I find commissions quite tricky, but when my daughter Jess asked if I would “Twist” a wedding present for our friend and fellow horsey girl, Matilda and fiancé Rhys, I was happy to give it a go. 

Matilda and Jess have ridden together since they were both small girls. Many happy hours have been spent on horse back, caring for their horses, mucking around at the yard and being generally silly! Matilda now runs her own livery yard in Cheshire and competes regularly at events. Jess is an equine vet. It was therefore obvious, the present Jess wanted me to sculpt was a horses head.

I knew this would quite literally, be no small task. Thankfully Jess had given me  enough notice.  I also had a good idea of where to start as my first  “Twist”, back in 2019, based our horse Supernova Star, AKA Mattie was a horses head. I began and the piece started to take shape. 

I’ve recently being experimenting with a higher gauge, brighter wire. It’s tough on my hands and harder to manipulate but I like the result. To compliment this, I used a more silvery wire to make the many metres of individual pins, which when applied, make up the mane and forelock.  

Next to the base. My usual sources were not forthcoming, but by chance a neighbour mentioned that they had a large piece of oak in their garden which might be suitable.  It was just what I was looking for and once rubbed down and oiled it certainly fits the bill! 

Little Moon Dancer was complete!  

Why Little Moon Dancer? Matilda called a recent foal  she  bred, Little Dorrit, a reference to the support she received when just starting out. Moon,  a reference to her first yard, Hunters Moon, where she and Rhys started out on their adventure. Finally Dancer, well why not!  Or maybe a nod to Matilda’s dressage scores! 

I wish Matilda and Rhys huge congratulations on their wedding day , may they have many, many happy years together filled with love and laughter. I also hope Little Moon Dancer will grace a very successful livery yard for many years to come.

XXX