[Ashbys]

Lynn ,

Great article . Doing mounted re-enacting I can relate to a lot of what he spoke about. There is always something that needs done in a cav camp. And picket duty seems to bring out the best in people at 3 am .

They destroyed horses , just broke them down, some died just from marches. The stories of the war are really something to read especially letter such. Amazing any of them lived.

Ash

[Ashbys]

Kathy ,

Thanks , it is still a long way from being colse to finished but I spent some time today , and thought you might like to see where it is at.

Ash

[Mottles]

Ash, that 4th image really shows the rider and horse beautifully. You really are doing such a super job on this carving. Thank you, for the update.
Kathy

[Irish]

Looking great ... but is it time to commit to doing something with that excess wood behind the horse's body and how you intend to get this to sit on a table without the clamps ????

Susan

[Ashbys]

Thanks Kathy .

Susan ,
No it isn't .

Ash

[Irish]

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Me

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Just got my new Western Horseman magazine with a short article on this school. Thought you might find it interesting . U.S. Cavalry School: Home

[Ashbys]

Susan,

I want to finished the form on the hind quarters of the horse, before I move to the backing, If you noticed I have move around the front right foreleg , this gives the center for the back right leg. And allows me to work the underbelly of the horse. If I free the cape area , it will make the area thin and I need to keep that section intact for the time being.

Part 2 of the carving is almost ready to start, I have the blocks cut and hopefully I will get them glued up tonight. I think you will enjoy what I came up with .

Ash

Lynn,
I spent 10 years doing civil war re-enacting . 8 years doing mounted cavalry, Started as a private , ended as Lt. Col. I was gone in the summer almost every weekend from April (Saliors Creek) to Oct ( Cedar Creek). I enjoyed the time and the brothers I made, men I will never forget. There is a part of me that will always want to return, but it truly is a younger mans adventure. The life term of a average man in 1860 was 43 years. Robert E. Lee was old master Robert at 52. Thanks for the link . But I will never return to it.

Ash

[Ashbys]

Just an update , and to show part of what I decided to do.

To get the support needed to keep the horse and rider from breaking the legs of the horse, I really did not want to go to the option of opening the horse, or drilling the horse , so this is my answer.

I am making a base floor of Spanish Cedar attached to that will be 3 pieces of spalted maple to acheive the colors of the mountian background. The Spanish cedar will be cut to form the rock ledge behind the horse. The two background pieces will have low relief carvings for the mountian ranges and the movement of the men. Passing through the back panel of the background will be two optical acryillic 3/4 inch tubes that will attach the rider 8 inches from the background, and give the support to protect the legs from breaking. These tubes will be epoxied into place and then cut from the back side.

A wedge cut of spalted maple will act as the ground of the hillside , to this wedge parts of it will be carved and parts will be added , I intend to use WVa gold ( coal ) to give high contrast to the rock ledge which I will inbed under the carved rock to highlight the shadows. There will not be a lot but it should hightlight the rocks.

Anyway this is what I have in mind.

Ash

[Merle Rice]

Hi Ash, Sounds like you have a plan. Don't you Love it when your Plan comes together. lol. It sure is going to be one fine piece of ART. Looking forward in seeing it finished. Merle