Happy Friday everyone! If you are feeling like doing a bit of customising over the weekend I have put together a list of 30 awesome real horses that I think would make really cool model horse customs. Feel free to have a look through, feel inspired and maybe steal one for your own custom projects this week.
1. Black Akhal Teke
Image: By User:Artur Baboev - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27441300
The show ring is full of lovely cream dilute Akhal-Teke with shimmering coats so why not try something a bit different? This black is absolutely beautiful, his ginger highlights look almost bronze in the sun. A really stunning horse that would look amazing as a custom.
2. Very Pink Appaloosa
Image: By bankerssilvermoon - DSC05703, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5053401
Somebodies just had a bath! I love how pink the skin on this Appaloosa is. He also has a really unusual pattern with lots of mapping and grey as well as quite subtle spots. Definitely something a bit different if you are going for a spotted.
3. Another Spotty Bum
Image: By own work by original uploader, which was RL65 at fr.wikipedia - Personnelle, own work, Transferred from fr.wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6014572
The blanket on this guy is just spectacular, he would make an amazing custom.
4. Another Appaloosa
Image: By Daniel Johnson - originally posted to Flickr as 20070518_1898, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8289477
I may have gotten slightly distracted by spotted horses. Anyway here is another gorgeous and slightly unusual Appaloosa. I love the way the white speckles across his withers and down the shoulder.
5. Rabicano Arabian
Image: By Montanabw - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10254170
A lovely chestnut rabicano Arabian. This one would also make a great drastic custom if you are feeling a little bit more adventurous.
6. Dapple Bay Bardigiano
Image: By Fioravante Patrone - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13031205
The dapples on this guy are absolutely gorgeous. I also love the heavy contrast in colour throughout his coat. He would make a really dramatic bay custom.
7. Fluffy Dole
Image: By HaXXa - Own work by the original uploader, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4889769
I love the white this guy has flecks of white throughout his mane. I also like the dramatic contrast between his light coat and dark mane and tail.
8. Another Dapple Bay
Image: By I, Rozpravka, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2499106
Another lovely dapple bay with really heavy dappling throughout his coat. This guy is an Estonian Native if your curious as to breed.
9. Dun Fjord
Image: By Plasma at French Wikipedia - Transferred from fr.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1785872
Fjords are so much fun to paint with their lovely dun colouring and their dramatic contrasting manes. Here you can see a lovely example of the black and white of the mane.
8. Soft Chestnut
Image: By RMBlaney - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113952868
I love how soft the colour on this Galiceno is, she almost looks palomino with her light colouring. Would make a beautiful custom chestnut and suit so many different breeds or moulds.
9. Dappled Haflinger
Image: By Matthias Walther, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11986845
This isn't the best angle but check out the amazing dapples on this Haflinger. A good reference for what the dapples look like from the front as well. Would make a cute little pony custom. Also bonus foal.
10. What the Heck?
Image: By 4028mdk09 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15298674
Sorry I couldn't resist. Anyway look at this unusual native pony style colouring. I particularly like the strong black contrast lines around the ears. O and bonus foal again! (if you don't understand the joke this is a Heck Horse)
11. Light Dun
Image: By Eponimm - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20278727
I really like the colour of this dun, it isn't your usual dun colour and I think he would be a great custom for a pony mould. He is a Henson Horse.
12. Another Bay
Image: By Tuxer2002 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8038902
This is another lovely bay with lots of contrast. This Latvian Horse has some subtle dappling but what I love about him is the highlights and his deep rich red coat.
13. Red Chestnut
Image: By ABTiede - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81027793
I love the deep red chestnut of this Nordlandsest with his red mane and tail to match. Would make a really dramatic custom for a horse you want as a nice rich red chestnut
14. Dramatic Markings
Image: By Gilberto D Junqueira - originally posted to Flickr as colorado rn, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8782840
Although this isn't a very good image you can still clearly see the dramatic markings on this Mangalarga. Maybe combine it with the chestnut above to give a really cool colour combination?
15. Heavy Dapple Grey
Image: By Fábio Vidigal - Arquivo do Rancho Haras Quitumba, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10697750
I love the dapples on this dramatic dapple grey Mangalarga Marchador. Would make a beautiful custom on a huge variety of models.
