120mm Horse in Search of a Rider and Saddle

[Beatha]

I have a wonderfully sculpted horse that works out to be about 120mm. It's this horse (not my photo): http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hyf4sxw-Lqc/VOKQxFbCsDI/AAAAAAAAOfI/a-44k2o7o_U/s1600/valkyrie.jpg

I happen to have two of them due to a sale. One to me is crying out for a rider. I'd prefer not to go Napoleonic because of the painting, but the horse conformationally seems to fit better than older eras. I don't want to spend an entire paycheck buying a horse I will discard, so I've been looking at the Verlinden. Does anyone know if all of the Verlinden have the saddle sculpted onto the horse already, or do some have it loose? I'm pretty sure the Napoleon doesn't, but he's kind of slouched on the horse and probably not tearing around the countryside. My other option is to sculpt tack on and have the horse leaving the battlefield at a run, having left the rider. Any other suggestions? I'd rather not go Napoleonics if I can avoid it. Not sure my painting is up to snuff on those. Thanks!

 

[John Bowery]

Indians did not use saddles?? Leave a trailing bridle of rope as the indians used this in case they fell off.
Cheers
John

 

[Beatha]

LOL I did wonder if she could work as an Indian horse. War bridle and fur throw on her. Easy stuff and no need to add a rider then. I also have an old Le Cimier Mameluke, I had a thought that maybe he could be holding onto her bridle and "ponying" her. He's also unpainted. Too bad the Le Cimier horse is really nice, or he'd find a new horse.

 

[Richie]

Hi Beatha,
I have a few Verlinden mounted figures and the saddles are all sculpted on the horses (unfortunately). The other problem would be the fit of a loose saddle to that particular horse, it might be a long way off (and wrong regiment) and take as much time altering it as sculpting one. I would sculpt my own, if you can do tack then you can sculpt a saddle.
cheers
Richie

 

[Beatha]

Thanks. Yes, I'm coming to the conclusion that I will need to sculpt the tack one way or the other. Hopefully I can find a rider, otherwise, it's time to look for 120mm heads. I'm looking through my books on American Indian tack, turns out the horse works quite well based on old photos.​

 

[Oda]

You can always go fantasy,stick a horn onto his forehead and turn it into a awesome unicorn.If your sulpting skills are even better you can sculpt wings and turn it into Pegasus.It is a beautiful animal indeed!!!!

Oda.

 

[Red Five]

You can ride bareback with just a neck collar. I've done it on the beach to avoid getting the saddle wet.

 

[Beatha]

Thanks everyone, sorry I didn't respond earlier, but my mom had a small brain bleed and things have been chaotic. I still haven't decided what to do with her, but I'm trying to get the Carl Reid Red Lancer to use that rider. If he fits, great, if not, it's a nice sculpt unlike most of the Verlinden horses.

 

[MCPWilk]

Where did you get it from?

Mike

 

[Beatha]

I'm not sure they still have it, I ordered it through Red Lancers, but they haven't gotten back to me yet about whether it's in stock. Hard to find piece!

 

[billyturnip]

Fourth from bottom, Valkyrie,
http://resinhorseeditions.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/sarah-minkiewicz-breunig.html