Have I been working hard? Well, I listened to one entire book on Audible yesterday, ten hours and a bit, and I only let it play when I am actually working. Today I have a twelve hour book ready to go. Three horses are being worked on right now. I've got my groove back. 
 
Below, detailing on a current project. This horse will be auctioned off when finished.

Below is the full view of the horse that I am working on. Still some tweaking to do, and that white leg will be dark (as Manchados tend to have dark legs with regular markings) You can see how small he is, and how easy it would be to break him. It's tense work but, in a way, very soothing. Another hour, and he will go into the kiln. This is the first of about four firings for him.  

The Manchados have white under their armpits, their... ahem... genital area, and white tails with dark tips, mostly. The tail tip will be the last thing to get painted, as that is where I hold him. They have dark heads, but the white is along their polls and over their ears, sometimes with spots on their ears. Since there are only about a dozen horses whose photos are known, there may be variations, but that is the general idea. The color originates at the poll/upper neck, and along the tail head/topline. If you don't have Lesli's book, you are SO missing out!

Below is the finished horse, now named is "Il Poeta". He's a Dante by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig, as an Argentine Criollo in a faded black manchado pinto. Slightly over 4" tall. (comparison is to a D cell battery) He is in a satin glaze. He will be auctioned off in the next week, and is going to make someone very, very happy.

Here is my Kiln God, who protects the ware and watches over the firing.

He's a 'Hammy', sculpted by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig, who is the sculptor of the three pieces in the firing tonight. So he will take extra pride in his work. 

Kiln Gods are, I think, a way of focusing your attention on the load, the proper setting up, and the firing itself. When most of the work comes before the firing, it's easy to slack off and feel like you are done when you get them into the kiln. But that's when you can mess up things! Luck in firing happens best when you are diligent.