16. Black Marwari
Image: By Virendra.kankariya - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5091926
I love the markings on this Marwari. There is something so gorgeous about a black horse with heavy white markings. It's a nice shaded black colour as well.
17. Spotty Baby
Image: By JC i Núria - originally posted to Flickr as Cavall a la reserva Nez Perce, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5169909
Another really nice spotted horse. This is a Nez Perce youngster who has a lovely blanket pattern. A good reference for a yearling or similar.
18. Lovely Dapples
Image: By Pieter Delicaat - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150009347
Another horse with really lovely dapples. I love the contrast on this Black Forest's coat and the gorgeous star dapples around his barrel.
19. More Dapples
Image: By Pieter Delicaat - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150009363
Another lovely Black Forest (although actually I think it could be the same horse as above in better lighting)! Anyway nice dapples!
20. Red Bay
Image: By Véronique Mestre Gibaud (Association française du Cheval Arabe-Shagya) - https://www.shagyafrance.fr/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7685683
I love the red in this Shagya Arabian's coat. A really simple bay with no white markings but wow the dramatic colour in the coat makes him really stand out.
21. Dapple Shire
Image: By Adrian Pingstone (Arpingstone) - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3669603
Some more really lovely dapples here. This Shire has star dapples across her whole coat which just look gorgeous.
21. Flaxen Chestnut
Image: By Sciencia58 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=171268978
I love how white the mane and tail on this chestnut South German Coldblood are. The heavy contrast and the subtle dapples make for a really nice coat colour.
22. Pinto Mustang
Image: By Mcgregorranch at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2836821
This is a Spanish Mustang with really lovely and unusual white markings. I love how the marking on his stifle is not as distinctive as normal white markings. He also has a lovely bay colour.
23. Chestnut Pinto
Image: By Kirsty Hagger - Takoda Spanish Mustangs, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32466747
Another really dramatic pinto (and quite a dramatic pose as well). A gorgeous light chestnut with almost a peach like colour to it.
24. Another Pinto
Image: By Just chaos - originally posted to Flickr as Spotted Saddle Horse, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5124025
Not the best reference as the horse is tacked up but again another unusual pinto. This is a Spotted Saddle Horse but I really like the slightly roaned patch of bay and the colour contrast in his tail. He also has a wall eye which is a fun touch.
25. Dapple Buckskin
Image: By Tocekas - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4917407
A really heavily dappled buckskin with lots of detail. This guy is a Žemaitukas and I think this colour would suit a pony style mould.
26. Bay Pinto
Image: By Silverije - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79900043
This Croatian Warmblood has another coat with lots of high contrast. He has tonnes of shading, dapples and even pinto markings. He'd make a stunning custom.
27. Bay Welsh
Image: By Elevage de maika - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49734970
Another really nice red bay with lovely markings. Lots of detail and contrast in his coat and a really cute pink nose.
28. Bright Chestnut
Image: By Fefa Koroleva - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47276183
You know sometimes you paint a chestnut and it just ends up orange? Well if you did a custom of this Russian Don it wouldn't matter because he is orange! I love how much his coat glistens in the sun.
29. Silver Dapple
Image: By Andersson LS, Juras R, Ramsey DT, Eason-Butler J, Ewart S, Cothran G, Lindgren G. - Andersson LS, Juras R, Ramsey DT, Eason-Butler J, Ewart S, Cothran G, Lindgren G.: Equine Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies maps to a 4.9 megabase interval on horse chromosome 6. BMC Genet. 2008 Dec 19;9:88. PMID: 19099555, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6506295
The Rocky Mountain Horse is renowned for its silver dapple colouration and this guy is a really dramatic example. Lots of amazing dapples, a white glistening mane and huge contrast in his coat.
30. Red Dun Quarab
Image: By Montanabw - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56826320
We are finishing with this lovely red dun. I love how smooth and subtle his coat is, with a lovely red mane.
If you've found inspiration in this post and painted any of the horses please do make sure to share pictures, I would love to see how they turn out
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