Not today!

Today was supposed to be the first day of registration for NaMoPaiMo 2026.

Unfortunately, we've run into some technical issues with the website so it's going to be another day or two.

While we're waiting, here's a fun check list of NaMo related tasks for January.

Something that's not on the list but should be is taking a photo of your unpainted model. This is required for registration. 

Of course, the preference is for a picture of the model and its painter. 

NaMoPaiMo is all about community, and these pictures are an important community building exercise.

That said, we understand that some people are extremely camera shy. If that's you, it's okay to use a photo of just the model.

Either way, try to use a standard photo format and please remember to crop your pictures!

Anyway, that's the scoop. Go forth, prep, prime and photograph your horses. We'll be sure to let you know when registration is open!

Riding someone else's horse

My work friend, Marion, has two horses, a young Friesian cross named Teeno...

and an older, semi-retired Haflinger called Violet.

For the last couple months, she's been sharing the Haflinger with another co-worker, who is currently horseless. I have been a teeny bit jealous - because Haflinger! - but also, I have my own horse. It's all good.

On Saturday, I worked a shift with Marion. She told me Sue was really busy and couldn't ride with her anymore. I saw an opening and went for it. One thing led to another, and this morning I drove to Franktown to go on a ride with Marion and her horses.

We saddled up and headed out... on foot.

We squeezed through a gate that was mostly blocked by a downed tree. Then we used that same tree as a mounting block, and the ride began in earnest.

Our path took us through trees...

and meadows.

We went up...

and down hills,

saw several deer...

and were treated to several magnificent mountain views.

It was just the right amount of cold...

and I can not say enough good things about dear, little Violet.

This was a perfect ride. I did not want it to end.

But alas, end it did.

And then both Marion and I changed out of our stinky boots, drove to Parker and went to work!

Riding my horse

Today is my birthday. Seth asked me how I wanted to spend the day, and I told him, "I want to ride my horse."

I sat on Sage for the first time in November, and I've been on her a handful of times since then. She's been consistently good, but it turns out that starting your first baby at the age of fifty six fifty seven is kind of scary. Progress is slow.

Today, I recruited some help.

With Allie at the other end of the lead rope, Sage and I worked on stopping, starting and steering. 

We're getting there!

After my "ride", Allie got on her baby, Stingray, and we went for a trail ride/walk.

Do you see those horses passing behind us? Sage certainly does.

This was a really good horse day.

Thank you, Allie.

Thank you, Sage.

Here's looking forward to a year filled with rides, both big and small, and hopefully some without lead ropes attached.

Prepuary

I always tell people the best way to have a successful NaMoPaiMo is to start February with a fully prepped and primed model.

Sometimes I even follow my own advice.

Sometimes, but not usually.

More often than not, my model is this close to being done, but not actually done.

Heh.

This year my model was ready to paint before January 1. A miracle.

My side project is also prepped. He's been done for more than a week.

You would think that's more than enough prepping, but then I thought maybe I would join Tegan Davis' liver chestnut pastel workshop. After all, I have the perfect pony for it. She just needed to be stripped.

The stripping itself went well.

However, she's an older Eberl so I was sad but not super surprised to find a big mess under what was, in retrospect, a suspiciously thick coat of primer.

The road goes on forever and the prepping never ends.

So anyway, I'm spending the second half of January the way I always spend the second half of January: Prepping a model horse.

Benny Rocha

I can't specifically remember the first time I met my friend, Fabian, but I'm sure of this: It was at a model horse show, he was a teenager and his father, Benny, was sitting right there next to him.

Benny was not a horse person, but he was absolutely a vital part of the Colorado hobby group. 

Springamathing 2016

He was a big hearted, friendly person - the kind of man who never met a stranger - and so obviously proud of his only son.

BreyerWest 2020

Last month, Benny fell down the stairs and suffered a fractured skull and brain injury, from which he ultimately did not recover. Today, he was laid to rest with a funeral mass at the the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver.

The model horse hobby was represented by myself, Angelo Žunić, Karen and Paul Gerhardt, Teresa Fedak, Vicky Kitzman and Dana D'Ippolito.

The ceremony was beautiful, but the occasion was so sad.

photo by Fabian Rodriguez

My heart aches for Fabian who has experienced so much loss in such a short period of time.

Rest easy, Benny. It was a privilege to have known you.