Dear Friends,

Well, Worth the Wait is finally done. She was a very large run, and it took almost exactly two years. There were few variations in the run, except of course for the white markings, which were all individually masked and varied quite a bit. The general idea was to have a large white marking on the face, a body spot on each side, the down foreleg white in the front area, and the back hind leg white. Some horses received other white spots on the body; some had no white front leg, etc. All had the two body spots and white face.

The Tarpans are continuing, and I am not yet halfway through. However, after the holidays I expect to ship a large amount, and finish by spring. That gives me time to prepare for the next thumb-size horse. So, if you are expecting a Tarpan, sit tight! Your little Nomad will be coming to you before the spring.

For those of you just joining us, you may not know that I generally like to produce a large horse and a mini (what we call a thumb-size) at the same time. Why? It relieves the tedium of making three hundred horses that are all the same. It also allows me to pack the kiln more full, so that the loads are better distributed and the electricity is not wasted. Also, some people can only afford the smaller horses. The smaller horses allow for testing colors and clay, which is costly on bigger bodies. So, even though the Tarpans are not done yet, I am proud to announce...... (drum roll please)

Red Okie Clay!

This model is by the highly regarded Carol Williams, whose work is both meticulous and accurate. Carol, best known as the sculptor of the Ideal Stock Horse currently being produced by the Stone Co., has been a mainstay in the hobby for many years. She owns Rio Rondo, where the finest tack and tack making supplies in the hobby can be purchased. Carol is a professional, and I am both proud and honored to be working with her to produce Red Okie Clay.

Red Okie Clay is the 'Okie Rio' model, a weanling Quarter horse colt. He, and his sibling Parr's Dream Doll, were produced in resin. Carol has now re-sculpted both of the weanlings, and new versions are out in resin. Our ceramic Red Okie Clay is the first version, and he is very well suited to the medium of ceramic.

Our original finish version will be painted with a beautiful appaloosa blanket, designed by Lesli Kathman. Lesli is an authority on horse genetics, and is well known for her accurate and precise paint work, as well as pencil work in two and three dimensions. Lesli's father is cutting the masks for the pattern, so that they will all be the same. This is very cutting-edge technology, and makes for a wonderful, intricate appaloosa. As you can see, he also has lightning marks on his hind legs. Small variations in the blanket placement, flash placement, and a few additional spots outside the blanket, will occur.

Red Okie Clay will also have striped hooves and eye whites. He is a nice red chestnut, and the model has lots of lovely detail. 'Clay" is the largest original finish Pour Horse to date (not counting of course the Lucas Studio Orson, et al.) at slightly under 8" tall. (As this letter is being written, the first Clays are not out of the firing yet, so the shrinkage is not known.) He will require a large box, and will be more costly to ship. The price for an original finish glazed appaloosa Red Okie Clay is $220.00. That includes shipping in a custom foam box. The price also includes any sales tax, and as usual overseas customers do not pay extra for shipping. The price for a white bisque Red Okie Clay, shipped in box, is $150.00. You may order one glazed piece, and one bisque, if you like, but you cannot have more than one of each. For those of you unfamiliar with ceramic, the bisque pieces are meant to be glazed. They can be kept white, of course, and some collectors like to have them in their collections. However, they don't have any finish on them and are somewhat vulnerable to dirt and stains.

HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART: You can only mail your order in, on or after January 2nd. Your order must be postmarked BETWEEN January 2nd and April 2nd, 2001. So don't rush to the mailbox today! This is to allow the customers across the country the time to receive this mailing and prepare their orders. If you like, you can send your order in Next Day, or whatever, but it must be postmarked ON or AFTER January 2nd If you have questions, call me, but remember you cannot order over the phone. Only by mail, only on the order form, and only on or after January 2nd. Whew! As always, orders received later in the time frame will take a LOT longer to be made. I fully expect Clay to take two years, so be warned. It you wish to send only a deposit, you may certainly do so, and of course credit card orders are not charged until it is you turn to have your horse made. I am asking for a twenty dollar deposit, you may send more of course, and if you like to make time payments you can just send in whatever you like, whenever. However, the horse doesn't leave the factory until it is paid for, I will notify you when you horse is coming up, and you may pay the balance then. Any questions, you can call me.

Custom glazed colors will be available on Clay, for $400 to $600, depending upon color. You can just write me a note on your order form if you are interested, and I will contact you when it is your turn. I don't do an unlimited number, so if a lot of orders come in, only the early ones may be filled. Please don't send money, just let me know on the form.

Ail of the T-shirt, resin and pin orders have been filled. If you did not receive a T-shirt, resin or pin, please notify me in writing. We are not printing T-shirts or making resins right now. Craig has a new job, and doesn't have time to do T-shirts currently. We are discontinuing our resin line, and allowing the artist to retain resin rights on the horses. The artist can produce the resins, or sell the copyrights to someone else. And I don't need to keep track of all the resin orders! We will make more pins available later, as Addi Velasquez has sculpted us two darling shaggy ponies. However, right now with Clay and Nomad, as well as the Artist Custom ceramics, that's all the factory can handle.

Artist Customs are short runs of custom glazed models from hobby artists. Currently I have contracted with Lynn Fraley, Lesli Kathman, Sarah Minkiewicz, and Chris Jolly. Other horses are also in the works but molds are not made on them yet. Basically, the artist supplies the sculpture, I make the mold and castings, and we each get ten horses. The artist can sell or keep theirs, and I can sell or keep mine. They are all customs, and are NOT considered Pour Horses. They are contracted work. So far they have received a great deal of attention, and the auction prices have been very gratifying! Sarah M. and I are doing the only original finish run together, and they are also NOT Pour Horses. The copyright belongs to Sarah, not me. She is paying me to produce them, and she has total control over their sale and distribution. The horse is called "Excalibur". Please contact Sarah Minkiewicz, or look on her web site, for details. If you are interested in seeing the Artist Custom horses that I am selling, please send five large SASE's and you will receive pictures when they are ready. I will be selling mine in a one-bid, mail only auction. I expect to sell Lynn Fraley's "Genie" in January, Lesli Kathman's "Loki" in February, etc. I will have about six of each up for sale.

If you are an enthusiastic collector of ceramic horses, there is a fantastic live show that you may wish to consider! It is Bring Out Your Chinas, an all china show, and it will be held on March 3rd, 2001, in Arcadia, California. For information, please contact Addi Velasquez, 419 Santa Cruz Rd, Arcadia, CA 91007. Send a large SASE for the show packet. This show has everything for the ceramic horse collector! It is divided into American, European, Japan and Other, and Custom Glaze divisions, and she gives out tons of awards, including special donations for challenge classes. Some of the neatest horses I have ever seen were here last year. The nicest part is that everyone is a ceramic collector, so they are careful and interested.

My thanks to Cynthia Gardner and Liz Holm for their work on this issue of Pour Horse Patter. Cynthia has done her usual sterling job, as well as putting up an extensive web site for Pour Horse. Visit us at http://www.pourhorse.com. You will find a lot more than you expect! Liz Holm wrote the articles for this Patter and she has done extensive research. Liz also holds a Pour Horse/Lucas Studio photo show, which is coming up soon. The photo show is really great, with lots of awards and great results that include photo highlights! Contact Liz Holm at 6612 Lockhaven Lane NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87111. But hurry!

Amy Peck held a super photo show for Pour Horse/Lucas Studio in October. Those who entered received a little surprise! Amy's photo show was a great success, and she plans to do another in the fall, I think. Thank you, Amy! Hope the work was worth it!

Seasons Greetings, Happy New Year, and my love to all of you.

Toast with me: "Here's to mud!"