A SCULPTOR who specialises in recycled metal has created a full sized horse in memory of a riding enthusiast.

Sculptor Stego Parker created the piece for Graham Clarke at Low Swainby Farm, Pickhill, North Yorkshire, as a tribute to his riding enthusiast father who died last October.

Mr Parker, whose workshop is based in Mickley, between Masham and Ripon, trained for four years specialising in metal design.

He uses reclaimed metal from scrap yards in the Ripon area and is best known for his large outdoor log burners.

He has created several pieces of metal work art and log burners for Mr Clarke in the past but wanted the horse sculpture to be special.

“I was commissioned to create the horse as a tribute to Graham’s father Henry Clarke who was a keen rider, and it has been positioned over a stone wall beside his final resting place on the farm," he said.

“I created a skeleton using recycling oil pipe, and make it so it could be moved into different positions. From there I made the muscles and I think it shows the movement of the horse really well.”

Straddling a dry stone wall, the horse has hinged joints so that it can be manipulated into different positions and will have a steel jockey added.

Mr Clarke said: “I’m very happy with the sculpture - though dad didn’t like a lot of publicity. It was later in life that he got into point to pointing, racing, shooting, yachting and hunting but whatever he seemed to do he seemed to be successful at it.

“I can’t stand riding or horses myself but when the sculpture has a jockey on it, it will give more of a silhouette and it’ll look really good.”

For information of Mr Parker’s work email creativemetalsalvage@gmail.com.