[Cross-posted on PonyIsland - if you see this posted anywhere besides the Arena, MLPTP, or PI, it's been stolen.]
I haven't attempted customizing since I was twelve, when ponies were my main 'fandom', for lack of a better word. Anyways, after seeing some amazing customs on here my inspiration was re-kindled and I decided to give it another shot. She isn't complete yet, but I don't think she's turning out too badly.
Anyways, this is a custom of the Last Unicorn, originally a G1 Bride pony, sculpted in various mixtures of Sculpey III and Premo! Sculpey. She'll eventually have some Amaco air-dry on her as well, I bought some the other day and love it so far.
Ears were sliced off and new ones were formed over a wire base; wires were poked into her backside and forehead, and covered with clay to form her tail and horn. I also sculpted over her eyes as I don't feel the original MLP look suits the character, and I also added clay around her mouth to form more of a natural frown. Still needs a longer mane and foot feathering, but since oven-bake clay dries out (and cracks) if it isn't baked within three days I had no choice but to bake her.
I know, the pictures are horrible but I haven't yet learned how to photograph something white without it glaring back.
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After spending all week riding him, I purchased my first horse yesterday.   His name is Gus; he's a registered sorrel quarter horse gelding somewhere between the ages of twelve and fifteen - I won't know his actual age until I receive the papers, which are owned by a previous owner. Some friends of ours - his owners - brought him over on Sunday. I first rode him on on Tuesday, his owners, their horses and I went riding through the back of our property and up into the BLM hills for about four hours. By Thursday morning, he'd already caught onto my morning routine and stood by the paddock gate, waiting for me to let my fowl out and come visit. He's a remarkably calm and intelligent boy, he loves to work cattle. I can ride him with a saddle or bareback, and even throw ropes off him. I purchased both him and his tack, and once he gets over his upset about his other friends being taken back to their home, I'll start riding him again.
(Just to let you know,his halter is ONLY put on when I'm walking or riding him. Otherwise, it's off.)
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Anyways, while his previous owners gave me some basic information on caring for him, I'd like to do my own reading and learn more about horses. What are some good books or websites for horse care? I'm looking for resources with accurate, proven information for beginning horse owners - preferred diets, what not to feed him, etc. Any help is greatly appreciated.

blaaahhh

I'm curious to know anyone here has done or does dance, or is planning on taking classes in the future. Share your stories!

I took ballet for a little over ten years, and lyrical/modern for about eight. Participated in shows twice a year, usually in one or more dances. There aren't any dance studios in or near my town, so I'm no longer affiliated with a studio but I practice at home.

Due to growing pains and other problems, I never managed to get on pointe but I do have a pair of pre-pointe training shows I still use to strengthen my ankles. Maybe someday I will. </3 Dance is gradually becoming popular here, which is great. Idaho is a bit behind the rest of the states.

When my parents arrived from shopping yesterday, they told me to go out the truck and pick up some groceries in the front seat. So I walked outside, opened the front door, and noticed two lunchbox-like crates. They resembled the ones handed out by delis, so I thought my parents had picked up something for dinner.

Then one of the lunchboxes peeped. A tiny head peered at me through a small window cut in the side of the box. We've got baby chicks!

I've been raising chickens for eight years and this is my seventh batch of chicks, but I still can't get over how adorable they are whenever I see them.
There's fifteen of assorted breeds, all straight-run. (Meaning they haven't been identified as hens or roosters.)

Sadly I don't think the little tiny one with the white patch on it's head is going to make it. My mother told me it appeared to be perfectly fine in the feed store, but late last night it started exhibiting signs of nerve damage. Often handling chicks within the first 78 hours (three days) of their life can cause nerve damage, and since we didn't touch them aside from placing them in their 'brooder', it's safe to assume that it was hurt by a customer at the store. That's a frequent problem for feed stores, people don't seem to understand that Don't Touch means exactly what it says.  I also noticed while examining said chick that it is blind in it's right eye. Not sure where that came from, it may have had that as an embryo.

[Update 3/8/14]
Good news, the little chick appears to be recovering! Last night we thought we were going to lose her for sure - her symptoms were similar to that of nerve damage and I assumed that was what was wrong with her. After a closer look I realized her bottom was plugged - a common problem with young chicks - so we cleaned her up. I think that was part of her problem, because since this morning she has not only shown interest in food and water, but is beginning to eat and drink on her own. The other part of her problem, I think, is that all of the larger chicks accidentally knock her over or push her away from the water and feeder. (This was happening to her and other small chicks at the feed store, too.)

At this point, she acted more ill and weak than disabled, which is a lot better than what I was thinking. She can't swallow the chick crumbles yet, so I've had to supply her with a warm mash fed to her either on my fingertip or from a bottlecap. Her feathers had begun to grow in, which is a positive sign that she may make it. Keep fingers crossed.

Anyways, here are the pictures.

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Second from left has been dubbed Chickzilla. I don't know what it is, but it's the largest and fluffiest chick I've ever seen.

So, there are my latest additions to my feather family. I'll hopefully be hatching some of my own later in the year, too.

