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| Beautiful Horses |
Sharpsburg Sharpsburg, AKA Moose, is a stunning American Saddlebred gelding. His coloring is an amazing liver chestnut with silver mane and tail, but it is his a proud 17 hands of perfectly proportioned body that I found most striking. He is beautiful! I loved getting to photograph Moose, and hated to leave. If you ever get to meet Moose, you'd never guess he was a rescue horse. Karyl brought him from near starvation to the 2004 reserve pleasure driving champion for tri-state. Karyl wrote: "Moose is a rescued horse, near starvation with abscessed feet when I got him. He wouldn't look at the camera, he felt so bad. Now he is stunning, 17 hands and everyone he meets agrees it is a miraculous transformation. If he were chosen, maybe it would encourage others to rescue and rehabilitate. It is very rewarding. "During his recovery there were days when he couldn't even stand to leave his stall. If you could meet him I know you would recognize his courage and will to recover." Take a look at this photograph - and see for yourself what a beauty Sharpsburg is!
Sharpsburg and Karyl
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Stetson Cedar Haven "Stetson" is a beautiful light chocolate dappled Rocky Mountain Horse. He belongs to Joni, who is a member of the Wayne County chapter of the Ohio Horsemen's Council where I'm a member too. I had met Stetson when Joni and I were both on the car parking crew at Malabar Farms, so I knew before going to photography him that I was in for a treat! Here's part of Joni's story: "I had almost given up trail riding as I could not find a suitable riding partner. I was searching for another horse when a friend said, "I have the horse for you." How many of us have heard this before? As she was bringing him from the pasture to the arena for me to ride, my heart skipped a beat when I first laid eyes on him. She told me that I could ride Stetson in the arena with just a halter and lead rope. She was correct; he felt like butter to me, we just seemed to melt together; ... I am having fun riding again. He and I both are gaining confidence. He has the sweetest temperament, so willing to learn and eager to please. "When we are playing in the outdoor arena he gives me 110%. Right now we are playing at liberty and he has yet to disappoint me. Sure he may run off for a moment but then he turns back around and gaits right to me like, "Oops, sorry mom, what would we like to do now?" Joni and Stetson were playing at liberty during my visit. She uses Pat Parelli's games with him, easily having him move freely around the arena -- perfect for photographing!
Joni and Stetson
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Two Bits Kendra nominated three of her family's horses, Two Bits, Montana and Flash. They were all looking great the day I visited... well all the horses that is. Kendra was feeling ill. So she did not get to help with the photo shoot. But one of her best friends stepped in and, along with Kendra's mother, Kim, assisted me with the horses. It was Two Bits, the Connemara Pony that I chose for the subject of my painting. Kendra tells a lot about Two Bits in her nomination: "Two Bits is blind in one eye, and you can't tell at all. I can ride him in the arena, open field or on the trail with just a thin string around his neck and no bridle. I was 8 years old when I got him, and he was a very shy pony. The Parelli natural Training has helped him overcome tons of problems. At first he was afraid to jump, and refused a lot, but after learning to ask him right and be a partner with him, he loves it. I took him to the Wayne County Fair and we won our jumping class...Two Bits is my best friend forever."
Two Bits and Kendra's Friend |
Prepstress A classic pose for a classic Thoroughbred, Prepstress, who lives at Pine Shadows Farm in Springboro, Ohio. She is fulfilling her owner Carol's dream of "raising beautiful, athletic, huntseat horses for the show pen." When I visited, Prepstress and her beautiful bay filly, sired by UK Mito Boss, were lapping up sunshine in the large grassy pasture behind Carol's house. Here's more about Prepstress, in Carol's words... "Open the barn door at Pine Shadows Farm and you will be greeted by the captivating presence of Prepstress, a gray thoroughbred mare. "Tess," as she is affectionately called, stands 16.3 hands. She will extend her long pencil neck over the stall wall to be petted for the goodnight treat. You can't help but to be engaged by her personality. She is a portrait to behold with her white blaze face, great big soft eyes. "Tess is a grand part of the aristocracy of Kentucky. Her sire, Skip Away, was a Kentucky Derby contender with total career earnings of over 9 million dollars. Tess became a resident of Ohio in February 2005. I purchased her at the Fasig-Tipton Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. "Tess commands your attention, her stature demands it. Your eyes become fixed on the curve of her back and travel over her full round hip as the sunlight dances over her dapples culminating in a long flowing almost black descending to white tail."
Prepstress and a friend of Carol's |
Cheryl composed a wonderful nomination for her Friesian gelding, who she calls Thor. Here is what she wrote: B - Bold These words only begin to describe my dream horse, Thor. Big, black and beautiful, with a flowing mane and ground-sweeping tail, Thor is a majestic presence simply standing still. In motion he floats across the ground commanding attention. It is said that real beauty is more than skin deep, and this is certainly true of Thor. He comes wrapped in a beautiful "package," but much of his beauty is in the gift he has given me - the confidence to achieve my dressage dreams. I fell in love with Friesians five years ago and dreamed of fulfilling my dressage goals with one of these elegant horses. I started my "Friesian Savings Fund," anticipating it would be years before a Friesian would grace our barn. In July, 2004, I fell from my Morgan, who stumbled while cantering, and broke my back, requiring surgery, an extensive recovery, and significant soul searching regarding whether to give up riding or pursue my Friesian dream. Ultimately, I simply couldn't abandon my dream. Abandoning my fear of falling and of cantering again was far more difficult. I needed a safe, sane horse and one with big movement suitable for dressage. I also needed a horse with the patience to tolerate a novice rider learning to ride all over again and learning to conquer fear. Thor has exceeded all my expectations. his calm, tolerant nature has nurtured my confidence and my skill. I am cantering fearlessly now and planning to show this year. Thor exemplifies Webster's definition of beauty-- "the quality attributed to whatever pleases, as by color, form, rhythmic motion or by behavior and attitude." For all these reasons, I believer Thor is one of the "Beautiful Horses of Ohio."
