Over several months, our design studio and workshop collaborated with Areion Equestrian to create the world’s first Crash Test Horse, right here in Ballarat, Victoria. The project was led by Tom Hotchkin of Areion Equestrian, who developed a harness and float system to protect horses in transit and needed a life-sized model to test his designs.

The design process involved refining the concept of an 18-hand horse that mimicked the weight distribution and aesthetics of a fully grown horse. The sculpture was constructed from 1m x 1m gym mats, precision-cut on our CNC machine, and slotted onto an internal steel structure.

Over the course of a week, 140 gym mats were cut into 228 individual pieces, and our talented workshop team meticulously assembled the sculpture.

This innovative project exemplifies the power of collaboration, craftsmanship, and creative problem-solving. We eagerly await to see how our “little mate” performs in crash tests, paving the way for improved equestrian safety.