For many horse enthusiasts, Ocala, Florida is considered the horse capital of the world. Roughly 30 miles North of Ocala lies the town of Micanopy, FL, population 600. Micanopy is no stranger when it comes to horses either. Horse farms, boarding, riding lessons, and the Horse Protection Association of Florida can be found in and around Micanopy, FL. Local resident and horse enthusiast, Norman Elder has made a career in the fabrication industry, and to this day considers fabrication to be one of his favorite hobbies. Though he never truly considered himself an artist, many would disagree after feasting their eyes on his most recent masterpiece; a life size horse sculpture.

The inspiration for the sculpture is Trobador, an 18 year old Paso Fino horse, which is the pride and joy of his wife, Virginia. It’s true as the saying goes, you cannot rush perfection. From start to finish, Mr. Elder spent 5 years and just over 1,000 man hours to complete his horse sculpture. Prior to fabrication, Mr. Elder took a picture of Trobador, one in which he felt exemplified the beauty and spirit of the Paso Fino breed. The picture was loaded into his CAD software system and enlarged to full scale. He then printed the full scale model on 8-1/2” x 11” copy paper, glued each piece of paper to a piece of plywood, and alas, his horse model came to life. The entire body of the horse was fabricated using horseshoes that were donated by local farriers. Every time a horse was given new shoes, the farriers would throw the old shoes in a bucket, and then donate a bucket full at a time. The mane and tail sections of the horse were fabricated using ¼-inch steel rod which enhanced the natural lifelike look of the sculpture. 

The decision to hot-dip galvanize the horse sculpture was an easy one. The Florida climate can wreak havoc on a steel structure. With heavy summer rains and year round humidity, a hot-dip galvanized coating offers superior corrosion protection. Not only was the initial cost to hot-dip galvanize a cheaper alternative to an inferior paint coating, it will also provide decades of maintenance free corrosion protection, in turn maximizing the life cycle cost savings. Aesthetics were very important as well. As the hot-dip galvanized structure weathers naturally on its own, it will take on a uniform matte gray finish, enhancing its overall aesthetic appeal. Based on average zinc coating thickness, the Time to First Maintenance for a steel structure of this type is approximately 65-75 years, making this a truly sustainable artistic sculpture.

Strict and careful planning took place once the sculpture arrived at the galvanizing facility. Because of the intricate design, it was important to utilize specific fixturing techniques to ensure that the sculpture was not damaged or compromised in any way during the galvanizing process, and special straps were used during the loading process prior to shipment.

As an artist, it takes creativity in order to see the finished product well before the work has even begun. It also takes courage to step outside the box and employ techniques that may seem unconventional. It’s that courage and creativity that allowed Norman Elder to envision his work of art and bring it to life. The hot-dip galvanized coating captures the beauty of the horse as it was, as it is now, and as it will be in the future; a true work of art.