I have a foal in my freezer, was a very special colt to me and thought about having him freeze dried but no one has a big enough dryer and charges a reasonable price so I have decided I would like to try and mount him myself. I need alot of help though. He was 5 days old when he died but still a good sized colt. Does any one know of any one other than Van Dykes or Jonas that sells a foal form? Other wise I will have to try and make my own. Any tips from any one that has done this would be great. Should I use the rug cut? How do you handle the hooves? Any tips on carcass casting it? What should I do with the genitals? Remove them and sculpt with epoxy sculpt? Or cast them and put them on? Who is the best tannery to send something like this out to? Any one know the price? Any help what so ever would be great.
Return to Beginners Category Menu
if this is going to be your first attempt at taxidermy you will do a great disservice to taxidermy and the colt trying to mount it yourself. Save up the money and have it done right or bury the poor thing.
I've mounted quite a few animals but havn't yet attempted something like this. I've done quite a few deer birds and fish so I know what I'm doing. Just wondering if some one might have some helpfull info.
Forst of all, read read read!
There is alot of stuff in archives about the questions you have asked. I would dorsal cut the colt, for less stitching. If you want to get a form, but cant find the right size, i would read about form altering.
A good tannery is wildlife gallery
http://thewildlifegallery.com/
They have a reasonable turn around time, reasonable prices and good quality tanning. Only thing is, you need to salt dry the colt.
Again, read read read. learn all you can about salt drying before attempting it, until then, keep your colt in the freezer, well packed.
take all the measurements you can, dorsal incision, save carcass, to make your own carcass cast read on that use a big sand box and plaster, then pour foam, then use clay to fill in any depressions before you mount the skin. just treat it like any animal like a lifesize whitetail deer. if you want the privates on him just skin out and fill in with clay otherwise just cut around it.
I'm not trying to hurt your feelings or confidence but if this is your first attempt at a horse I wouldnt use the foal. When you get the finished product you will probaly be sick and throw it out. I'm not an expert and I know my boundaries and what I can accomplish based on my experience and skill level. You should really consider this before you mount that poor thing. I had a horse die last week of west nile and have three others with it that will probaly die and I wouldnt even consider mounting one of them or having it done but thats just me.
At the very least, practice carcass casting on something less "special" before trying your foal.
Big Stein, sorry to hear about your horses. I have 2, an appaloosa and a miniature, I don't think I could ever mount them. BP
I wan't planning on just diving in, I was going to practice the carcass casting because I really don't know much about it. And Gina I don't want to sound like a smart a$$ but I know how to salt dry a hide and I did read everything that was in the archives and believe me there wasn't much. I'm not neccesarily a beginner but certainly not the best in the world and I usually do my own tanning but something like this I thought would be better to send out. Stein, I'm real sorry to hear about your horses, the shots are cheap to prevent the west nile virus. Still never easy to say good bye to your buddys. I have never thought of mounting a horse either but like I said this guy was real special and he was just to pretty to turn into worm dirt. There's alot of meaning and feeling behind this colt and I'm hoping this will help me cope with what happend to him. I'm not over estimating my skills, I'm not going to do anything until I'm sure that with out a doubt this is going to turn out right. I have some fox and white tail fawns I want to try carcass casting on what not so hopefully I'll learn from that. Any tips on the hooves and genitals would be great though, I won't be able to cut through the genitals, I don't think I could hide the stitching and the skin is very thin and with all the folds and what have you I was thinking casting or apoxy sculpt might be a better answer. Thanks for the tips so far and please keep them coming!
Mount the small female foal with the tail down, so that it covers the area. Not many people want to look at the genitals, especially those of a "first mount" type specimen foal. Genital problem solved with tail down.
If it is a male foal, there shouldn't be 'wrinkles' unless you are looking at it's anus; again people don't really want to "see" that part, especially if it's mounted up in a commercial or 'average' fashion.
Horse hide is thin furred but it used to be used for fur jackets - unless this is a true stillborn, careful sewing will be very effective in hiding seams. Use whatever cut you want; let the pose dictate the incisions.