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- *Pricing varies depending on the installation rod selected, any design modifications, and the options chosen.
This Piaffe Horse, Dressage Weathervane was created as a portrait weather vane. As pictured above it is a copper sculpture piece. Though there are elements that can be emphasized with gilding this design holds its own in the one metal, and will weather beautifully over time. Depending upon the climate it resides in, it will become and remain a beautiful chestnut tone for many years. At the seashore the greens of copper patina will advance a bit more quickly.
After receiving the photo of our customer’s horse, we worked up a drawing for the approval. The end result is the finished weather vane shown here. Because we make each weathervane sculpture piece to individual order, she also requested that we make her horse male.
We have also fabricated a more standard version of this Piaffe design in small size (one-foot sculpture piece). For this the horse was in copper and the mane and tail in brass. Brass, which is primarily composed of copper, patinas similarly to copper but will show a subtle variation in color over time. While brass and gold leaf look similar when a weather vane is new, the gold leaf remains shiny and golden over time and the distinction between the gold leaf and the brass becomes more pronounced.
The decision to go all copper, copper and brass, or copper with optional gold leaf depends on how prominent you want the piece to appear in its setting.
The Piaffe is a dressage movement where the horse is in a highly collected and cadenced trot, in place or nearly in place. The center of gravity of the horse should be more towards the hind end, with the hindquarters slightly lowered and great bending of the joints in the hind legs. The front end of the horse is highly mobile, free, and light, with great flexion in the joints of the front legs, and the horse remains light in the hand. The Piaffe was originally used in battle to keep the horse focused, warm, and moving, ready to move forward into battle. In modern times the Piaffe is mostly taught as an upper level movement in Classical dressage and as a Grand Prix level movement. Additionally, it is needed to develop the levade and from that the airs above the ground.