Thor and Cheryl
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Haflinger fans may already be familiar with Wiz (Wiz Bang LMP) and Sprout (Alfalfa Sprouts). "Wiz has been the Haflinger National Champion in Western Pleasure, English pleasure and Versatility. He is moving up well in dressage, and has competed in mini eventing and in hunter hack. He is very versatile! "Sprout has been to the Ohio and Kentucky Equine Affairs and was used as the Andis Clipper Demo Horse for three years because of his great disposition." No wonder these horses were so beautifully groomed. They're professional models! The day I met them, their white manes gleamed and were the texture of fine silk. And they looked like they would be perfectly suited to waltz into a high society ball, such was their classy, polished, high style appearance.
Wiz and Sprout with their extended family
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Woody After meeting Woody and seeing him in action, I couldn't help but want my very own Dutch Harness Horse! What a beautiful, majestic stallion he is! Watching him move freely in his spacious pasture was just a fantastic experience. He seems to float in a powerful fluid motion. He was interested in everything! An Amish buggy passed along the far front of the pasture, and Woody was right there, trotting in unison with the buggy horse! In an instant he was back at the other end of the pasture with us, curious about the camera and stranger (me) in his pasture. He was wonderfully friendly and awsomely beautiful. Donnie, his owner wrote, "Dutch Harness Horses have only recently been imported to the U.S. from the Netherlands. They are the world's highest trotting horse with exceptional headsets and body carriage." Donnie continues, "Woody was born and raised on my farm. His beautiful looks and super friendly disposition win everyone's admiration....You just have to see him in person one time and you'll never forget him." I know I will never forget Woody!
Woody and Donnie
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Renae nominated her daughter Samantha's black Morgan gelding, Casey, that they had purchased four years before. Renae wrote that when they got first got Casey, Samantha, who was 10 at the time, hated him. Renae continued, "He had trust issues and was not a happy horse. I wasn't sure how to resolve Samantha's fear she had of him. Even after a year, I truly thought we had made a big mistake. After speaking to her about how Casey must feel, Samantha went to his stall and sat with him. it was an instant transformation as she looked into his eys and saw his fear. "What she saw changed her and Casey from that day forward. It was amazing. He is now her best friend. He goes everywhere with her. Samantha is his safety and comfort. They love to play together as she does liberty work with him. "What has grown from that feaf is a love like no other. She has looked into his soul and found him there."
Samantha and Casey
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Pat was one of the first to submit a nomination early in January 2006 for the Beautiful Horses of Ohio project. She nominated Curly Tom, her American Bashkir Curly stallion, a bay pinto. I was excited about the opportunity to paint a Curly! Pat wrote, "Curly Tom is so awesome. Big black corkscrew mane and size cause people to stop, while driving by, just to look at him and the mares and foals. He is a very gentle giant." Later, Pat was in the awful position of having to let me know Curly Tom had passed away. She still wanted me to include him in the project. Because I usually only paint from photographs that I take -- and I really learn a lot by spending time with each horse-- I was hesitant to agree. I did tell Pat I would stop by on my travels around Ohio and take photos of Curly Tom's foals and look at the photos Pat had of Curly Tom. My plan was to convince Pat that I should paint one of the babies. As you can see, Pat convinced me to paint Curly Tom! Looking at his photos, I realized what an awsome horse he was. His remarkable neck and curly texture were so impressive. I only I wish I could have met him.
Pat and one of Curly Tom's curly babies. |
As part of the West Chester Police Force, Amos is a well-trained, hard-working part of their mounted patrol. Nominated by his rider, Neil, Amos was one of my favorite horses in the Beautiful Horses of Ohio series. As you can see below, he knows how to push people around! This skill is useful in crowd control, and Amos and Neil were happy to demonstrate on my husband, Will. Neil wrote this about Amos: "Amos just grabs your attention with his striking color and size. He has captured the size and muscle development of the Percheron. Then compliments it with the sleek beauty and athletic appearance of the Thoroughbred. Amos, like his forefather, who once proudly carried soldiers into battle, has a nobel job in today's society. Each day Amos puts on his uniform and walks the streets of West Chester. He is a horse that is making a community safe by his presence. Amos can use his might to prevent a crime or run down a thief. Use his speed and agility to respond quickly to a call for help. Amos uses his gentle nudge to put a smile on a younster's face. "I know that God placed Amos into my life to teach me. I battled daily with Amos at first; we would both be feed up at the end of the day. I had to learn patience and this carried over from my work life to the most important life, home. Amos made me a better father and husband." I liked this pose, as Amos keeps a look out for crime.
Neil steers Amos to demonstrate |
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Andalusians
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