Alright, let's try this again. I created this post earlier, accidentally clicked a tab on my browser bar, and ended up losing the entire list. |D

Anyways, I'm thinning out my collection for what is hopefully the last time and am looking for price checks. As most of these were my childhood ponies, they're all in gently played-with condition unless otherwise noted. Ponies with some of their original accessories are marked with a *, while ponies with backcards have a ^ next to them. Ponies with both of these have *^; and I've described any major flaws in parentheses.

G1 ponies:
Sundance
Beautybloom
Cherries Jubilee x 3 (various light marker stains)
Baby Shaggy (body is slightly squishy)
Stardancer
Windy
Moonstone (silver part of symbols nearly gone)
ZigZag the Zebra
Edgar the Elephant (small marker stain on hind leg)
TE Whizzer (hair cut slightly)
UK Baby Mischief
UK Snowflake (a few plugs cut)
Wind Drifter (no wings)
UK Baby Alphabet
SS Hippity-Hop (minor flocking wear)
Baby Snippy
BBE Tiddly-Winks (minor eye and tail rust)
SS North Star (few plugs cut)
Goldilocks
SS Fifi (minor flocking wear)
Sprinkles (bottom of feet painted to hide discoloration, it seems)
SS Angel (dirty flocking)
SS Ribbon (flock wear)
SS Wind Whistler (Flock wear)
SS Shady^*
UK Princess Sparkle (missing saddle; batteries leaked at one point but she's been cleaned and still works)
TE Galaxy (hair slightly rough and a few plugs have been cut)
Cocoberry - hair is still pink and she has her factory scent
Sherbet (lost factory scent)
Banana Surprise (lost factory scent)

G2 ponies:
MM Ivy (missing eye crystals)

G3 ponies:
Lily Lightly
Toola Roola
Sweetberry
Moondancer
Gem Blossom
Rainbow Swirl
Bunches-O-Fun
Desert Blossom
Dream Drifter (Initials on bottom of hoof)
Island Delight
Merriweather
Summer Berry
Pretty Parasol
Periwinkle
Cinnamon Breeze
Wind Drifter
Twirly Twinkle Twirl* (hair is frizzed)
Soda Float^*
Comic Con '09 (superhero)* (missing a couple hair plugs)
'Henna' Toola-Roola *^
Alphabittle^
Midnight Dream*^
Rhapsody Ribbons*^
Easter Toola Roola*^
Easter Cheerilee*^
'07 Tropical Surprise*^
Swirlypop*^
'07 Rainbow Dash ^*
Scootaloo *^
Seaside Celebration Skywishes*
TAF Holiday Minty^
'07 Wysteria^*
Lavender Lake
Halloween Star Song^*
Halloween Scootaloo^* - minor staining from flower headpiece on head
Starbeam
Rain or Shine Starswirl*
Fizzypop*
'07 Valentines' Day Pinkie Pie^
Summer Bloom
Flippity Flop
Rainbow Flash and Romperooni* (both have horribly frizzy hair)


G4 ponies:
(Both are from the first wave)
Twilight Sparkle^*
Fluttershy^*

Playsets:
Garden Stand with Fancy Flora and Sunshine Blossom ^* - complete set
Wishing Well with Crystal Crown* - complete set
Cotton Candy Cafe with Cotton Candy* - nearly complete set, missing one or two of the cardboard pieces.
Celebration Salon with Amberlocks* - missing bar on inside of building
RC Scootaloo* - still works; complete set
Frilly Frocks Boutique - missing door
Petal Parlor with Daffadaisy and Zipzee* - complete set
Celebration Castle with box* - still plays music and lights
Crystal Carriage with Pretty Parasol* - complete set
Breezie Train #1* - complete set
Breezie Train #2* - complete set
G3 Spring Basket with Lavender Cloud, Spring Carnivale, Berries 'N' Cherries (Berries' has had her head removed to put her tail back in at one point)^* - nearly complete set, only missing the pink bracelet
Baby Cuddles' Carriage with Baby Cuddles*
G1 Petite Ponies Happy Hearts cottage with Puddles* - roof may be missing a plastic prong in hinge
G1 Petite Ponies Pony Prints Cabin with aqua/magenta Petite with rubbed beach-ball symbol*

Other:
Fakie 'Minty' bank; missing cap underneath
Bag full of G3 McDonalds' ponies and several brushes/accessories.
Mattel Pretty Kitty - Zizi (has frizzy hair)
Mattel Pretty Kitty - Catra (nails no longer change color)
I think that's it, but I'm sure there's a few I've forgotten.

Well, since there is a least favorite animals thread I felt I had to counter it.

As the title states, what are your favorite animals?

Mine are cats, chickens, sheep, and birds in general, especially owls. We've had a few of those in our barn, including a pair of barn owls who were so tame I named them Soren and Hedwig. Hedwig was a bit flighty, but Soren never did anything more than open an eye if I pulled a straw bale down from the loft.

Edit; oh, I love red pandas and penguins, too. <3

My mom sent this to me, and it was too funny not to share.
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