I’ve done my best to collect and organize some of the great tutorials out there about the model horse hobby. This list does not include links to my tutorials- you can find those under the tutorials tag on my main blog. Please let me know if any of these links are dead or otherwise need updating.
- Prepping
- Sculpting
- Finish Work
- Restoration & Repair
- Hairing
- Making Tack
- Leatherwork | Buckles & Metalwork
- English | Western | Halters | Costume | Other
- Making Props & Dolls
- Miscellaneous
Prepping
- Correct Priming Method
by Mel Miller of Chinook Studios
- Sealing and Priming
by Jaime Baker
- Prepping a Resin by Sommer Prosser
- Removing a Breyer Base
by Jamie Baker
Sculpting
Manes & Tails
- Sculpting Hair
by Mel Miller of Chinook Studios
- Flowing Manes by Karen Grigson of Bluebird Studio
- The Mane Event by Laura Skillern of Don’t Eat the Paint
- Braided Manes by Karen Grigson, parts one and two
- Sculpted Dressage braids by Laura Skillern
- Floss Dressage Braids by Laura Skillern
- How to Sculpt a Braided Mane by Charlotte Donahue
- Designing and Sculpting a Tails, parts one and two by Laura Skillern
Heads & Necks
- Sculpting the Head by Emilia Kurila, parts one and two
- Facial Details by Karen Grigson, parts one and two
- Sculpting Mouths by Rayvin Brewer of Krysalis Studios
- Sculpting Eyes by Rayvin Brewer
- Carving Hooves and Ears with a Dremel by Beth Cain
- Sculpting Ears & Expressive Ears by Laura Skillern of Don’t Eat the Paint
- Sculpting the Neck: parts one, two, and three by Laura Skillern
Hooves
- Sculpting Hooves by Laura Skillern of Don’t Eat the Paint
- Sculpting the Hoof
by Kimberly Smith
- Carving Hooves and Ears with a Dremel by Beth Cain
- Sculpting Shoes by Rikki Lyman of Struttn Steed Studio
Other Sculpting
- Veining by Maggie Bennett
- Wrinkles by Laura Skillern of Don’t Eat the Paint
- Lengthening a Horse’s Back by Sara Gifford of FriesianFury Studios
- Lengthening a Model’s Back by Laura Skillern
- Shortening a Model’s Back by Laura Skillern
- Giving Your Pony a Furry Coat by Kristian of Five Paws Studio
- Sculpting Feathers by Sara Gifford
- Sculpting Chestnuts by Madison Pollihan of Gyrfalcon Studios
- Pinning Legs by Laura Skillern
- Below the Belt: Sculpting Horse Genitalia by Laura Skillern
- Sculpting Mare Genitalia by Sara Gifford
- Building an Armature by Laura Skillern
Finish Work
Pastels
- How to Pastel Model Horses
by Katrina Michaels, courtesy of Jeanne Grunert/EquineArt Creations. This tutorial is also posted on Fallen Leaves
- Pastelling a Bay by Madison Pollihan of Gyrfalcon Studios, part one and two
- How to Paint a Dapple Bay with Pastels by Nikki Button
- Painting a Dapple Grey in pastels by Luvjeordie Studios
- Painting a Dapple Grey in pastels and pencils by Zane Lahdentranta of Frosty Birch Studios
- How to Pink Noses with pastels by Laura Skillern of Don’t Eat the Paint
Eyes
- Painting Eyes by Amanda Brock of Rogue Horse Studio
- Painting Eyes
by Christina Riley
- Painting Eyes
by Mel Miller of Chinook Studios, parts one, two, three & four
- Painting Eyes
by Jaime Baker, parts one & two
- Painting Eyes by Luvjeordie Studios
- Painting Eyes on Minis by Laura Skillern of Don’t Eat the Paint
- Painting Blue Eyes by Sara Gifford of FriesianFury Studios
- Painting Brown Eyes by Sara Gifford
- Painting Brown Eyes
by Christina Riley
- Eye Painting Tutorial by Isaac Brushett
Hooves
- Painting Hooves by Kris Apelgren
- Painting Hooves
by Mel Miller of Chinook Studios
- Painting Grey Hooves
by Jamie Baker, parts one & two
- Painting Grey Hooves by Kimberly Smith
Other Finishwork
- Painting a Dapple Grey in oils
by Mel Miller of Chinook Studios, parts one, two, three, four, five, and six
- Appy Characteristics by Cara Barker Yellott
- Mapping and White Markings
by Christina Riley
- How to Use Liner Brushes for Roan Detailing
by Jaime Baker, parts one & two
- Fleabites via colored pencils
by Morgan Kilbourn
- Glossing
by Mel Miller
Restoration and Repair
- Fixing Bent Legs by Laura Skillern of Don’t Eat the Paint
- Ear Repair by Sarah Rose (also see Jennifer Buxton’s use of this technique)
- Repairing Wired Legs by Sara Gifford of FriesianFury Studios
- Fixing a Cracked Tail by Jennifer Buxton of Braymere Custom Saddlery
- How To Repair Broken Pieces of a Model Using Super Glue and Baking Soda by Beth Cain
Hairing
- Hairing a Model (PDF) by Carol Williams of Rio Rondo
- Hairing a Model Horse by Sue Sudekum
- Hairing the Model Horse by Claire Stokes of Meadowview Artistry, parts one and two
- Mohair Manes and Tails by Faye Cohen
- Full Body Hairing by Ivorytower Stable, parts one and two
Making Tack
Leatherwork
- Prepping Lace by Jennifer Buxton of Braymere Custom Saddlery
- Dying Leather by Jennifer Buxton
- Dying Leather by Anna Helt
- Smoothing Leather Edges by Jennifer Buxton
- Skiving Leather by Anna Helt
- How to Cut Your Own Lace by Anna Helt of Dreamflite Design
- Cutting Lace
by Grace Ledoux of Stage Left Studios (using Anna Helt’s method)
- Punching Holes by Jennifer Buxton
- Tooling 101 by Darleen Stoddard of Equiworks
Buckles & Metalwork
- Homemade buckles by Brazos Ranch Studio
- Making Mini Buckles
by Anna Yager of Ebb&Flow Studios (see this post for the video)
- Buckles
by Rachel Fail
- Making Nailheads by Brazos Ranch Studio
- Attaching Microbeads by Anna Helt of Dreamflite Design
English
- Stablemate English Saddle Tutorial – awesomely detailed guide by Anna Helt of Dreamflite Design, available as a PDF for $10 (and so worth it!)
