbone so that you form a layer of hair around it (not just gluing some hair to the top or side of the tailbone).
Repeat this process a little higher. Keep repeating with slightly shorter pieces until you reach the base of the tail.
At the base of the tail, you will use three separate pieces. Measure and saturate with glue as before. Cut out the middle piece in a V shape with the normal scissors. Apply more glue and apply it to the top of the base of the glue.
Trim the other two pieces at a matching angle and apply one to each side of the tailbone. The tail should now be completely covered in hair. Press all the hair securely with your fingers one last time. Let dry for at least an hour, perhaps overnight.
Once the glue is dry, you can carefully brush the mane and tail (be careful with this so you don’t dislodge your hard work). Trim bits that are significantly too long. Wet the mane and forelock with the mouse and enjoy designing your new custom Breyer horse! Follow with the queue. Once the mousse has completely dried, trim the remaining excess hair and use a damp cloth or tissue to gently wipe off any excess mousse.
The results are amazing! This will take some practice, so start with some used or broken models and have fun playing around. Once you have become a little familiar with the process, you are ready to work with a new Breyer horse. I’m sure you’ll want to try this over and over again to create one-of-a-kind collectible pieces that are admired by horse model lovers. Soon your friends will ask you to teach them how to customize their horse models!