"Horse painting ideas from real horses - not a demo!" Topic

Not many of us get to see real cavalry these days so here is a clip for painters showing some great close ups of the differences between individual mounts even when they have been chosen to be a common colour.

Lots of horses too!

Thought it made a change from all those 'how to do it' guides!

YouTube link

Great video – lots of good angles. Nice job, thanks for posting.

You can see dozens of them in action at the Gettysburg Memorial Day Event in November in Gettysburg. Or, go to the Sussex Country Farm and Horse Show in Branchville for the equestrian and jumping events.

Want to see them in action in teams go to the same Sussex County Farm and Horse show for the "driving" events and the competitions. They truck out the Annheuser Busch draft horses every year as a promo. I am presently making up the siege gun hauling teams for the Princess' army from that.

Otto

Thanks – very useful.
I wonder how many countries still have mounted units for ceremonial purposes?

Quite a few, even in this limited survey:-

link

To that list, you can add Belgium, Japan, Morocco, and a number of other Far East and Arab countries also have them, especially the Indian and Pakistan armies which have mounted units that continue the traditions of some of the old Raj regiments.

Here's some footage of the Garde Republicaine recreating a charge; probably not exactly as it was done in the 1800s, but a close replication:-

YouTube link

Notice how quickly – and easily – the formation breaks up even on a flat piece of terrain (I think this was filmed on a race-course).

I have an old copy of a horse magazine I picked up years ago that I use. It has nice color photos of a ton of different horses in a for sale section at the back. Excellent reference. You should be able to find one at the local Barnes & Noble.

I was impressed for most part they had all the chest nuts together then all the bays. with so many differences in fetlocks and nose markings it really gives an artistic feel to painting horses.

And then there are horses and horses, types and origins. Monting Mongols on quater horses will not do.

That was very interesting, thanks! I always wonder about the white "socks" on horses and if I'm doing them right. I think I saw just about every combination in this clip – all four feet, 3 feet, rear feet, front feet, one of each, just one, none!
Three perhaps seemed the most common.

When I paint horses, I look at photos of real horses too …

I vaguely recall reading somewhere back in the mists of time that the French cavalry of the period considered four socks to be unlucky. Can anybody shed any light on this?

I'm lucky enough to finally be able to have my own mount and I am at the stables most days. It's certainly changed my approach to painting horses

This video was very helpful. There is not as much variation in color as I previously imagined. For future painting of cavalry units, I will paint horses mostly in one shade of brown, and then paint just a few horses with slightly darker shades of brown. Like Janner, this video changed my approach to painting horses, too. Thanks for posting!

One white foot, buy a horse
Two white feet, try a horse
Three white feet, look well about them
Four white feet, do well without 'em.

An addition to the ceremonial units would have to be the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in the UK. Any colour horse you like as long as its Black. (OK a few greys and two black & white drumhorses in the mounted band)

However, the Garde Republicaine must be the biggest outfit with 550 horses on strength. I assume that includes their band as well but it must still take some looking after!

When I want examples of a horse, I just look out the window. The cost of toy soldiers is nothing compared to those critters.

Yes, they have all combinations of white socks. 3 legs is the most common.

One white foot, buy a horse
Two white feet, try a horse
Three white feet, look well about them
Four white feet, do well without 'em.

Thanks, HH.

My quick and dirty way to improve the look of my horses………

White paint: do the blaze on the snoz and the stockings on the lowest legs

Black paint: do the hoofs, some stockings, hit the ears and dry brush the tail and mane a little darker

Flesh paint: a small smack on the nose and then rub most of it off.

I know this violates the genetic combinations for horse coloration to a degree but it is quick and at a three foot range it improves uninspired paint jobs a great deal.

Thanks for posting. Lots of other great related clips showed up as well. Especially like how the burglars called out the advance, trot then gallop, even if it was dubbed over.

@billsfan: Thanks for the suggestions, I have a large number of Bengal Lancers (and Guides) to paint for my Colonials. Screwed up, should have bought them in smaller bites.