- Traditional English Saddle by Sophie Lightfoot, parts one and two
- Laced Reins, parts one and two by Jennifer Buxton of Braymere Custom Saddlery
- Laced Reins (mini scale) by Grace Ledoux of Stage Left Studios
- Raised Nosebands, parts one and two by Jennifer Buxton
- Making an English Girth, parts one and two by Jennifer Buxton
- Adjustable Stirrup Leathers by Jennifer Buxton
- Making English stirrups by Anna Yager of Ebb&Flow Studios
- Recessed Stirrup Bars by Lauren Islip of Four Corners Tack, parts one and two
- English Fitted Pad by Rachel Fail
- How to Make a Padded Browband with Crystals by Bronwyn Ahyong
Western
- Western Stirrups by Anna Helt of Dreamflite Design
- Finishing Cross Stitch Saddle Pads by Bobbi Allen of Horse Tender Studio
Halters
- Grosgrain Halter and Lead by Brazos Ranch Studio, parts one, two, and three
- How to Tie a Rope Halter by TiMe Stables
- Twisted Lead Ropes by Nichelle Jones of Desktop Stables
- Rolled Throatlatches by Jennifer Buxton of Braymere Custom Saddlery
Costume
- Homemade Shark’s Teeth by Jennifer Buxton of Braymere Custom Saddlery
- Making Shark’s Teeth for Arabian Halters by Nichelle Jones of Desktop Stables
- How to Make Mini Pom Poms by Melissa Halvas of Arabesque
- How to Make Three Tiered Tassels by Terri Wright, parts one and two
- How to Make Basic Cowries by Melissa Halvas
- How to Make Fringe by Melissa Halvas
- Arabian Tack References and Tutorials by Nichelle Jones
Other Tack
- Making Patterns by Jennifer Buxton of Braymere Custom Saddlery
- Making Galloping Boots by Anna Helt of Dreamflite Design
- Fly masks by Nichelle Jones of Desktop Stables
- Eight-strand flat braids for miniatures on About.com
- Bareback Pads by Nichelle Jones, parts one and two
- Making Keepers by Jennifer Buxton
- Making Rugs/Blankets by Christine Sutcliffe of Last Alliance Studios
Making Props & Dolls
- Making Doll Stands by Jennifer Buxton of Braymere Custom Saddlery
- Leather Doll Boots by Jennifer Buxton, parts one and two
- Customizing a Breyer Youth Doll by Anne Field
- Making Jump Cups by Christina Brown of On the Bit Studio
- How to Make a Balloon Race Prop by Kristian of Five Paws Studio
- How to Make Show Ribbons by Nichelle Jones of Desktop Stables
- DIY Hay Nets and Muck Buckets by Nichelle Jones
- Metal Saddle Stands by Rachel Fail
- Miniature Hoof Picks by Nichelle Jones
- Mini Breyer Boxes by Nichelle Jones
- Printable Props by Nichelle Jones
- Mini Grooming Tote by Nichelle Jones
- Making Trees by Christine Sutcliffe of Last Alliance Studios
Miscellaneous
- Tiny Horse Holders by Bobbie Allen of Horse Tender Studio
- Pony Express: Packing, Shipping, and Moving Your Models by Laura Skillern of Don’t Eat the Paint
- Finishing Bases by Sara Gifford of FriesianFury Studios
- Building a Base by Bobbie Allen
- How to Make Custom Carrying Cases by Emily Rodgers
- Simple Molds for Making and Casting Miniatures from About.com
This is so helpful- thank you!
Very, very helpful! I have just started customizing, so having all these tutorials in one place is wonderful. Thank you!
Thanks so much for this, Leah. Makes the hunting for all of the stuff not so much like hunting! I decided to not be so jealous after all ;)
Glad to have you back Danielle :)
this is so helpful, thank you ^_^
Ive recently acquired an airbrush, although i have no idea how to use it or what paint to use. do you know any good airbrush tutorials?
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