To the end of his life, Russell’s studio held a number of models of horses, particularly models of horses that had been his closest companions. Every horse Russell ever owned and rode—beginning with his pinto Indian pony, Monte—lived with him until its death. After Monte, there was Grey Eagle, Red Bird, and finally Neenah, all saddle horses that were immortalized in wax and plaster. Although Russell knew and loved horses, he was the first to admit that he preferred his own mounts to be somewhat placid and reliable. By all accounts, all of these horses were gentle and forgiving. This beautifully detailed model of a saddled horse, less than four and one-half inches in height, bears a strong resemblance to Red Bird, Russell’s third horse. It is modeled in colored wax that has been coated with shellac and painted and placed on a painted plaster base that has been mounted in turn on a small block of wood. The artist put a great deal of effort into modeling the saddle and bridle, even using the point of a pin to scratch tiny tooling marks on the saddle skirt. The reins, lariat, and saddle ropes, all made of very fine string, were also touched with tiny spots of paint to emulate braiding. Clearly, Russell was determined to make this small image of horse that he loved come to life.