30 Colour Ideas

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

What Inspires You?

What inspires you in your customising? Today I'm going to be sharing some inspiration pictures of real horses that might provide you with a bit of inspiration for your next custom. Some are really cool colours, some are really cool poses, each one is lovely and each one would make an amazing custom. I've even included some that would be very unusual performance set ups.

First up we have this palomino with a really cool flick in her mane. This would be a great minor custom, it would be even more amazing in mohair!

Second we have a really cool performance idea, this would be an absolutely amazing performance set up. I can see the Breyer Traditional Akhal Teke working really well as a base model for the horses

Third we have a Marwari foal who is insanely cute!

Fourth we have a three for the price of one!

Fifth we have a really nice face marking on a palomino pinto. You could combine this with the flicking forelock in the first picture and it would make an amazing custom

Sixth we have this really cute pony, I love the out of control mane but I also love his thin stripe, it is a really unusual shape and I do love a little bit of pink on the nose

Seventh we have this lovely bridle, plaits and bow combination. Again I think this would make a really nice performance set up

Eighth we have a cute pinto Icelandic, I do love a pony with a coloured head and then almost completely white body

Ninth we just have a cute foal with quite an unusual coat colour, a really good example of how different foal's coat colours are to adult horses

Tenth we have this mane, again this would be a great minor custom idea. Would look really nice on a sport horse/Thoroughbred style mould

Eleventh we have a really nice dapple grey, lovely dapples on this girl. I wish grey horses just stayed one colour! I'd love a grey like this one but I am not dealing with white greys, waaay too much effort!

Twelfth we have another really cool facer marking. A very dramatic marking on a chestnut, would suit a variety of colours but imagine this on a black!

Thirteenth is another really nice dapple grey. A good reference to combine with the one above to get the face colour correct

Fifteenth is the pose on this foal, this would make an amazing resculpt

And finally we have this really cute mare and foal pair. There are a few resin mare and foal sets that I think would suit this well

Are you going to have a go at attempting any of these pieces? Let me know if you are! I'd love to see what you create

Ten Inspirational Quotes that Model Horse Hobbyists Should *maybe* Follow

 Do I spend too much on Inspirobot making stupid inspirational quotes? Definitely. Am I going to share these with you and pretend it makes any sense? Of course. Should I just use AI to write pointless blog posts instead of this none stop endless mad ravings that I subject you to? Probably.

1. Try to ask about prejudice

Go on. Do it. Go onto ModelHolics and ask about prejudice. I dare you.

2. Rule 8: Always let democracy get in the way of your thoughts

Like a model? Want to paint a horse a particular colour? DON'T DO IT! You should only go with what other people like and definitely should not have your own tastes and personality

3. Manipulate the working class

Got lots of prepping to do and can't be bothered? Need to pack for your next show? Make the working class do it!

4. Every time you fight success, you also fight souls

Just to be clear to be a successful artist in this hobby you actually need at least 12 souls. I don't make the rules, I just share them.

5. Make up new facts and kick ass and chew bubblegum

Got a model in a particular colour that doesn't suit the conformation of the breed the mould is sculpted after? Easy solve! Just lie on your breed reference, at the end of the day, none of this is real.

6. Kindness is to transcend the untranscendable

Did you know that it is actually impossible for this hobby not to have drama for a single day? Like literally IMPOSSIBLE. I think the world ends or something.

7. One way to define personal growth is goofing around to prove a point

Why does this actually make sense? If you want to improve you just need to mess around until you find something that works. Have fun. Make a point. Make something new. I dunno, just do something.

8. Scented candles are the parasites of sadness

It is actually a fact that if you are sad you can make yourself happy by covering a Breyer in essential oils and setting it on fire. You could also die, but like you can't be sad if you're dead right?

Disclaimer: Please don't actually do this and sue me, if you do you're an idiot and it's your own fault.

9. An apology is in many ways an opportunity reborn

Did you know if you scam people in this hobby you can just create a new Facebook account, pretend you're someone else and get away with doing it again?

10. Inspiration concerns all of us

We are all concerned about what you are doing. Why are you doing that? Why are you sticking a capybara on the back of an Arab? Like why? What are you doing?